The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-06
PERU AND BOLIVIA.
ANOTHER SHARP NAVAL BATTLE.
The Huascar SilenceS the Bat
teries of Antofagasta.
ADMIRAL GRAU'S REPORT.


LIMA, Sept. 8, 1872
The brief despatch transmitted to the HERALD by
tho steamer leaving here the 4th inst for Panama
is amply corroborated by the news received to-day
from the SOUTH brought by the steamship Bollvia'
and referring the battle OF August Is between the
famous tron-clad Huascar and the forts OF Antofa.
Cast by the guns of the Chilean corvettes Ma
gallanes and Abtac. First. it be well to tran
scribe q translation of the telegram directed to Gem
oral prado in africa. from Rear Admiral Grau. dated
Iquique the 3Oth Of August, bis return from tho
scene Of conflict Grau says:-
Returning from Taltal entered tho Bay of Anto-
fagasta to reconnoitre and with the intention OF
breaking the cable leading SOUTH but being pro
yoked by the fire OF the enemy l fought tho shore
batteries and the Magaanes and Abtao for four
hours, until their fire senced. On board OF my
ship have lost one man. Second Lieutenant Carlos
de los Heros. and have another badly wounded by
splinters, aide of the principal quartermaster
In the Chilean ports Blanco Encalada and Cobre and
the Bolivian ports occupied by Chilean forces
Mejillones Cobja and T,copa-I destroyed the
launches and lighters and captured steam iaunch
which bring to AREA MluoEh uhAo'
The despatch. modest and reticent. is character
istic OF the man. but the story Of this the bravest
exploit of the Huascar. must be told at greater
length.
After having paid his customary fortnightly visit
10 the Chilean and Bolivian ports mentioned, Ad-
miral Grau quietly steamed into Antofagasta on the
morning of the 18th of August while his men
were TRANQUILITY enjoying their breakfast at the
somewhat fashionable. but usual hour in South
America Of eleven. anxious to discover whether
the two Chilean corvettes had left their safe pro-
lection behind the Gordon of merchant vessels,
where he had found them several days previously.
Failing in this design the engineers on board and
the carpenters were ordered to prepare some ap
paratus the purpose of lifting the cable leading
to Valparaiso. hoping thus to efectually cut Oft all
tered Antofaaasta before several occasions, and
generally retired without having oppor-
tunity to salute the Chilean ensign with his shotted
guns. but this time it seemed that he was to have
better fortune.
IN BATTLE ARRAY.
before he had his ship in battle order and trusting
to yhe singular Indifference OF the Chieans to the
presence Of armed enemy in their waters, Grau
quietly making all OF his preparations for
peaceable attack the submerged cable, when the
shore batteries mounting ten fifteen guns.
S00pounder. two or more 150pounder Krupps and a
number Of smaller pieces. opened on him. aided by
the two corvctes which carefully steamed out from
behind their haven of refuge, delivered their and
then returned to the sale bulwark formed by
fourteen fifteen inofrending and neutral mer-
chantmen, engaged in loading nitrate Of soda
from the usurped possessions OF Bolivia,
aud unable to there no
tugs ready to assist them. Even had these
of assistance been at hand it is probable that
the brave captains of the Chilean would have
opposed serious resistance to the departure re-
moval of their singular buwarks. Grau lost no
time in replying to the compliment OF iron but it
alone and had but her two 15O-pound turret guns,
which only be discharged every fifteen or
twenty minutes and her deck battery of two seventy
Founders to the cannonadc from shore,
where the artillerymen. being likewise under
psrapet and on firm ground. certainly had the
advantage over low-lying monitor i'll rough water
and in u bay filled with reefs and sandbars. So
It will be seen that tho advantages
side. and that side not the
Peruvian. Nevertheless, what was the result? Four
hours good and hard fighting. twenty-six shots fired
by the Huascar from her two i'll the turret and
two shots from her seventy FOUNDERS. aga nst 10
made by the Chileans. Grau dismounied the prin-
cipal cannon in the fortifcations, a 3O0-pounder,
siienced the fire OF the other guns drove the two
corvettes to their cowardly refuge after having
lodged three shells on board the Abtao destroyin9
her machinery. killing eighteen and leaving
kors du combat the two chie officers of that vessel;
knocking to pieces one OF the great water
last shots at the discounted enemy, leaving
the port at six p; M ana soaming slowly
launches ia tow which latter port he reached the
3st Of August just in time to receive the congratu-
lxtions of the Presideuts-Prado, Peru, and
Daxa. of Bolivia on his well nerted promotion to
Rear Admiral. and their Fluctuations for this new
exploit. probably the most hazardous in which the
famous Huascar has distinguished herself.
