The New York herald., 1879-09-16

agasta on the 2Sth of August and an engagement of
four hours duration ensued. The Huascar silenced
the enemy's fire and dismounted their principal
mander wounded. and several were killed"
MOVEMENTS OF THE PERUVIAN FLEET.
PANAMA, Sept. G. 1879.
In the warike operations Of the South American
beligerents either by land there has been alb
solutely no movement of Importance since my last,
beyond the despatch August 20 from africa Of the
Huascar and the transport Oroya on secret mis-
sion to the Chilean coast The object to endeavor
to pick up other Chilean transports. surprising
them in undefended ports. destroy If unable to cap
ture them. The Union. of the Peruvian navy. is
now in Chilean waters cruising in search of Eng
lish steamer. which was known to be the way out
with arms for Chile This mission. far Its i'm
mediate object is concerned. is failure as the
Glenelg the steamer expected. had arrived at
Lota, in convoy of the armed transports Loa and
Amazonas. which together more than a match
for the Union. The latter is now twenty-eght days
out since last reported, and already some uneasi-
is felt regarding her safety. The cruise of the
Chilean fleet north was not altogether unproductive
of results Of Importance. OF Pisagua they cap
tured torpedo launch, which had been fitted
up in lquique. and was manned by four persons
Mr. Scott. an English torpedoist; Mr.. Shrtzer. late
master mechanic. L. and o. Railroad; Callas. q
Greek. and negro fireman. They left Pisagua the
night or the 14th. for Iquique. The had been
very heavy for several days. and it is presumed they
could not run in shore. She is old launch and
could not go more than FIVE SIX knots. The Chill
cans have taken the launch intact along with them
and the four prisoners board the Banco Enca-
lada. Some torpedoes found in their possession
most terrible nj
tanning each 100 pounds Of dynamite. The men
will be sent to Valparaiso and the principals will
doubt be executed. contract was found on one OF
them. signed by merchant in Peru Offering to pay
them 10000 for destroying any Of the Chilean iron
ciads and $4,000 each for the corvettes thousand
soles In silver were also found in their possession
Judge Pettis the United States Minister to Bolivia
has returned to Arica after his visit to Chile and
rumors of negotiations for peace are current in
Lima. Officials very reticent to the character
Of any proposals for adjustment Of the difficulty
which Mr.. Pettis may have been empowered to
mako; but it that they involve the
cessation OF hostilites the retirement of the Chill
cans from the disputed territory, and the reference
Of the questions between Bolivia and Chile to the
arbitrament Of neutrals. Several vessels in addi-
tion to the Glenelg, which has already been
reported. expected at Valparaiso with
arms. They will bo met at the Stroits
and go under convoy to their destination.
Runner has 1t that another Peruvian transport is
in the bay. and report. somewhat more accurately
verified, asserts the presence on the isthmus of
large amount of material for the use Of Peru
aud Bolivia. This comprises. it is said.
several formidable torpedoes which are to
be put together board. with their proper
charges of death-dealing force. The Legislative AS
sembly Of the State of Bolivar ordinary ses-
ut.
elected President of tho State seor Noguera is to
assume the rens Of government Commerce is
lively in Barranquilla and Savanilla The Atlas Com
pany has added another to the Barranouills
line. one of those the Jamaica and Intercoloniai
line having visited Barranquilla during the month
and carried away large cargo.
The Panama Star and Herald says:-''Clandestino
shipments Of arms and other material of war con-
tinue to be made in most reprehensibie manner.
Among the latest have heard of was that of o
number of barrels terces lard in each of which
two boxes of cartridges ingenously fastened,
the vacant spaces being filed with lard, so
that superficial examination would fail to disclose
the actual contents Tho characte Of this shipment
was detected by attention having been called to the
unusual weight OF the packages. Thorough exam
tnation and the consequent detection of the fraud
followed. when. as informed. the eutire ship
Company. and now awaits. with q vast quantity Of
other material, the arrival OF legitimate carrier of
contraband Of war. Tho shipment referred to was
under consignment to Peru, aud Of course will be
duly forwarded by the line of armed freight steam
ers which has lately been established by tho
Peruvian government. and which we hope
in justice to tho Pacific Steam Navigation
Company, will be withdrawn at the close OF
the war. But tho Peruvian agents are not
the only ones who have offended against a law
which In other countries makes the shipment
of explosives under fictitious names a grave
misdemeanor, punishable by fnes and mpris-
onmcnt. The Chileans told, have been
discovered mt the same business. through
shipment from New YorKjto Valparaiso, at present
on the Isthmus, which is billed under the inoffen-
sive name of bacon or something Of the Sort has
most ingeniousy, side and end spaces having been
left. which are filed up with q packing of paper
and salt. The boxes exactly resemble those
In which bacon Is usually shipped to the
Pacific coast Had this lot of 'contraband" escaped
the vigilance of the Pacific Steam Navigation
Conpanys officials here IL Is easy to what would
be the result An examination at Callao would lead
10 discovery. consequent confscation OF the cargo
and. following the example of the Luxor, the con-
domination OF the ship lawful prize.
SLOW PROGRESS OF THE WAR.
LIMA. August %. 1879.
The defenders of africa and the neigbboring points
on the coast were somewhat olatcd last week by
tho appe pearauce of three chilean war veasaIs thc