The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-05-12
GRAN CHACO
WAR GROWING
IN FEROC|TY
Bombing of Cities, Poison
Gas Attacks and ExeCu-
tions Threatened.
Copyright, 1884. by United Press
RIIEATnO AID nc NHnrr e

Copyright. 1894 by United Press
BUENOS AIRES, May 12.-Bo-
livia and Paraguay prepared today
to wage their Gran Chaco war with
a ferocity unapproached since the
days of the World war.
Airplane bombing of defenseless
cities, use of poison gas, and re-
prisals on prisoners of war were
threatened as the contending armies
massed munitions and men for a
winter campaign in the jungles OF
the Chaco.
League of Nations officials, trying
vainly to halt the war, charged that
back of it lay an ugly cloud of in
ternational intrigue, into which en-
tered a fight for munitions business
and for the supposedly dream-like
oil wealth of the territory, dotted
now with bleaching bones of $4,000
men.
A german World war general is
commander in chief of the Bolivian
armies. American and other avia-
tors are in both armies Munitions
makers of many countries are do
ing business with both sides.
An apparently spurious report,
published here, that Paraguay was
going to execute a Bolivian officer
and ten Bolivian enlisted men,
drawn by lot from prisoners of war,
precipitated the fanatic feeling ap-
parent today in both countries.
Reprisals Threatened
The executions were supposed to
be in reprisal for the bombing of
two Paraguayan towns by Bolivian
aviators. Bolivia asserts the towns
are fortified; Paraguay that they
are not.
Bolivia announced that if the
men were executed its aviators
would bomb Asuncion, capital of
Paraguay.
Paraguay, in turn, announced that
if Asuncion was bombed the public
undoubtedly would lynch all Boliv-
ian prisoners of war.
Both sides today were maSSing
men in the Chaco region over the
lines, machine cunning and bomb
ing at close range.
Poison Gas Is Ready
Paraguay was reported Drenarinp
to use poison gas.
Dispatches from both capitals
showed plainly the hatred that
marks the opening of the wars
third year. Paraguay has been
winning steadily. 1t is a country of
stern and spartan tradition. In
1864 its population was 1887 900. It's
president sought to invade BRAZIL
through Argentina. Brazil, Argen-
tina and Uruguay united to sup
press" him. They suppressed
f1ve-sixth of the population.
After five years, when Paraguay
was Frustrated in complete defeat,
its population numbered 28,746 men,
106,254 women and 86,079 children.
A total of 221,079. Proportionate
losses by the United States in war
would mean the slaughter of 10O,-
100000 of it's 10000 900 population.
Population Now $4,000.
Now Paraguay's population num-
berS $4,000 against Bolivia's 3,000,-
900. In the 1864 war it's regiments
were made up sometimes wholly at
the end, of boys of from II to Is
years of age. It's women were used
as mules and were left to die on
roadsides, or mercilessly shot when
they collapsed. Now the army is of
men, we'll trained and we'll equipped,
against the equally we'll trained,
well-equipped men of Bolivia. =
AS Paraguay massed its men for
new drive, the Bolivian war Of
flee announced:
I'VE no longer can stand the pres
ent situation. We are resolved to
fight till we destroy the enemy"