CONCEPCION 45 



ceremony, but in what is of real importance, courtesy ; 

 in civility and courtesy we can well afford to take 

 lessons from them. 



We first visited the barracks, saw the troops in the 

 setting - up exercises, and inspected the arms, the 

 artillery, the equipment. There was a German Lieu- 

 tenant with the Paraguayan officers ; one of several 

 German officers who are now engaged in helping the 

 Paraguayans with their army. The equipments and 

 arms were in good condition ; the enlisted men evidently 

 offered fine material ; and the officers were doing hard 

 work. It is worth while for anti- militarists to ponder 

 the fact that, in every South American country where 

 a really efficient army is developed, the increase in 

 military efficiency goes hand in hand with a decrease in 

 lawlessness and disorder, and a growing reluctance to 

 settle internal disagreements by violence. They are 

 introducing universal military service in Paraguay ; the 

 officers, many of whom have studied abroad, are 

 growing to feel an increased esprit de corps, an increased 

 pride in the army, and therefore a desire to see the 

 army made the servant of the nation as a whole, and 

 not the tool of any faction or individual. If these 

 feelings grow strong enough, they vdll be powerful 

 factors in giving Paraguay what she most needs, free- 

 dom from revolutionary disturbance, and therefore the 

 chance to achieve the material prosperity without which 

 as a basis there can be no advance in other and even 

 more important matters. 



Then I was driven to the City Hall, accompanied by 

 the intendente, or mayor, a German long settled in the 

 country, and one of the leading men of the city. There 

 was a breakfast. When I had to speak I impressed into 

 my service as interpreter a young Paraguayan, who was 



