Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-20
The South American
Belliperents

Many Americans not familiar with South American
history have the opinion that entirely too much attsn.
ton is being devoted by American and European Dip
iomats 70 the threatened war between Paraguay ami
BOLIVIA. the result Of an old boundary controversy. A
onicago newspaper facetiously refers to the threatened
war as Of the same proportions Is the gang wars Of
tnat city, and a New York editor proposes that a squad
q pohcemen be sent to South America to restore order.
Both Bolivia and Paraguay have war records which
are the basis for the alarm exhibited BY the Pan-Aner-
iean Union, the League Of Nations and European,
American and South American diplomats. Both eoun-
tries. though small, have large armies, and every male
over is years Of age is subject to military duty. Their
armies are not highly trained, according to the ideas
OK American and European military schools, but they
are probably better versed in jungle fighting than the
armies Of any other nation, and there il no fighting
more deadly.
Paraguay, with a population Of approximately
100000, Is the third smallest nation in territory,
having approximately $4,000 square miles. The Gran
Chsco, the ownership Of which il disputes with Bolivia,
comprises IN area OF 10000 square miles or double
the territory OF Paraguay proper. without seacoast, with
only 800 miles Of railway, the little country il rated as
one Of the military powers Of South America. One Of
the most bloody and disastrous wars in history, in
consideration Of numbers engaged, was that va-,l from
1855 to 1870 BY the little country against the allied pow
er Of Argentine. Brazil and Uruguay. In that sal binary
struggle f~our-fifths Of the population was X III III
battle or died from hardship before the allied nations
conquered. The women fought In the ranks with the
men, and during the first three years Of the war the
Paraguayans wee victors in every major engagement
Over a half century elapsed before the population of
the country was equal to that Of 1860.
Bolivia, with a population Of 100000. proved the
layor ~ her troops in wars with Peru and Chile. losing
10 tile latter the seaccast area retained when the coun-
try threw Off The yoke OF Spain. Bolivia, however, never
achieved remarkable military success or prestige, and
has never occupied 50 prominent q place in South Amer
lean history ~ the smaller nation OF Paraguay.
a. d result Of the old fsuds, South American sym
pathy will Be almost equally divided between the bel
ligerents. Brazil. Argentine. Uruguay will favor 30
livia; Chile, Peru and Venezuela sympathies will he
with Paaguay. South Americans take the war seriously
and il il not improbable that other countries will be
drawn into the conflict, a contingency causing consid-
cradle uneasiness IN diplomatic circles.
The boundary dispute involving the Gran Chaco, 2
wilderness, extremely rich in valuable woods and with
extremely fertile soil, has been pending many years.
and numerous conferences have been called III an En-
fort 70 settle the controversy. On several occasions
each country has threatened to resort u arms, but
actual hostilities have been prevented through offers
OF mediation and the good offices of ncighboring
countries.