Evening star., 1936-02-18
Paraguay.
Continued From First Page.)

on the outskirts OF the city to enable
Franco to make quick dash to Asun-
cion to assume leadership of the new
regime He disappeared from his hotel
here shortly after his declaration this
morning.
1t was reported he had talked to the
rebel Junta by telephone.
Estigarribia With Ayala.
With President Ayala aboard the
gunboat was Gen. Jose Felix Estigar-
ribia, the commander of the Para
guayan Army during the Chaco War.
The revolution broke out at am.
yesterday when several regiments,
headed by Smith and Recalde and
aided by members of the river navy
force, moved against government
buildings in Asuncion.
The revolutionists advanced from
their encampment at Campo Grande,
seized the railroad line and the rail-
road station, then entrenched them
selves in the Plaza Uruguaya, only
500 yards from the police station,
from which they directed their fire
against the police and other defense
forces.
BY that time most of the navy and
army men had joined the revolution,
aiding the attackers.
Within a few hours, the students
and staff of the aviation school had
Joined the revolt and the Ayala forces
were outnumbered.
Order is Restored.
Revolutionary officers took over
communications after the defense re-
sistance collapsed. The revolutionists
sent out patrols to guard the streets
and restored order, but communica-
tions are not yet normal.
The chiefs of the revolution as
sumed absolute control of the situa-
tion, with military units quartered
outside Asuncion, as well as those
within the capital, now obeying their
orders.
They decided to constitute junta
government, but the new government
was not organized Immediately. A
communique, announcing creation of
a cabinet to replace that Of President
Ayala, was expected to be issued soon
after the arrival of Col. Franco.
Col. Franco early today said:
Il am not surprised by the reports,
because Paraguay is now living in an
unstable atmosphere" he asserted.
He expressed belief that the revolu-
finY7n l,x,
war veterans and an organization of
Paraguayan government opponents
called the National Front" which
he said was composed of students,
workers. former combatants and in
"It is opportune to state now that
10000 veterans of the Chaco have
raised their voices in protest against
the government" he said. These
have neither been heard nor
considered by the government.
Always, even a victorious war i'm
plants grave social problems. The
government failed to heed the neces-
sites Of the moment"
Franco, who commanded two di-
visions against Bolivia and led at
east one major attack, resigned from
the army February 5 at the request
Of Gen. Estigarribia and was relieved
If his command of the Asuncion
Military School after being arrested
in connection with al
eged subversive activities.
He went into Argentine exile Feb
ruary z with Maj. Caballero Irala, an
other Chaco veteran, under charges
of having plotted against President
Ayala and Gen. Estigarribia.
Argentina took precautions to pre-
rent the Paraguayan situation from
incidents along the from |
ier, ordering a river flotilla to pro-
,eed up the Paraguay and Parana
Rivers to the border.
A commission of neutrals which
arranged the Chaco peace watched |
he situation closely in view of the
znown opposition to the peace terms
~ some Paraguayan militarists who
1ad believed a decisive defeat of
Bolivia was possible.
LII. AyaIa, Weu-knoWn in the United |
states as former Paraguayan Minister
o washington and representative of
American business in Paraguay, was
'iected President, as candidate of the
liberal party. May 8. 1882.
Inaugurated August IA, 1892. he
declared war on Bolivia May 10 of
he following year in the two nations
ong-standing border conflict.
Paraguay, under his presidency, re-
igned from the League Of Nations
february 23, 1885. In answer to the
leagues demand that 1t accept the
league proposals to end the Chaco
Var or incur the Leagues wrath, pos
IDLY including punitive measures such
s those being applied against Italy
S an aggressor nation. Bolivia ac-
eTyted the pr,0y0SalS