José Bozzano
Encyclopedia
José Alfredo Bozzano Baglietto (Asuncion
, Paraguay
, December 7, 1895 - December 14, 1969) was a military engineer and senior officer of the Paraguayan navy who designed the gunboats Paraguay and Humaitá that were used during the Chaco War
in the key role of transport ships. In the course of the war, he was the manager of the factories which provided weapons, projectiles, trucks and other materials to the Paraguayan army
.
. His parents were the Genoese
ship owner José Bozzano and the Argentine
citizen Benedicta Baglietto.
Bozzano spoke Italian
, English
and French
fluenty and had extensive knowledge of Greek
and Latin. He read Stefan Zweig
, Emerson, Kant
, Schiller and Goethe. His favorite Paraguayans writers were Manuel Dominguez, Cecilio Báez, Fariña Eloy Nunez, Carlos Zubizarreta and Ruben Bareiro Saguier. He learned piano with Nicolino Pellegrini
. Bozzano lingered on Chopin and enjoyed Paraguayan music (his favorite song was Ñasaindype, composed by Félix Fernandez and José Asuncion Flores
).
until the third year. He joined the Paraguayan Navy as midshipman on September 21, 1917. Since April 1918 he served in the state-owned national dockyards.
In May 1920, the government of José P. Montero (1919–1920) sent him to the U.S. for further studies of Naval Engineering. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
. In 1924, he graduated as a naval architect and engineer. He went on to graduate school and in 1925 received a master's degree in Aviation Engineering.
He returned to Paraguay during the constitutional government of Eligio Ayala
(1924–1928). On March 9, 1925, he was appointed director of the national dockyards, by decree nº 20,297. In March 1927, president Ayala commissioned him to Europe
for ordering the construction of two gunboats for the Navy that would protect the Paraguay River
in the imminent war with Bolivia. Bozzano departed with the plans that he himself had traced.
After contacts with yards in England
and Germany
, the gunboats were eventually ordered from the Italian
Odero-Terni-Orlando naval yard. The two vessels, Paraguay and Humaitá, arrived in Paraguay on May 5, 1931. On December 28 of that year, Bozzano returned to the direction of the dockyards.
s, the famous carumbe `i (Guaraní
for "little turtle"), which, for the pride of Paraguayans in the war, proved more effective than the Belgian designed SIP grenades, used by the Bolivian army
) and built and assembled the coachworks of 2,308 trucks (at a rate of five per hour). The dockyards also produced 25,000 mortar grenades and 7,500 aerial bombs. Another of his feats was the making of mortar
tubes with 23 columns from old trams. At the same time, 4,300 iron bars and wooden tables were made for stretchers, stoves, autoclaves and even trepans for cranial surgery. Bozzano's factories also built equipment for water well drilling in the Chaco.
There were 4,400 truck drivers from the navy in the Chaco under the command of Captain Bozzano. He was appointed acting director of the military aviation on March 7, 1933 replacing Argentine WWI veteran pilot Vicente Almandoz Almonacid.
Bozzano was a Paraguayan soldier heavily trained in science and technology. The design of Paraguay and Humaitá caused admiration in Britain. From 1932 to 1935 he commanded a force of 6,000 workers who forged the iron that was decisive for the outcome of the war.
When the conflict was over, Bozzano was decorated with the Cruz del Chaco ("Chaco Cross"). He continued to serve to his country in different positions. During the government of Félix Paiva
(1937–1939), Bozzano was appointed Minister of War and Navy on April 12, 1938 and then Minister of Economy on October 14, 1938. He also served as mayor of Asuncion and a teacher at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences (Engineering) in the National University of Asunción
.
The decree which awarded him the Cruz del Chaco described captain José Bozzano as "one of the most authentic craftsmen of victory".
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, December 7, 1895 - December 14, 1969) was a military engineer and senior officer of the Paraguayan navy who designed the gunboats Paraguay and Humaitá that were used during the Chaco War
Chaco War
The Chaco War was fought between Bolivia and Paraguay over control of the northern part of the Gran Chaco region of South America, which was incorrectly thought to be rich in oil. It is also referred to as La Guerra de la Sed in literary circles for being fought in the semi-arid Chaco...
in the key role of transport ships. In the course of the war, he was the manager of the factories which provided weapons, projectiles, trucks and other materials to the Paraguayan army
Paraguayan army
The Paraguayan Army is an institution of the State of Paraguay, organized into three divisions and 9, and several commands and directions, went to war on two occasions, in the War of the Triple Alliance v Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay and Chaco War v Bolivia.- Mission :* Maintaining the sanctity...
.
Life
José Alfredo Bozzano Baglietto was born on December 7, 1895 in the Asuncion neighborhood of San Jeronimo, "just fifty metres from the Dockyards", which at that time was located there. This date is contained in official documents and was confirmed by his grandson, engineer Luis Lamas Bozzano, curiously because he gave another date (1899) "to remove a few years; pure coquetry", as stated at times his wife, Mrs. Virginia Cardozo of Bozzano, who in turn was the daughter of educator Ramon Indalecio Cardozo and sister of politician Efraím CardozoEfraím Cardozo
Efraím Cardozo was a Paraguayan politician and historian.-Childhood and studies:Born in Villarrica, Paraguay, he spent his childhood in a noble and wise home. Son of the maestro guaireño Ramon Indalecio Cardozo and Juana Sosa, inherited from his elders the love for reading and the noble principles...
. His parents were the Genoese
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
ship owner José Bozzano and the Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
citizen Benedicta Baglietto.
