Tired

Fort Saavedra stands in the midst of a muddy plain surrounded by dense woods. It lies not in that part of the Gran Chaco which is in dispute, but in land which until six months ago was recognized as Bolivian. Round that fort for 31 days, 20,000 men have been fighting one of the greatest battles South America has seen for 50 years, in a war that has never been declared. It has been a close fight. The defending Bolivians have more men, heavier artillery, more munitions. The attacking Paraguayans have fresh water and more food--a tremendous advantage in that feverish rain-soaked region--and, as any student of Paraguay's War of 1864 should remember, they are the fiercest fighters in Latin America.

Reporters last week noted tremendous artillery fire. Two Paraguayan attacks were beaten back. A Bolivian plane fought a Paraguayan plane (no decision) to the immense enjoyment of ground troops on both sides. Travelers reported boatloads of wounded passing up the Paraguay River to Asuncion. There were the usual complaints of bombing field hospitals, but strangely, war correspondents noted no atrocity stories, possibly because most of the soldiers of both armies are Indians, not quite sure what is an atrocity and what is fair fighting.

Away from Fort Saavedra there were abundant signs last week that both countries were heartily sick of their undeclared war. For months an international commission of delegates from the U. S., Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Uruguay has been dangling a peace plan before the combatants. Chief point was that each side should retire ten miles, leaving a 20-mi. neutral strip while final peace negotiations went on. Bolivia would not agree to this at first while she was advancing. Paraguay pooh-poohed the idea while she was capturing one jungle fort after another. Last week with both sides stalemated at Fort Saavedra, the 20 mi. of neutral ground seemed like a good idea. If fighting must continue. Bolivia's chances were brightened last week when General Hans Kundt, onetime officer of the Kaiser's Imperial Army, reached Peru, returning from exile in Germany and the U. S. reputedly to take command of Bolivia's troops.

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