The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-10-28
THE WAR IN PARAGUAY.
What Minister Mcmahon says About
Lopez The True Condition OF the
Paraguayan Cause.

General McMahon, ex-United States Minister
to Paraguay who arrived at Washington OF
Monday last, was with Lopez up to July last
when he received his recall, and started i'm
mediately for the United States by way O.
England. At the time of the evacuation ol
Asuncion General Mcmahon left the United
States Legation in charge OF the Italian Min
lister, and one of the first acts of the Brazilian
troops was to sack the house occupied by the
legation, destroy the nag and take possession
of some two hundred thousand dollars ir
specie, which had been left there on deposit
To accomplish that object the iron safes were
blown open with gunpowder, and the archives
of the legation were scattered In the street
where a number Of them were picked up by
Mr.. Worthington, then United States Minister
to the Argentine Confederation, who was on 8
visit to Asuncion.
General Mcmahon speaks Of Lopez In terms en-
trely different from the accounts which nave
been published by Messrs. Bliss and Masterman
he represents him as man OF anapie manners
but most determined In his acts, though many
statements OF atrocities alleged to have been per
petrated by his orders are wholly without 1oun
dalton In truth. That he ordered the execution
tion after protracted trial for conspiracy, and
his mother and sister, who are represented tc
have been killed by his order, are still living, ano
his devotion TO his mother Is all that could be re-
Quired OF son. .
medical director Of his army, was entrusted with
large amount Of money to be deposited In Scot
land for the benefit OF the children OF Lopez, but
as soon as he got possession he deserted to the
Brazilians. Shortly after that the commander
at Angostura named Thompson, wrote 10 Lopez
that he was prepared to stand siege OF at least
month, and received In reply instructions 70
hold out for eight days, and after that time TO use
his own discretion. Before the expiration OF the
eight days, Stuart communicated with Thompson
and informed him that Lopez had been defeated,
and was flying, with but small remnant OF his
army left. Under the impression that Stuart had
been taken prisoner, not suspectng that ne was 9
deserter Thompson yielded to his entreaty and
surrendered the post, which was the strongest on
the River La Plata. The garrison consisted OF
about two thousand men, more than half OF whom
shortly after found their way back to the camp OF
Lopez.
Most of the victories of the allies, which have
represented such great slaughter OF the Para
guayans, are said to have been Imaginary, and
one OF the most important, for which the cities OF
Montevideo and Rio de Janeiro were Illuminated,
never occurred at all
General Mcmahon left Lopez at Ascura, and he
was determined to fall back to the Cordieras,
where 1t would be impossible for the allies to fol-
SO long that they cannot get supplies. The re-
sources OF the Paraguayans are said to be unlim-
tied. While the greater part OF the army are sup
piled with flint lock muskets they are amply sup
piled with ordnance and ammunition, Oil OF which
they manufacture.
The Paraguayans are reported to be excellent
soldiers, far superior to the Argentines, who are
much better than the Brazilians, and the deyo.
tion Of the Paraguayans to their country and
leader Is without parallel. Lopez Is not strong
enough to make aggressive war, but In defence
he has all the advantages, aud can select his own
ground Of combat. GenerM hcMahon has no
doubt OF the final success Of Lopez, as the war
costs him comparatively little, while the allies
prosecute their aggressions at enormous cost. It
Is q part of the system OF the allies to permit
nothing to pass through their lines that Will re-
fleet unfavOrably against their cause, and they
went so far as to refuse TO allow the dispatches
from the United States Government to General
Mcmahon to pass for eight months. When the
order for his recall was sent on, that was permit