The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-15
THE SOUTH AMERICAN war;
Slow Progress Of the Trian-
gular Conflict.
PERU'S FLEET ON THE WARPATH.
Grave Rumors as TO the Real
End Of the War. A.
LIMA. July %. 1870.

LIMA, July 20. 1879.
My last despatch recounted the engagement be-
tween the Chilean fleet and the ram Huascar off
Iquique on the morning of the 10th inst, in which
it was supposed that the inflicted considerable
damage on the transport Matias Consiho and the
corvette Abtao. Although all Of our information
regarding such injury comes from Chilean Sources
and consequently is probably understated we learn
that the Consifo was struck by several Of the
Huascar's shot, one passing quite through her hull
and disabling some Of the machinery. The Abtac
and Magallanes were also hit and some Of their
crew-three. it is stated-ked. After the pru.
dent pursuit of the Huascar for a few
miles the ironclad Cochrane went into Pisagus and
INDUCED in the favorite chilean amusement of de-
stroying launches. returning then leisurely to
assume its station on the Iquque blockade. From
reason, possibly from fear of torpedoes in view
OF some preparations on Shore from seeing the
condensers again ut work against Admiral williams
orders the Chilean vessels opened fire on Iquque
the evening of the 10th, directing their shot prin.
cpally against the. water condensers the shore.
Forty-hve shell and solid shot were fred but little
damage done. and only man killed shore.
The Peruvians have heavy guns in position at
Iquique. and consequently could not return the
compliment 1t would be very simple thing ia
destroy the town. constructed exclusively OF wood
and built ground Tricky mixed with nitrate.
Fire once started it would be impossible to subdue
the flames. Possibly before long the Chileans may
make the experiment
PERUVIAN FLEET.
On the receipt of the intelligence respecting thiS
bombardment General Prado despatched the Huascar
soop of war Union and the gunboat Pilcomayo to
the south. 1t is supposed that reprisaI
will be attempted the Chilean coast or assuredly
demonstration tending to increase the discomfort
hal, <yI..r
ner of carrying on the 1t has all along been .
recognized and undened fact that the Antofagasta
Nitrate Company. located at the spot where Chile
first made her seizure of Bolivian territory has on
its lists OF shareholders the names of very many
prominent Chileans-Cabnet Ministers, Senators,
generals in the army and naval officers of high
grade. An able publication made in Chile. entitled
the First Accusation" and generally attributed
the pen of Don Ainbrosio Montt, distinguished
Chilean statesman. throws out very sig
nifcant proofs of the dissatisfaction Of the
people at the measures adopted by tho
Executive, going far to hint in a decided
manner that the undertaken for the sole
benefit of the shareholders referred to- whose
ests secured by the army and navy in the ap-
preparation of the Bolivian nitrate districts. This
seems to be in manner corroborated by the fact
that the powerful Chilean feet has been almost
cusively engaged in blockading the nitrate ports OF
Peru preventing all expectation Of the nitrate while
vast quantities of the article have been shipped
abroad since the Chilean occupation OF Antofagasta
The destruction of all appliances for shipping nitrate
ance more especially as the government Of Chile has
recently declared that nitrate of soda is not to be
considered contraband Of war. All this has been
alleged since the very moment of declaring the wac
but your correspondent mentions it now for tho
first time since the publications made in Chile give
certain authority to she accusation. Consequently.
while this dissatisfaction exists among the Chilean
people. any victory or successful dash made by the
ruvia W IL.
PERU AND CHILE.
In Peru a contrary spirit Obtains, and the Goth
inst. the President obliged to issue decree
ordering that all further mobilization OF National
Guards be suspended. and that no more troops DO
to Lima. the garrison being over twelve thou
sand men. while ut the front there are troops in
superabundance This certainly shows that tho
heart of Poru il in the war when tAe supply OF
armed. disciplined and uniformed is far the
demand. II we could only make an exchange of .
division of soldiers for first class ironclsd the
suit Of the struggle would be no longer doubtful.
The Chileans have evacuated Calama, Bolivian
frontier town the River Loa. and concen.
tratng ell their land forces at Antofsgasta possibly
to mako the final preparations for the grand descent
on the coast OF Peru which has been heraldsd
for nearly two months. General Camperc.
the Bolivian commander OF the Third division. was
within striking distance of Calams. and probably
has occupied it before this. Generals Prado and
Dazs still at africa. We anxiousy await news
from the naval expedition. and the operations will
doubtless be very interesting Her Maiesty's IRON
clad ship Triumph, Admiral De Horsey sailed for
africa the 10th. The United States steamship
Pensacola, Admiral c. Il. p. Rodgers Is still in Ca
bay.
OTHER DETAILS OF THE COMMANDMENT or
IouIQUE-Ev EVACUATION OF cALAMA-IMPoR-
TANr' PERUVIAN sUccEss-DIscoNrENT IN
CHILE
PANAMA. August 6. 1879.
The Peruvians appear disposed to take the initis-
tive in the struggle going once having sat-
sfed themselves Of the greater speed of their few
ships insignificant in numbers and strength COM
oh no last If th.u Him.
car stirred up bile of the Chilean Admiral and.
unable to catch his fleet antagonist, he returned to
Iquique and, some say. vented his spleen
on that beeaguered city by bombarding 1t for half
all hour on the evening of July TO- His own
statement of his reasons for doing so, however il
that the commander of the forces shore had given
orders for the repair OF the water condensers
against his express wish, and his fire merely to
still further destroy and disable those most neces.
sary establishments 1t IL believed that the brief
bombardment did cfectually. Less than fifty
projcctiles were thrown into the city, and the
centres of the population. the cuartes of the
Peruvian forces. untouched. Admiral Robot
ledo's statement is therefore borne out that he
would not sacrifice the property and lives of
CONTESTANTS. Had the bombardnent. brief it
was been directed against the inhabited part OF the
city the slaughter would have been fearful
RETALIATION ACCOMPLISHMENT.
The moment that the of the affair at 1quiqus
reached the of Presidents Prado and Dszs. at
africa. orders given to the Huascar. Union and
Pilcomayo 10 go south and retaliate a. far pos
sible on the undefended ports OF Chile. This they
did, cleveriy avoiding the whole Chilean feet, which
was foolishy concentrated at lqu,que They visited
1ocopilia Antofagasta, Caldera, Cnaegal and varir
Gus other inferior ports. and destroyed ali ths
launches in each. They are said to have encoun-
tered no resistance whatever. Peruvian official tee-
grams further state that they captured the splendid
Chilean transport Rimac, which was conveying to
Antofagasta battalion of cavalry. the "Yungai."
consisting OF 400 and officers. with all their
arms. horses, equipments. &c. Three sailing vss-
sells, laden with coal and copper. were also made
prizes aud sent to Callao. The loss to Chile will bc
over S1VOO0O0 in addition to which the effect
in chile will be immense The people are already