The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-24

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The Chilean Minister denies that there has
been an engagement between the Chilean and
the allied Peruvian and Bolivian armies at
Calama He says there has been no lighting
since the naval battle at Iquique.
MOVEMENTS OF THE BELLIGERENTs
TALK OF cHILE's INTENTIoNs-PEEUs YES
sEIs-GERMANY AND THE LUXOR QUESTION.
PANAMA July Is. 1879.
The steamer from the South does not bring any
war news of importance The Lima correspondent
of the Star aud Herald under date of July 2. says-
GAS surmised, the story of the Bolivian General
Camperos encounter with the Chilean forces at Ca
lama the River Loa proved to be entirely false.
The last accounts from africa and Tacna. where
the bulk of the Bolivian contingent is still quartered
with a large force Of Peruvian troops, state that
Generals Daza and Prado still busily engaged
in perfecting the organization of their men. The
Chilean vessels. with the single exception Of the
Pisagua affair. have kept particularly quiet. The
two corvettes O'Higgins and Chacabuco were re-
ported in Valparaiso for repairs, tho Abtao and
Cochrane the blockade at Iquque. and the BlarcO
Encaada with the Magallanes at Antofagasta. pro-
ecting large Heot of transports gathered together
at that place.
"THE GRAND COUP"
the South that the at Santiago. possibly
urged on by outside pressure is meditating descent
in force the Peruvian coast, perhaps at some
point between Mollendo and africa, thereby hoping
to destroy and render inefficient the heavy divisions
of the Peruvian army stationed much further south.
in the Province of Tarapaca near 20 the boundary
line Of Bolivia Nothing further has been
accomplished by Admiral Reb olledo since the
Pisagua bombardment. The Blanco Encalada, his
&C AntOfagaSta
protecting the landing OF troops from Valparaiso.
descent on the Peruvian coast at some point near
Ito is anticipated but General Prado at africa, has
the coast pretty well defended and fortified. largo
portion OF the Bolivian contingent has already been
sent to Iquique and Tarapaca; but We know nothing
regarding the whereabouts OF General Campero. who
with an excellent column of Bolivian troops. 5000
strong was marching down from the interior H%, to
Chiu in the flank.
THE PERUVIAN VESSELS.
''The Peruvian squadron Is still at Callao. The
Huascar, thoroughly painted and scraped, came out
of recently and has received the solid steel shot
brou ht by the Taiisman of which she stood in such
need. The work the boilers OF the Union is nearly
completed, and the monitors are reported to be i'll
good order. STILL discretion is the better part Of
vaor and after the unfortunate loss of the Indepen
cia Peru cannot risk her remaining vessels against
overpowering forces, as would be the two Chilean
ron-clads more especially rs there are no reserves
to draw upon. The morale of the navy is excellent
PERU's STRENGTH.
"The Peruvian colony in Paris has subscribed
f100, 0D0 for expenses, but, unfortunately, we
hear of no ron-clad having been purchased Lima
has effective army. composed of fully eleven
thousand men of all arms. severe blow has been
given to private interests throughout the Republic
but principally ins Lima by, the decision of the
Nitrate Company to suspend the payment OF interest
the bonds issued by the government in payment
for the Nitrate Ohcnas.
THE GERMAN STEAMER.
"The case of the Luxor is stllin allegiance. The
Prize Court decided that there were grounds for
the detention of the vessel contraband Of
tain had been deceived. But the Superior Court
overruled this finding. and the ship is still in the
clutches of the law at Callao kilograms have been
received from the kosmos Company. III Hamburg,
alleging good faith and guaranteeing neutrality.
The announced interference OF the German govern
ment is now denied.
PROSPECTS OF MEDIATIoN-AN IMPORTANT DE-
CREE-THE STRAITS OF MAGELLAN.
LIMA, July 2, 1879.
It is reported that the commander Of the French
squadron in the Pacific is on his way to Iquique
where, consequently, the different admirals may
confer as to best methods of protecting the prop
erty Of the citizens and subjecsyof their respective
nations. England has already formally protested
against the further destruction of the plant en-
ployed for loading guano and the suppression by
Chilean authorities of purely mercantile dispatches
or cabiegrams. We have now in Callao over one
hundred sailing vessels. under charter to load
nitrate and guano. driven away from Pabellon and
Iquique by the Chilean squadron. and causing an
since this is u OF the ''acts OF the kings en-
emes as the old style of charter parties would ex
press it. France is naturally concerned in the pro-
lection of the guano interests, as large amounts OF
Peruvian bonds are held by her citizens, and
the numerous Americans. Germans and Italians
established in business along the coast protest
against further useless dcpredations. In the bonn
bardment OF Psagua alone the damage done to prop
erty OF neutrals. principally Austrians and ltll-
ians. reached the respectable sum Of 100000
soles. OF course understand that no diplomatic
claim can be enforced; but certainly emonstrance,
aud c.r rGDetltlOu
OF such destruction
CUSTOMS DUTIES.
An important decree has been issued by the gov.
eminent Peru, ordering that and after the 10th
inst. all customs duties inward must be paid III
silver its equivalent i'll bank notes. Silver coin il
quoted to-day at l56 per cont premium over the
paper circulation hence is easily TO be perceived
that severe burden is to be laid upon us
considerably. Merchants already busy in
despatching all their goods from the Callao Custom
House and storing them in Lima to avoid this heavy
rise in duties The consequence will be that the in
come derived from customs will be enormously
diminished the public treasury will be loser and
tho consumers the people generally must suffer
under the new scale OF prices.
THE STRAITS or MAGELLAN.
Notwithstanding the neutrality OF this most i'm
portant pass tor vessels of all nations. and, above
all the very critical state of the relations between
the Argentine Republic and Chile we CLEAN from its
own newspapers that the latter Republic has begun
the construction of forts IN Punta Arenas; also the
preparation Of torpedoes to impede the passage OF
any ships it deem inconvenicnt for it's own
interests should reach the Pacific This course
may not meet with the approval OF tho great and
even the minor maritime Powers.
1t may be interesting TOR American officers to know
that the steamer Wat rec, cast high and dry the
beach at africa by tho tidal wave of 1863 and aban-
doned is quite useful to the Pcruvians in q some
what novel character The batteries erected at africa
have made target of the wrecked ship, and accord
ing to accounts have performed very iar great
gun practice at her These bateries-the guns being
Layasseur mounted on revolving carriages-defcnd.
not only the approaches from the sea, but also the
roads leading down the coast, passing by the spot
where the Watcreo is stranded.