New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-24
THE SIrUATIoy IN SOUTH AMhRICA.

THE SITUATION IN SOUTH ANERIC1.
1t is now nine months since the forces of
Chill occupied the so-called disputed territory,
which is really only one of several dis
tIlcts in South America which are claimed
by two or more sovereign States. There
are unsettled boundary questions now
pending between Brazil and Bolivia, be-
tween Paraguay and the Argentine Republic.
between Chill and the Argentine Republic as
TO the ownership of Patagonia. between
Ncw-Granada and Ecuador, and between
Venezuela and New-Granada. When Gen
eral Bolivar marked out the limits OF
the liberated Republics upon the map
with the point of his sword, the map
was probably imperfect, and perhaps his
weapon had been blunted by long service i'll
the field. At all events this primitive plan
for carving up a continent has been the occa-
sion of much bad blood and Diplomatic cor
respohdence. Bolivia is a large inland State,
and to insure for her an outlet to the sea
the great liberator allowed a narrow strip OF
her territory to cross the Andes, and fur
nished her with short 200 miles of coast
between Peru on the north and Chill
on the south. Nearly one-half OF this, as
figured OH ordinary maps, or all the territory
south of the twenty-third degree, has always
been claimed by Chill, and the claim has been
fortified by mass of documentary evidence
as TO recognized and established possession.
The question never was burning one, how
ever, until the discovery of rich nitrate de-
posts in this very region made it of great value
as a field for CHILEAN enterprise. and it WIS
an alleged violation by Bolivia of special
treaty under which these beds of alkah were
worked that occasioned the declaration of war
by Chill against Bolivia, which was also a declar-
alton of war against Peru. between which State
and Bolivia secret alliance had been formed
three years ago. Early in April the Chillans
threw an armed force into Antofogasta and
Mejillones, seaports on the disputed coast, and
also took possession of Coba, Santa Barbara.
Manila, and CaIama, which lie still further to
the north, thus commanding the entire posses
sions of Bolivia west of the Andes. These
forces have never been attacked. and Chill holds
the territory still.
During the Summer and early Autumn there
was no collision between the hostile armies, but
q series of successes 10y the Peruvians on the
sea, and notably the brilliant and destructive
career of the Huascar seemed TO pro-
phesy ultimate disaster to the little re-
public. But the CHILEAN army was per-
fecting itself in drill and organization, and
the people were determined and patient.
Meantime the Allies had collected two armies
in the southernmost province of Peru-One
under Prado, the Peruvian President at africa,
and the other $50 miles further south, in the
vicinity of Pisagua and Iquique, the seaport
of the district where the original
nitrate works had for many years
furnished the Republic with cOnsd
cradle proportion of its revenues. AT last the
superiority of the Gillian navy asserted itself,
the Peruvian feet was swept from the sea
and the Chiian transports were free to carry
an invading army up the coast. Something
like 16, 600 men set sail from Antofogasta and
landed at Pisagua. The success of TINS ex-
petition has been decisive. After the gallant
stormiDg of the heights of Pisagua, a second
victory was gained near Mount San Francisco,
and the latest reports give the details of
final triumph at Tarapaca which places this
entire district at the mercy of the invaders,
aud virtually annihilates the allied army.
The division of Prado is too far away to
render any assistance. and Prado himself has
returned TO Lima TO suppress a gathering
revolution there. And now the news comes of
an instruction in this army, since his depar-
ture, in favor of Pieroia, the adventurer, who
seized the Huascar and commanded her dur
ing her brisk little unpleasaptness with
her Majesty's vessels, the Amethyst and Shah.
There are revolutionary mutterings. TOO, in
La Paz, and general spirit OF detection among
the Bolivian troops. Altogether, there is moth
ing in the military situation TO prevent Chill
ian army from landing at Callao and march
ing upon Lima, as was suggested as
probability in these columns more
than a month ago. The Allies have no
revenues and no credit, while Chill can COM
mand the money and men for long strug-
GLE Her bonds in European markets are now
quoted at better prices than our own secu-
rites were long after the surrender of Lee
Her paper currency, of which she has made
but a single issue, is worth 80 pence,
while exchange ON Peru is less than
II pence. Her troops are well disciplined
and thorouhgiy equipped. aud they have dis
played excellent lighting qualities in all these