The New York herald., 1879-09-20
SPANISH AMERICA.

SECRET SHIPMENT OF ARMS FOR CHILE AND
PERu-cARTRIDGEs DISGUISED AS LARD
RIFLES AS BACON. roRpEDoEs AS SOOTHING
SYRUP.
PANAMA, Sept. II, 1879.
The last mail from Bogota brought definite IN
structons from the national government to the local
authorities as 10 the shipment of and mun-
tons of war TO the bellgerents on the south coast
The action of the State government in permitting
Peruvian armed transports to receive large careoes
of contraband OF war at this port for the nse or
their government in defiance OF the repeated
protests OF the Chilian Consul. has oc-
casioned much discussion here and
curiosity as to the action OF the national
government in the affair. The more intelligent
portion OF the community believed it would be con-
demned. and the result has confirmed their opinion
The fact is that the local government has unneces
sarily compromised the nation in this dsagreeable
case on account OF the miserable revolutions which
from time to time disturb the usual condition of af
fairs. rendering necessary proclamations that the
country is in state of when the operations OF
the transit hampered by useless formalities and
business generally is reduced to merely local de-
mands.
USES OF WRITTEN PERMIT.
When the first shipment OF arms for Peru arrived
at Aspinwall the Isthmus hal been declared In a
state of siege; the agent OF tho Panama Railroad
Company was Obliged to report all brought to
Panama and he and local merchants and others
forbidden to snip arms. powder. &C.. without
a written permit from the government. In conse-
quence os this for two months all through ship
ments of for Peru reported to the govern
ment and became known to the public and to the
Consuls interested. When the first transport ar
rived from Peru the Chilean Consul possession
of such facts enabled him to enter most vgor-
Gus protest against the shipment OF arms then on
the Isthmus. This protest was disregarded after
some discussion in which the Chilean Consul
snubbed in manner not particularly courteous,
permit granted to ship the to Ecuador
The permit was drawn up by merchant of this city,
who merely solicited general permission for the
shipment, not stating the destination. but the Peru
Wan agent dexterously interlned the words. "for
Ecuador" and the action consummated-arms
not intended for Chat Republic being shipped on
board Of Peruvian armed transport 1t is needless
to say that they duly arrived at Callao. Several
other shipments have since been made under similar
subterfuges and all by the permission of the local
government, without which the Panama Railroad
Company would not have delivered package.
WHAT THE COLOMBIAN SECRETARY THINKS
The general rule laid down by the Colombian
Secretary OF Foreign Affairs strongly condemns the
local government. He says:-"H 1t is attempted to
ship board Of man-Ot OF q belligerent,
merchandise not destined for the State OF Panama,
but through freight for other country, the
tents Of which cannot be known except by actual
animation and it is not officially known to contain
contraband Of war; the President of the not
bound to make an investigation prevent the
shipment; but If any foreign government or any
competent agent of such should advise him
such ship arms. ammunition other articles,
which, according to treaties or international law,
OF vessels Of war; il their shipment notorious
fact and their contents visible the President Of the
to the said The Secretary
of Foreign Affairs also calls upon this government
to ..disprove the statement made by the Consul OF
Chile in that city, in his protest that tho shipment
made board the Peruvian transport Tails
man." remarking very sharply. COPIES of docu-
mentary proofs you must send to this department"
This unfortunately, the Peruvian government can
not do. The too notorious. the Peru
Wan journals in their exultation over the success
of their agents here. being powerful witnesses
against them. rr.
''BREAKFAsr BACON"
Larger shipments here awaiting the
rival Of another transport, which is constantly
pected. There also some lots for Chile barrels
marked breakfast Bacon" which contain contra
band of There about four hundred tierces
OF lard tor Peru, which on examination were found
fastened in the centre Of the terces. the spaces
being filled with lard of the best quality. "Agri-
Remington rifles. "guano shoots. derrick mate
rials." &C.. have served secure transportation for
torpedoes, and "Mrs. winslow's Soothing syrup"
has done the service for hundreds
OF boxes Of cartridges. Under innocent
names have been shipped deadly explosives.
dangerng the lives of passengers and crews of
sels and jeopardizing the interests Of various At
lantc steamship companies and of the Panama
Railroad. The Pacific Steam Navigation Company
refuses to receive any suspicious package, without
examination, although then manv things
cape their vigilance The report has reached Callao
from Valparaiso that the English steamer Veloz.
which recently arrived from u European port ladcn
with arms for Chile. had been taken possession OF
by the Captain of Her Britannia Majestys steamer
Opal lawful prize, but after by far the largest
portion of the cargo had been landed and passed
into Chilean hands.
From the wreck of the Peruvian frigate Inde-
pendencia Colonel Suarez has succeeded in raising
two guns 300-pounder and the other 15O
FOUNDER. These now mounted at IQuique
Divers also employed in the effort to the
guns of the Esmeralda. There have been
rivals from South Central American ports since
the last steamer sailed for New York.
THE TELEGRAPH WAR