The New York herald., 1879-12-12
PERU AND BOLIVIA.

PERU AND BOLIVIA.
THE CHILEAN INvAsIoN-sITUArIoN IN THE
sourH--rHE PIsAGUAsFIaHr-MovEMEN OF
PERUVIAN WAR VESSELS.
LIMA, Nov. IL. 1879.
One OF the most singular circumstances in this
singular contest the west coast is the fact that
nearly ten thousand Chilean troops are occupying
Peruvian soil. only 500 miles distant from the
capital city of the Republic, and although in
communication by cable with the district in ques-
ton wo are ignorant to the movements and
exact whereabouts Of the enemy as if the campaign
was being conducted in the immediate vicinity of
Timbuctoo. My last despatch informed the readers
of the HERALD of the capture of Pisagua by the
Chilean forces. under the heavy fire Of their ships
and against couple of imperfectly mounted
lOO-pound Parrot guns and q detachment of 900
Bolivian troops, with about seventy Peruvian artil-
erste It was. of course impossible for the allies
to hold the place under such disadvantages, and it
soon became apparent to General Buendis the officer
in command of all the Peruvian and Bolivian troops
in Tarapaca that his only plan to retire inland
with his men and endeavor to fight the invading
army out the range of the heavy batteries of their
vessels. This done. At first the Chileans
seemed inclined to follow up their success which,
the way. cost them 800 men killed and wounded. for
the BOLIVIAN regiments IOugnt ike maOmen ana tne
nature of the ground such to expose the land
ing parties to severe loss but the latest of tho pars
monious cabegrams sent up by General Prado. dated
toned in Aqua Santa; forces concentrated at
Pozo Amonte." The distance between these two
places is nearly forty miles. Aqua Santa is the ter
minus Of the railway leading inland from PisaRua.
and Pozo Almonte occupies a relative position from
Iquique. From one to the other locality there is
railroad. but capital highway leading over the
pampa, hard, compact and with water at easy dis
tances. Buendia. we suppose. for as stated above
we are wholly in the dark concerning his move
ments been able to bring all of the allied forces
in the province OF Tarapaca together. and should
have under his immediate orders army Of at least
ton thousand men. He is deficient in artillery and
mitraileuses. while the Chilean newspapers an
nounce that their troops cxcellently well pro-
vided with these important elements Of war.
BETWEEN TWO FIRES.
From africa and Tacna tho Bolivian and Peruvian
forces also in movement. indeed. tho English
man-ofwar Thetis. arriving here on the 10th inst.
informs us that General Daza with 1000
mounted infantry was pushing on toward the
Of the Chilean forces. so to take them between
two fires. Those, however. who are conversant with
the resources of Tacna may we'll doubt this story Of
the mounted men. Such number OF horses or
mules is not easily brought together in that or any
other portion OF Peru. Both armies are now abun-
dainty provided with ammunition. as the Pilcomayo.
o fast gunboat arrived here from AFRICA on the 9Th
and the following day returned to that port with
over . million OF Remington and Peabody cartridges
noivians. iSd '~sH She reached Arioa IN sstosy on
the evening of the 9th that sixteen
Chilean vessels ama wefe .e re-
to servo MS base OF operations for the invading
army rs refuge in case of defeat. The plan of
burning ones ships does not meet with favor nova
days in South America The Thetis present at
the fight Of Pisagua on the I'd and reports that the
action very At irst it appeared that the
Chileans only intended to engage the attention of
the small garrison OF the town by continuous
tliery are while troops landed at Junin little
by port miles to the south. should take the de-
tenders in flank but some delay occurred respect
ing the arrival Of these men a landing was re-
solved upon, and the Chileans gained the po-
sitlon after losing 800 dead and wounded to
the allies 100. Buendia's retreat effected
capital order. carrying or his wounded aud stores.
burning all the railway stations and deposits, and
setting large quantities of nitrate on hre. which
created such y tremendous smoke and stencil that
hundred armies might have passed anu repassed
each other within short distance without discover
ing their proximity. This is all that can say for
the moment regarding the situation In the south.
1t would be rash to venture conjecturee. and al
though 1t is certain that when the rival armies meet
there will BE- u sperate battle to chronicle aud
much slaughter to lament, it IL better to await
tain and positive intelligence. The fight cannot be
long delayed. The feeling in Lima is generally san
guine. Some considering the superiority OF the
Cheans in field artillery are inclined to despond
but even should defeat overtsks the allied
Meantime the reserve forces in Lima are being
steadily strengthened. Regiments arriving from
the interior nearly every week and are being rapidly
brought up to proper efficiency. The Pensacola,
flying the broad pennant OF Admiral q. r. r. Rodgers
arrivcda few days since from her long cruise the
Southern const. The famous Huascar was visited by
the officers in Valparaiso and her injuries received in
the Mejillones battle were not exaggerated in my
previous dispatches. The ram will be ready FOR
vice before long, out the gallant Grau again
hoist his hghting nag over hcr. She belongs now,
by conquest. to Chile but her future carccr IL may
safely be predicted will DO uneventtul in relation to
her past exploits.
by a resolution Of the Congress OF Peru. Admiral
ship bear his revercd title aud the officer In
mand shall answer, "Ded defending his country;
enrolled among the heroes who arc above" As the
HERALD has already beeu Informed. the Republic has
amply provided for tho future OF the widows and
families of tho brave men who killed in the IA
nous fight. Bolivia also claims q share In this gen-
erous protection.
A VERSION or THE YIeur
Translate the following published by III NdcioaGl,
one of the leading newspapers Of Lima, and pur-
written by officer on board a neutral vessel. We
know that Her Britannia Majestys ships shannon
and Thctis were present during the engagement
''At eight O'Clock on the morning of the al inst
sixteen Chilean ships. mcnot-war and transports,
entered the Bay of Pisagua and formed in line. At
quarter past eight each vessel lowered launch
with $50 soldiers and the boats pulled toward
different points OF tho Shore gun from tho allies
opens fire. followed by heavy discharges of musketry
and tho combat Is general Tor hfty-six minutes, when
the boats driven back with many casualties;
two launches sunk by the guns from on shore,
and another reaches the side OF tho ships with
only two men alive At twenty y-eight min
utes to ten all the boats grouped near
q failure. AT ten minutes TO ten O'Clock ten
of the chilean ships open their batteries against the