Evening star., 1932-10-18
III MERCURIO. Santiago-Ofh-
- cial observers have claimed from
time to time that they are un-

I'll MERCURIO. Santiago.-Ofn-
l. cial observers have claimed from
time to time that they are un-
IL able to account for the virulence
OF the struggle between Bolivia
and Paraguay over such compare
lively yaluless area as the region of
the Chaco. The two nations involved
themselves state through their repre-
sentatives that it Is not a matter of
property but matter of principle that
is the motive factor in the dispute
which may lead eventually to actual
strife Doubt. however. has been cast
upon this version of the affair since
the discovery of a much more probable
solution. Not from South America but
from Germany comes the explanation:
The dispute about the Chaco is at
bottom of struggle for petroleum"
Now this may be but suspicion of
the German press and public but it
really does sound rational to us. 1t is
quite preposterous to suppose that
either nation desires this territory for
its scenic attractions. AS for any other
visible advantages none appear. The
whole region is infested with nIasmal
vapors and with tropical flora and
fauna. except where steep and rugged
mountains three or four thousand
meters in height rear their massive
peaks. AS to the prior rights OF these
chill and fever breeding stretches, if
they cannot be readily determined by
any existing theses of natural or politi-
cal geography there is at least a power
full argument for preference in posses
sion when it is appreciated that where
as Bolivia can place a maximum of
81 900 troops in the field Paraguay can
oppose them with but $4,000 of all arms.
If Paraguay is willing to debate the
issue of Chaco with Bolivia under such
disadvantage it is certain that some
thing other than a moral principle Is
concerned for hostilitieS having no
other design than to establish an arbi-
trary frontier in the midst of such
desolate wilderness could be sanctioned
by no moral principles whatsoever
There must. then. be something beyond
and beneath what appears on the sur
face of the scene that impels these two
countries to battle.
** +
GiIlette's Claim
As Inventor Denied.
lie Petit Marseillais, Merseille.-
Gillette. who died recently has been
granted the distinction of being the in
ventor of the safety razor. He Is said
to have invented this mechanical de-
vice in 1908. and since then no less
than 81 different models of the con-
trivance have borne his name.
The phonograph was another lnven-
ton credited to an American which
really had its origin In La Belle France.
AS for the safety-razor. 1t was de-
vised by a Frenchman, Auguste Balm.
who lived at No. 2, Rue Taitbout. Paris,
and whose first raZors were patented
and trade-marked in 1879. The razor
of Auguste Balm was essentially the
same as that produced by Gillette IN
1903. except that the blade was af1lXed
to a cylinder, instead of to nat
tened holder. Auguste Balm used this
razor himself, but it had no immediate
acceptance with BARRIERS, and at that
time few Frenchmen who shaved their
faces performed this rite themselves.
So 1t remained for M. Gillette f1rSt
to see and eventually to exploit the
new and convenient device. If M. Gill
lette produced his first razors IN 1908.
then Undoubtedly his debut represented
but the revival and the exploitation OF
the mechanical razor Of Auguste Balm.
M. Balm was but a modest barber and
hair-dresser, but he was not indif-
ferent to the possibilities and progress
of his profession.
British "GOvernOr"