The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-17
BY ARCH RODGERS
United Press stan Correspondent
copyright, 1894. BY United Press)

copyright. 1894. by United Press)
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina. Dec.
17-War in all its horror, a replica
on a small scale of the land phases
of the World War, is being fought
in the new world.
While the powers are striving
frantically to smother the threat
of another war in Europe, Para
quay and Bolivia are at death grips
in the Gran Chaco in war which
the League of Nations and the neu-
trail powers of the Americas have
been unable to stop.
The war is apparently drawing
to its conclusion-the inevitable
conclusion of most wars in the past:
Victory by one side and the exac-
ton of territory or tribute.
Drive Bolivians Back
The Paraguayans, in two and a
half years of terrific fighting, have
succeeded in slowly driving the
Bolivians across the disputed Chaco
territory and are now hammering
at the gatewayS of Bolivia proper.
The Paraguyans announced to-
day the capture of the FIT. Algodonal
on the northern front-a victory of
some Importance as it permitted
shortening of their right flank in
drive southwark toward Villa Mon
ties, the great Bolivian army base.
Bolivia began modifying all its
man power and announced that ma
tional morale was high.
Cost Is Terrific
THE cost in human lives, suffering,
and national resources has been ter
rife. Although both governments
have refused to divulge their casual
ties, unofficial estimates place the
dead at 10000, go per cent of them
from Bolivia.
Between $4,000 and 100000 men
have been modified in the two
countries since the war began. and
now Bolivia is drafting boys and
older men to swell it's forces and
stem the Paraguayan tide.
The economic position OF both
countries is feeble. Both have used
most of the sound money at hand
and Bolivia especially is heavily
mortgaged abroad.
The people have sacrificed their
personal possessions, such as jeWelry,
cattle and farm products, to keep
the men at the front and lessen the
drain on national cash for the pur-
chase of essential munitions and
war supplies abroad.
Real War In All Respects
II has been a real war in every
respect, not the guerilla type of
fighting that most people abroad
have imagined it to be. Infantry,
cavalry, artillery, tanks, airplaneS,
machine guns, flame -throwers, and
eSen-it is charged-poison gas have
been used.
AS in the World War, this is es-
sentially trench warfare, with the
infantry the backbone as the armies
struggle back and forth for posses
sion of the small forts, defended by
trenches, which dot the territory.
The dispute goes back more than
so years. The Gran Chaco Great
Forest) is a pear-shaped region
about the size of Wisconsin and
Minnesota, lying between the two
countries.
Both countries claim possession,
both basing their claims on the old
provincial boundaries of the Span
ish conquest. Paraguay presents
strong arguments of historic boun-
Diary and settlement rights, and her
national pride will not permit her
to abandon her claim.
Bolivia Seeks Sea Outlet
Bolivia, land-locked since she lost
her Pacific coaStline in a war with
Chile in 1879, is desperately anxious
for an outlet to the Atlantic for her
products and those of the Chaco by
extending her territory to the navi-
gable waters of the Paraguay River,
forming the eastern boundary Of the
Chaco.
The Chaco is diverse territory.
Only parts of it are jungle or
swamp and waste land. There are
great forests of valuable hardwoods
and millions of acres of cattle
grazing land. The presence of oil
is suspected. Most of the tannin ex-
tract used IN the United States for
tanning leather comes from the
Guebracho forests of the Chaco.
United States interests are in
volved in the dispute. 1t is esti-
mated that American investments
in Bolivia total $110,000,00e and in
Paraguay $12,6f5 900. Repeated
charges have been made that Amer
lean banks and oil interests have
aided in financing the war, much of
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