834.00 Revolutions/37: Telegram
The Minister in Paraguay (Howard) to the Secretary of State
[Received 1:50 p.m.]
36. Heavy fighting in city and suburbs yesterday afternoon and during night with all communications cut. Revolutionists held control [Page 744] of central portion of city. At present moment the Government has resumed control of all sections except a few isolated spots which it is now cleaning up. Uprising said to have been the work of Major Martin Cich with few regular troops plus a small section of the navy and the major portion of the police force together with a considerable number of ex-combatants and laborers, most of the latter it is alleged being of Communist tendencies. No reliable information available as to conditions in rural districts.
Repeated to Buenos Aires.