Bozzano spoke Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
fluenty and had extensive knowledge of Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and Latin. He read Stefan Zweig
Stefan Zweig
Stefan Zweig was an Austrian novelist, playwright, journalist and biographer. At the height of his literary career, in the 1920s and 1930s, he was one of the most famous writers in the world.- Biography :...
, Emerson, Kant
KANT
KANT is a computer algebra system for mathematicians interested in algebraic number theory, performing sophisticated computations in algebraic number fields, in global function fields, and in local fields. KASH is the associated command line interface...
, Schiller and Goethe. His favorite Paraguayans writers were Manuel Dominguez, Cecilio Báez, Fariña Eloy Nunez, Carlos Zubizarreta and Ruben Bareiro Saguier. He learned piano with Nicolino Pellegrini
Nicolino Pellegrini
Nicolino Pellegrini, was an Italian musician that arrived in Paraguay in 1893 as a product of the reconstruction of the country after the War of the Triple Alliance, which forced the government to bring European professionals....
. Bozzano lingered on Chopin and enjoyed Paraguayan music (his favorite song was Ñasaindype, composed by Félix Fernandez and José Asuncion Flores
José Asunción Flores
José Asunción Flores was a Paraguayan composer and creator of the Guarania music genre.-Early life:Flores was born in the poor neighborhood of La Chacarita, in Asunción. As a kid, he had to work as a paperboy and shoeshiner in order to help his mother with food and other necessities...
).
Education
Bozzano was educated at the Colegio Nacional at Asuncion, studying the career of lawyerLawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
until the third year. He joined the Paraguayan Navy as midshipman on September 21, 1917. Since April 1918 he served in the state-owned national dockyards.
In May 1920, the government of José P. Montero (1919–1920) sent him to the U.S. for further studies of Naval Engineering. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
. In 1924, he graduated as a naval architect and engineer. He went on to graduate school and in 1925 received a master's degree in Aviation Engineering.
He returned to Paraguay during the constitutional government of Eligio Ayala
Eligio Ayala
José Eligio Ayala was President of Paraguay from 12 April 1923 to 17 March 1924 and again from 15 August 1924 until 15 August 1928. He was a member of the Liberal Party....
(1924–1928). On March 9, 1925, he was appointed director of the national dockyards, by decree nº 20,297. In March 1927, president Ayala commissioned him to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
for ordering the construction of two gunboats for the Navy that would protect the Paraguay River
Paraguay River
The Paraguay River is a major river in south central South America, running through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina...
in the imminent war with Bolivia. Bozzano departed with the plans that he himself had traced.
After contacts with yards in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the gunboats were eventually ordered from the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Odero-Terni-Orlando naval yard. The two vessels, Paraguay and Humaitá, arrived in Paraguay on May 5, 1931. On December 28 of that year, Bozzano returned to the direction of the dockyards.
During the Chaco War
The dockyards produced more than 300,000 hand grenadeFragmentation grenade
A fragmentation grenade is an anti-personnel weapon that is designed to disperse shrapnel upon exploding. The body is made of hard plastic or steel. Flechettes, notched wire, ball bearings or the case itself provide the fragments...
s, the famous carumbe `i (Guaraní
Guaraní language
Guaraní, specifically the primary variety known as Paraguayan Guaraní , is an indigenous language of South America that belongs to the Tupí–Guaraní subfamily of the Tupian languages. It is one of the official languages of Paraguay , where it is spoken by the majority of the population, and half of...
for "little turtle"), which, for the pride of Paraguayans in the war, proved more effective than the Belgian designed SIP grenades, used by the Bolivian army
Bolivian Army
The Bolivian Army or Ejército Boliviano is the land forces component of the Military of Bolivia, the Bolivian Army has around 31,500 men.- Combat units directly under the Army general command :...
) and built and assembled the coachworks of 2,308 trucks (at a rate of five per hour). The dockyards also produced 25,000 mortar grenades and 7,500 aerial bombs. Another of his feats was the making of mortar
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
tubes with 23 columns from old trams. At the same time, 4,300 iron bars and wooden tables were made for stretchers, stoves, autoclaves and even trepans for cranial surgery. Bozzano's factories also built equipment for water well drilling in the Chaco.
There were 4,400 truck drivers from the navy in the Chaco under the command of Captain Bozzano. He was appointed acting director of the military aviation on March 7, 1933 replacing Argentine WWI veteran pilot Vicente Almandoz Almonacid.
Works and Awards
He left a brief but very valuable book of memories, "Reminiscences", which recalls the history of the dockyards in the war. It started as an essay made at the request of Justo Pastor Benitez, who thought to include it in one of his historical works, but ended up being a book by its own value.Bozzano was a Paraguayan soldier heavily trained in science and technology. The design of Paraguay and Humaitá caused admiration in Britain. From 1932 to 1935 he commanded a force of 6,000 workers who forged the iron that was decisive for the outcome of the war.
When the conflict was over, Bozzano was decorated with the Cruz del Chaco ("Chaco Cross"). He continued to serve to his country in different positions. During the government of Félix Paiva
Félix Paiva
Félix Paiva was Paraguayan politician from the Liberal Party.He studied law and worked as university teacher, rector of the University and president of the Supreme Court...
(1937–1939), Bozzano was appointed Minister of War and Navy on April 12, 1938 and then Minister of Economy on October 14, 1938. He also served as mayor of Asuncion and a teacher at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences (Engineering) in the National University of Asunción
Universidad Nacional de Asunción
The Universidad Nacional de Asunción, abbreviated UNA, is a public university in Paraguay. Founded in 1889, it is the oldest and most traditional university in the country.In 2006, there were 36,000 students and 5,500 professors.- Organization :...
.
The decree which awarded him the Cruz del Chaco described captain José Bozzano as "one of the most authentic craftsmen of victory".