BOLIVIA-PARAGUAY: Battle of 100 Hours

The vicious little Gran Chaco war between Bolivia & Paraguay last week reached its Gettysburg. Under French-trained General Estigarribia the Paraguayans, born short-end fighters, had harried the Bolivians northwestward across the jungle to the Pilcomayo River, backed them up against their last Chaco stronghold, Fort Ballivian. The Paraguayans planned to take Ballivian and stop. They found the Bolivians entrenched in open hayfields, for the first time in the war. General Estigarribia's artillery bombarded the trenches for two days. On the second the first wave of Paraguayans stumbled out into the hayfields in a close formation bayonet charge. The Bolivians...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!