Year: 1869

employed the time IN raying his forces and prepar-
Ing for continued defence. change from senility
could hardly make matters worse, ana Prince d'Eu,
though only twenty-sx years OF age inspires hopes
OF reform in the army.


Lopez is known to be curing his sick and wound
ed and gathering men and boys, casting one cannon
week and making gunpowder every day, while the
woods for leagues and leagues around him swarm
with his scouts who look for their own stragger
gather cattle or pounce on any fQraging or recon-
noitering party OF the enemy. He does not seek
battle; he never did; but he waits among the spurs
OF the Cordilleras for the enemy to come and when
twenty leagues OF morasses, de1les sand heaps and
dense forests are between the allies and their iron
elads ne hopes TO destroy all that come against him.


The policy OF putting Paraguayan prisoners into
as to be recommended to other nations They keep
their counsel till they see an opportunity and then
they take their revenge. No doubt many Of the
when they desert they carry valuable information.
Not long ago one hundred deserted in one day, car.
who hao become prisoner at Angostura. was ar.
rested IN Ascuncl n, charged with having set on
tOet oe arTsoS conspiracy sS take the city IRON rom
II. There Is no doubt OF the continued
and increasing malgnity Of the Paraguayans to-
crease IN their skilfulness in making good deiences
out Of small means. From their separate posts
they have means OF communicating as by secret
signal telegraph, which often serves their purpose
well.


The united States Minister General Mcmahon, is
still with Lopez, much to the surprise ana anxiety
OF his friends. Not word has come from him to
his family here nor TO the Minister at this place.
Nor do We know anything Of what.his plans are,
how he or his country can be served by his timer
atlng ministry, or how Lopez can be able to retain
him In that uncertain military encampment in the
forest.


since the fall Of the last stronghold Of Lopez on
the river and his retreat inland. we have heard the
statement that the war is now about over. And yet
iS expenses do not decrease. The forage contract
amounts to $So0000, gOld per month, and the other
departments are also expensive. But the men cost
less than the horses In proportion to their number
including clothing. food and pay.


One OF the best informed correspondents OF the
before any important movement is made. There Is
no doubt but that II the number and character OF
cavalry that pursued Jen Davis had gone in pursuit
OF Lopez on January he could have been as easily
taken; but cavalry like them are not here, nor Ii
there an appearance among the officers OF decided
purpose to close the war. The delays and the prac
tical mistakes made, If not on purpose, yet from cu
pabe carelessness, have most needlessy protracted
the war; and many are so unklnd as TO say that II
salaries are reduced and the profits OF the army
tractors cut OF, the war would end h0nOraDly IN
short time.


ON the 1lth April the elections held for repre-
sentatives TO the Provincial Legislature and these
elect the Governor, there was very spirited con-
test. There never was so much money staked on an
election as In this case. The most popular news
paper here, La T11bund, lost $50 900, currency
widow OF young man shot at the polls The result
OF the election secures TO Governor Castro reelec
tion. This Is good thing, although his opponents
are OF the same party, and are good men,