GRAU's GENEROSITY
Had Grau so desired he could easily have destroyed
the Chilean corvettes by forcing his way through
the neutral merchantmen but his character gem
suppose that he could have had recourse to such
expedient The only injury sugered by tho
of Ne ITO shots fired by the Cheans in the
disagreeable shape OF 3O0-pound shell, exploded
directly over the deck battery killing the lieutenant
Heros, before mentioned. This was u disaster, but
cannot be called an injury TO the ship she ar
rived in good order in africa he 3lst of August and
on the I'd of this month conveyed transport. the
Chalaco. to Iquque where the latter landed couple
OF heavy BlakeIy rifles, two hundred three hun
dred FOUNDERS. weighing thirteen tons each, and
brated port. After the fight at Antofagasta the
Chilean iron-clad Blanco Encalada, with q trans
port. appeared the scene; but the Huas-
car had fulfilled her duty. and the power
ful enemy always somewhere else when
hcr presence is required at the point of
danger. burned few blue lights and then quietly
ordered all hands to turn in. Your correspondent,
American born and bred. and although naturally
prejudiced in favor OF Peru. the noble country OF
his adoption. feels decided nsation OF indigna-
ton when he contempates the inaction OF the tor
midable Chilean feet commanded and directed by
men who call themselves the Yankees Of South
America. Why, Peru with her Huascar, her two
corvettcs, the Union and Picomayo. also COM
manded by Americans. for We all on this continent
glory i'll that name, has done more in three short
months than could reasonably be expected OF
country which has passed through fearful crisis OF
revolution and financial disorder.
SIDE.
What have the Chileans done2 Absolutely moth
ing. The news OF this last combat at Antofagasta
had sensible effect i'll Santiago and Valparaiso.
But before the intelligence arrived the varas cabinet
had fallen and new men were called to takot places
OF the ministers who were Obliged to give up their
portfolios by the forco Of public opinion. Fancy
what the excitement must have been when tho
famous batteries OF Antoiagasta had to their
inability to silence the two of the ITuascar and
the Chilean corvcttes although in duty to put
Ia an appearance had to take refuge bchi the pro-
tecting line of number OF neutral merchantmen!
The captains OF these merchantmen, by the way.
protested IN the livelicst terms. and during the
ton - their consuls in Anioagasa. to the extra
ordinary conduct OF the Chilean men-of- war cxpo..
ing their vessels To all the dangers destruction by
iIot and shell. since their fire delivered
VI the ships question, and then retiring for pro-
tection leti the Merchantmen 10 the tender merc.s
Of the Peruvians. Fortunately tor them Admiral
urau IL gentleman and soldier and
foreign property unframed. The town
Of Antofagasta, built entirely of wood and
rooted with corrugated iron. would have
been an easy prey to couple of shells discharged
from the Huascar. The ram. however. disdaincd to
employ her ammunition in such manner and no
damage was done 60 the place The 10000 Chilean
troops, stationed in the town and the suburbs,
he'd off quickly to the hills and remained there
until the Huascar had siienced the lire of the ships
aud shore batteries. had pipcd all hands to dinner