The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-21
The South American War.

The South American War.
If it be true that Chill has formally de-
clarcd war against Peru, tidings of battle
by sea and land should soon follow. But the
story is strange. 1t came from Valparaiso,
under date Of April G, aud should be trust
worthy; yet only the day before, Panama
news showed that Peru had not yet decided
on her attitude toward Chill aud Bolivia,
and would put Off the decision until the re-
assembling Of her Congress on April "a.
Since then, by way OF London, has come what
purports TO be private telegram from Lima,
OF April a. saying that the entire coast ia
blocked; the fleet is useless Peru is ac-
cepting favorable terms, and the negotia-
tions continue" The caution is added that
possibly the above despatch is intended to
influence stocks" indeed it is difficult to
understand that tho entire Peruvian navy,
which contains more ironclads than the
Chilian, should be already made useless
without firing gun, and that the Gillian
war vessels could so quickly seal up the en-
tire coast OF Peru. II can, however, he safely
affirmed that, II Chill has taken the step Of
driving Peru from formal neutrality intoopen
alliance with Bolivia, her naval attack on the
former should be as prompt as possible.
Bolivia has no navy; Peru has power
full one. including six ironclads. Bolivia has
n population about equal to Chill. and a
standing army nearly as large; Peru adds
to Bolivia population larger than either
and an army more than double the size OF
Chil's. Chill. now established in Bolivia's
district Of Atacama, probably could not have
been expelled by her The region she holds
Is only about seventy miles in length. lying
along the coast which the Gillian navy
protects. The Bolivian towns are far
In the interior whereas in the nitrate
and mining districts OF the coast
there are four Chlians TO every Bolivian.
The people. therefore. received the Gillian
advance with open arms the projects Of the
coastwise towns fed to the interior, or shut
themselves up in the Peruvian consulate,
and the threescorc or fourscore Bolivian
troops that formed the garrison at Antofa-
gasta FASTENED TO surrender, through fear
Of the populace. who had already torn down
the Bolivian shield at the prefecture. Re
joicings greet the Gillian flag in this in
vaded region. and the main use Of the
CHILEAN troops thus far has been to guard
the Bolivian captivcs from injury. But now,
with the territory in dispute already seized,
! EuIIltbutN ullA NlAltils Aulll III uttlNlliB
warnganst Peru must have resolved to risk
her liability to recapture Of this region in
an attack both from the north by the Peru
Wan army at Iquique, and from the west by
the Peruvian navy.
Possibly Chill has already heard Of n
secret alliance between Peru and Bolivia, or
believes an open alliance to be only a ques-
! tion OF time. The cause OF the war was Boz
livia's levying a tax on Chilian-owned
nitrate works in her territory, against
treaty stipulation; but Peru, which also
owns large nitrate deposits. has for several
years levied such a tax, and has been en-
deavoring TO persuade Bolivia TO do the
same. in order that both countries may
stand on n level in foreign markets. II l.
thus clear that secret original alliance
between Peru and Bolivia is possible, and
that community OF interests is certain.
Besides. the Peruvian press has discussed
the dispute with great hostility TO Chill,
and the Gillian press has returned the
menaces with interest long-slumbering
jealousy between the two countries for the
mastery OF the South Pacific has famed
out. When the Peruvian Envoy, ANTONIO
LAvALLE, went to Santiago, last month,
with his proposition for mediation, its
basis was the evacuation by Chill OF Bolivian
territory. This OF course. could not be
thought Of, as it would abandon the fruits of
Il whole campaign. Chlrs counter PROPOSE
ton that Bolivia should renounce her pre-
tensions 20 overthrow the treaty exemption
respecting nitrate taxes, was equally dis
tasteful 10 Perm.
Meanwhile, Chilli perceived that Peru had
convoked her Congress. had begun to mo-
Billie her army and to fit ont her ironclads,
one or two Of which already lowered on the
Bolivian coast. She saw large Peruvian
force gathering at Iquique, under the pre-
tence OF disturbances on the railroad and at
the saltpetre works near by. where there
were many Chilenos; and Iqu!que would be
the Peruvian base in case Of war Assum-
ing the Valparaiso tidings TO be true. VI
must conclude that Chill, distrustful OF
Peru from the first, boldly determined e
gain over her the same advantage OF q
prompt initiative which she had gained
over Bolivia. None the less will it be true
that the scope OF the war is greatly widened
and its issue made impossible to predict