The Placer herald., 1864-05-21
War between Spain and Peru.


The Golden City arrived at San Francisco
on Tuesday, bringing the important intel-
gence that war has bI oxen out between Spain
and Peru,-the first act of the Spanish fleet
being to seize the famous Chincha Islands
and make prisoners the Peruvian officers.
The Panama Star md Herald of April
3Oth, says: The steamer Ecudor, chartered
bv the Peruvian Government, arrived at Pan
ANA on the night of April 9th from Callao,
which port she left on the 18th. This steam
err was despatched to convey Senor Villena,
with special dispatches from Peru to the
United States Government at Washington
relative to the important movements of the
Spanish squadron.
On the arrival Of the last mail we pub
lished the fact that the Spanish Commits
sioner had not been received at Lima, and
had sailed from Callao on the 18th to Join
the Spanish fleet On the morning of April
l6, II. G. NJ. frigates Resolucion and 7riunto
and gunboat CoVadonga made their appears
ance again in the bay Of Callao under full
head of steam and it was soon ascertained
that their intentions were hostile to the
place. The day previous they had taken
possession of the Chincha Islands, hosted
the Spanish flag, made prisoners of the Gov
ernor and officers of the island, and captured
the Peruvian transport Iquique, with her
officers. Thence they proceeded to Callao
for the purpose of surprising the Peruvian
squadron in that port; but this was fortu-
nately frustrated as the fleet had time to get
up steam and move under the protection of
the guns of the Castle before the foreign
merchant vessels could be moved out of the
way Of the operations of the Spaniards. The
Spanish fleet sailed from Calao on the eve-
ming of the 10TH probably for the Chincha
Islands. The Peruvian steamer Tunabes left
Calao on the morning Of the 18th, to watch
the movements of the Spaniards. At the
time the Ecuador left the greatest excite,
ment prevailed in CalIao.
THE OBJECTS OF SPAIN.
In commenting on this news, the Panama
Star remarks:
There is little doubt that these warlke de-
monstrations are not the hasty, inconsderate
act either of Admiral Pinzon or Commits
sioner Salazar, but the deliberate Instructions
issued at Madrid by the Government Of
Spain; for nothing has t,auspred in the con
duct of the Peruvian Government towards
either the Admiral or the Commissioner to
warrant their selling Peruvian territory and
hosting the Spanish flag over it, whilst on
the contrary, their actions in every way
show that the seizure of the Chinchas has
been long premeditated, and from present
indications, Spain once in possession Of 50
valuable piece Of property, is not likely to
give it up easily.
Although not positively announced, we
-. H. 4
placed under blockade, as we have Informal
ton thai the captain of the British vessel
Ii. w. Meyer. when about to proceed to sea
on the evening of the 18th, was stopped by
boat from the Spanish vessel Cavadonga,
but that afterwards finding an opportunity
be got under weigh and proceeded to Cailao.
1t is scarcely likely, however, that in addition
to the seizures already made without any
previous notice or declaration Of war what.
ever, the Spanish teeet will attempt to pre-.
vent foreign vessels loaded under legal
charter to proceed en- their voyage. 1t would
certainly he the most direct way Of coming
in collision with Great Britain and the Untl
ed States.
What the end of the difficulty will be, it is
hard to toresee Peru Of herself can scarcely
drive the Spaniards from her borders, atho'
she may have the force to repel them from
invading her territory; and SO long as she is
deprived of the revenue of the Chinchas
Islands she will be cut off from the means
necessary for carrying on the war The
question then arises as to what foreign aid
Peru can count on. The only State in either
Central or South America that can render
her direct assistance is Chile, as none of the
others possess the means of naval warfare
The United States have Just declared in
Congress that they will submit to no Europe
an intervention on this continent but thew
are still submitting to the invasion of Mexico
by France, and until they get their own
troubles settled at home NAV not feel Alto
gether disposed to engage in foreign war.
France having set the example in Mexico,
can scarcely find fault with Spain for fol,
lowing suit; but, on the contrary, will be
rather disposed to countenance the move
ment. England having deeper interest in
the welfare of Peru and the produce of the
Chnchas, may be led to interfere on account
of her bondhoders and shipping interests;
but, on the other hand, the question being
one of the re establishment of European
power in America, Spain may readily shut
the mouths Of British merchants and capt.
talists by giving new charters to their ships
and assuming the payment of their bonds.
The next two months will no doubt fully
reveal to us what the present view of the
European powers are in regard to the Anne
rcan continent; and meanwhile, if the Re-
publcs of South America are determined to
maintain their bard-earned independence
against foreign aggression, it behoves them
to abandon their own constant internal strfes
and revolutions, which for years past have
been eating up their resources and depopu-
lating their territories, and to mass together
what strength they have still left them for a
vigorous and general defence. But should
the same state of internal and border war
fare continue in these countries that has
existed for the past few years, it will need