As we expected, the story of the capture of Humaita
by the Brazilians was invented at Rio. The Brazilians are in the fortress, but they did not take it, and are worse off than ever they were. A General Osorio, second in command, attacked it on 16th June with 10,000 men, but his force withered under the terrible fire of the Paraguayans, and was ordered to retreat by the Commander- in-Chief. Humaita, however, being exposed to the fire of the ironclads, and too near the river by which Marshal de Caxias obtains supplies, Lopez has erected new works along the Tebicuary, some fifty or sixty miles inland, on the road to Villa Rica. The invaders muss march over these works before they accomplish anything, an operation which will take them three years in addi- tion to the three they have already wasted. Meanwhile the Argentines, so long ago as 7th March, pressed Brazil to accept the proffered American intervention, on the distinct grounds that a defeat would expose their territory to be overrun, and that Brazil was exhausted. The Argentine Minister—writing, be it remembered, in Rio—used these extraordinary words:— " Brazil forms to-day the contingents that are being sent to Paraguay only by the following means :-1st. Forced enlistment through extreme violence. I have often seen with mine own eyes the recruits of Mines; they were under escort, with an iron collar round their necks, fastened to an iron chain. I have never wit- nomad a more painful sight. 2nd. The slaves liberated in exchange for titles and decorations. 3rd. Convicts." The despatch, which is throughout a bitter attack on the " optimism " of the Imperial Government, has now been published in Buenos Ayres to prepare the minds of the people for a separate peace, which will relieve Lopez of his greatest difficulty, an outlet to the sea. Indeed, if he will give the help Brazil has given, the Republic may join him in a combined attack on the last slave empire.
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