New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-22
sOTTH AMERICA.

II was generally expected that the Spanish ileet'
after bOmbarding Valparaiso, would pay WISH 10
Callao the principal port of Peru, and next to al
paraso the most important commercial city oil the
Pacific coast of South America. IL was known that
Peru had made much more efficient preparations oil
defense than Chill and that the Spaniards would at
least not be allowed to lombard a defenselcss city
This morning we publish an account of the lombard
ment Of Callao which took place on May2, and which,
as far as we can Judge from the meager eportsreceyed
resulted in a decisive defeat OF the Spaniards. Their
ron.clad Numancia and their five frgaies, Villa de
! Madrid Almanac Po.olro;"~ 80 - 80
~ 80 80 H. damaged Commodore Nuhez
NYbGsly according 10 statement of the surgeon Of
the Vanderbilt, MORALLY wounded. and finally the
entire feet, after loss OF 800 in killed and wounded
compelled to return 10 its anchorage of the point
Of san Lorenzo The loss of the Pcruyans is said to
have been very small and the City of Callao to have
sustained no damage whatever.
Our Panama correspondent SAYS that the Pan
amehos were almost crazy for Joy over that result.
The next mail from Panama will bring US the same
news from all South America where the excitement
against the spaniards is becoming most intense.
Throughout the United States great aud sincere
joy will be felt at the result for all political parties
OF our country agree in symPathzing in this war with
the South Americans Even Europe will think that
the Spanards have been served right, for popular
opinion in every country has taken side against Spain
We shall have TO wait for another arrival from
Panama in order to become fully acquainted with all
the details and the probable consequences of the en-
gagement, but already know enough to deem il
safe to say that the issue Of the contest will prove
a very serious blow to Spain. The hope 10 compel
the allies to make offer for compromise and thus
to end a ruinous war has again vanished. The OK.
ample of Peru has shown the Governments and the
peoples Of the allied States the importance of con-
centrating their efforts for the strengthening the de-
lenses OF their ports and for the increase Of their navies
In both respects they may be expected TO improve
steadily. The two new Peruvian ron-cads Huescar
and Independence, were expected to join the allied
feet in the course of April. Other additions to the
fleet likewise 10 be made If the war should
be proracted, several Of the other Republics may yet
be expected to join the alliance. President Mo,quera
is supposed to favor such a step, and he
has bought, while in England four war vessels and
large quantities of ammunition. In Venezuela, pop.
ular sentiment expressed itself most decidedly in favor
of the alliance and hoped that Congress would
decide in favor of it, after the arrival at the capital of
Marshal Falcon, the late President Even the Presi.
dent Of the Argentine Republic, Mtre, whom Gillian
papers had represented as, at least indifferent TO the
cause of union, has declared that he has been mis-
represented, and that the continuance Of the Para
guayan is the only for his nonparticipaon
in the struggle.
While all these circumstances point TO probably |
larger increase of the forces Of the Allies than that of
the forces Of the Spaniards, the continuance of the
war greatly promotes the idea of permanent union
Of the South American republics. The most important
step yet taken toward this end is proclamation by
President Melgarejo of Bolivia one of the most ener.
getic promoters of the idea Of union comforting the
right of citizenship upon natives of other South Amer
lean States who reside in Bolivia. 1t is believed that
noon attempt will be made to unite all the repub
lies Of South and Central America in confederacy
shaped after that or Germany.