for leslie bethell, lópez ii overestimated paraguay s military power, , induced him behave recklessly. according professor bethell:
solano lópez s decision declare war first on brazil , on argentina, , invade both territories, proved serious miscalculation, , 1 have tragic consequences paraguayan people. @ least solano lópez made enormous gamble – , lost… solano lópez s reckless actions brought thing threatened security, existence, of country: union of 2 powerful neighbours …
for john hoyt williams, humaitá instrumental in generating risk-taking behaviour. according professor williams:
the hundreds of heavy calibre guns mounted @ humaitá , elsewhere, modern navy, railroad, telegraph, , munitions manufacturing establishments – helped bring horrendous war of triple alliance , own destruction providing hardware francisco solano lópez become mariscal , self-appointed arbiter of río de la plata.
and:
even el mariscal not have dared more defend immediate borders had not military materiel [williams expressly specifies humaitá] encouraged him redefine borders , play wider , infinitely more dangerous role of fulcrum in balance of power.
after passage of humaitá buenos ayres standard wrote:
none have ever seen place have questioned strength. old president lópez had such implicit faith in impregnability believed if xerxes attacked paraguay not past humaitá. same implicit confidence in strength inculcated in minds of paraguayan people. watchword humaitá , , possibly exaggerated idea of strength present lópez may traced grave political error step step led unfortunate man cautious policy of father become great champion of river plate equilibrium.
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