The New York herald., 1879-10-25
THE SOUTH AMERICAN VAR.
The Huascar's Last EXpe-
dition Described.
PERU AND BOLIVIA.
Comparative Forces Of the
Belligerents.

PANAMA. Oct. 1G, 1870
The news Of the capture of the Huascar. announced
by cable from Europe, has not yet been received by
mail from the south coast. On the lst OF october
the Huascar and Union left africa for cruise SOUTH
The object OF their mission doubt to observe
the movements of large fleet or transports which
had left Valparaiso Antofagasta under convoy of
the iron-claa Almirante Cochran, to ascertain the
reason for the concentration OF SO many transports
and such important land forces at Antoiagasa. ana
also probably with q view OF making prize or any
stragger from the convoy OF of the corvettes
which just cruising about sinely.
The feet OF transports did not sail soon ms ex-
pected. and the two Peruvian vessels. finding only
the Blanco Encalada and one transport at Anto'a-
gasta probably continued the voyage south trusting
to their speed to be able to cut out some ci the
ships from the convoy sink them and then show
the ronclads clean pair OF heels, as they nave ire
qucntly done, II this was their calculation they
missed it wofully, since the Cochran is now able to
make thirteen knots hour, which is shade faster
than the Huascar CO. The Peruvian vessels no
doubt fell in with feet when the Cochran either
overhauled the Huascar chased her within sight
of Antofasasta where the Blanco Encalada would be
able to cut off her retreat.
THE CHIIEANs AWAITED.
The allied generals expecting the long looked
forcsments have been sent from Lima to africa.
several regiments of tho reserve having gone for
ward. stripping Lima Of defenders and leaving it
open to capture by assault. With the Huascar in
their hands the Chieans may land where they
please the Peruvian coast. The next mail should
bring the details of the capture of the Huascar and
possible movements of the Chilean army.
THE MILITARY SITUATION IN PERU AND Bo-
PosITIoNs-THE FOREIGN CREDITORS OF
PERC-NAvAL INTELLIGENCE.
LIMA. Oct. l. 1879
Although up to the present time the ChIleans
have failed put their threatened appearance
the coast OF Peru General Prado is evidently very
busy preparing everything for their reception 1t
seems to be his conviction that if the attempt at
landing troops be made at all it will be in the i'm
mediate vicinity of Arica to attack the allied
forces in cantonments to that place and Tacna
hoping to conquer the Peruvian and Bolivian armies
in that neghborhood and thus cut off from i'm me-
diate availability the other allied divisions lying
further south in the Tarapaca Department. which
then would be exposed to double advance from
the enemy from Tacna aud from the strategical
line of the River Loa. which is the
geographical boundary the coast of the
republics of Peru and Bolivia and now held by
some few Chilean soldiers sent forward from Anto-
fagasta Hence General Prado has been calling for
more to defend his positions. Fifteen hundred
excellent soldiers have reached him from the famous
Ole Inca city of Cuzco commanded by the prefect OF
that department. Colonel Luna, sterling officer,
and the First division of the Army OF Reserve left
Limu africa the 27th III the steamer Rimac
one of Grau's prizes, conveyed by the corvette
Union. This division, numbering nearly two thou
sand men is Composed of the line regiments Ava.
oucho, Third. of Lima. and the Cerro de Pasco
tngents. under the command of General Pedro Bus
tGmente. the late Minister OF War. Prado has now
rtnfrnr i'm Arin Hnnn n fha nrrn Ia m
and other points by. force consisting of from
thirteen to fourteen Thousand soldiers of all arms
Tarapaca there nearly eighteen thousand men.
including the division of Gen sral Carlpero (l3ov-
ian) which has just reached Peruvian territory
after fatiguing and harassing march down from
Potosi.
FORCES IN LIMA.
In Lima have force OF 1000. and fifteen
twenty thousand more men could easily be put
in the field if their services required. Arms
an ammunition hand in abundance, the gov
ernnent of Colombia having given orders that no
restrictions shall be placed on war material passing
the Isthmus of Panama. The Oroya transport
has just arrived from that place with full cargo OF
cartridges and torpedo plant As the HERALD has
been informed, africa is well fortified Iquique has
been favored with two 300pounders and two 15O-
pound guns, while two others of a similar calibre
have been recovered from the wrecked iron-clad In
dependencia and mounted. Both Iquique and
africa are admirably adapted by nature for defence.
degrading the Chilean forces we have not such re.
liable data. Their army at Antoiagasta Is estimated
at the most a. fifteen thousand men, and in Santiago
and Valparaiso the reserve corps must reach the
no reliable evidence of q speedy movement on
their part. On the water nothing new has occurred
since the date of my last despatch the Oath inst.
1t supposed that the officers recently ap-
pointed to the command OF the Chilean iron-clads
would have endeavored to make redoubtablc debut
but up to they have followed the same negative
policy observed by their predecessors. Something
1t is to be hoped will be done soon. for the monot
ony is not only disagreeabe. but costs great deal
OF money-which. as is well known abroad, is not o
very plentiful article at present in the Peruvian
market.
GENERAL NEWS
Congress is busy engaged looking into the guano
dicated the absolute necessity attending to the
long overdue claims of the foreign bondhoders. 1t
proposed to give the sale of guano to these
creditors, they receive much for every ton
sold. and to hand moderate remainder for the
necessities of the State. The project met with the
approval of the Lower Chamber, but hangs fire in
the Senate.
Mr.. John G.. Meiggs has made proposal to the
government to complete the Oroya Railway to the
Cerro de Pasco and to conclude the drainage works
OF the celebrated silver mines ut that spot
menced by his brother. Don Enrique.
The Triumph tkngl!shl and Hansa Gcrman) iron
clads are at Caliao. The French visorieusc is CIV
irg her men liberty at Aucon, little watering place
some twenty miles north. The Pensacola is still on
the south coast. The Alaska is expected daily from
Panama. The Onward Is at Callao. Captain Bar
clay, United States Navy, her commander, will soon
be relieved. having served his full time the coast.
CLOSING this communication a sailing vessel
rives at Callao twelve days from Valparaiso, and all
nouncos that great preparations were being made in
that port for the embarkaton OF troops but whether
for the reinforcement OF the army stationed at Ano
fagasta or for AN attempt at invading Peru is still
matter OF conjecture.