, 1880-11-20
Chilian Devastation.

| fhe report OF the progress Of the war
between Chill and Peru transmitted to
the Panama Star and Herald by the
correspondent Of that Journal shows that
the war has become simply a gigantic fsl.
lase Whatever may havs been the SEN
tineut. Of individual Americans concern
ing the original oane J6;iiI th-rs is now
but one opinion with regard to the con;
duct Of the Chilian. Many consider
that they made war on the Peruvians
merely In defense of their property, and
that they were right in doing So But
however tfc csse may have originally
stood, they are clearli ii the wrong now.
A gentleman who recently returned tS
this city from an extended residence in
Lima, assured us that Chill was in the
right at the beginning of hos,ilities, but
when he read of the attacks Of the Cnilian
men-of-war on the defenseless and unfor-
tilted towns along the coast, he indis-
nantly exclaimed against such dastardiy
cond.sct. Most Of the places alon. the
northern p.ift of the Peruvian coast are
simply quiet seaside rcsortsi containing
a constant population of retail tradespeoi
pie and the like, and the handsome coun-
try residences of wealthy families They
are wholly undefended, and have no con
neeticB whatever with the general indus
tries of the country other than any coun-
try village has. But the Chilian fleet has
not hesi.sied "a storm and destroy these
peaceful abodaol Sessure and simplicity
as well 4, ports and important cities, and
has shown tiss hiost wanton spirit of re-
vense. The Chilian force said 80 NUM-
ber 30 900 have disembarked and march |
ed .,irorgf the country, burning and rub |
bing on ali hands The railroad building |
at Chim5ote, the houses everywhere, the
sugar plantations, cans aad corhrlds, ma
chinery and fruit trees have fallen p com
mon pray to the wilful r.vase of the !
troops. Even things for which they have
no use they have carried away IN spirit /
of indiscriminate robbery, and their only |
object seems to be to inhiet irreparable
damage on the Peruvian people and to
convert their fertile fields into a wilder
ness. Starvation and disease must be
the result of his cruei and unrelenting
destruction. and the Peruvians must, IN
mere SELF defence, continue the war to
the terrible end.
IL seems that the Chiiisns Immediately |
retired to their ships as soon rs they heard |
that :. force was marching from Lima to
intercept theiE; This seems to indicate
a spirit of cowardly iiai'der on their part.
Bnt their fear Of the Peruvian soldiers,
officered by all the white boys in the Conn |
try. was ill-founded if the youngsters who |
ha.. recently been in the habit OF strut
ting about the streets Of Ena in regl-
mentals and smoking cigarettes are fair
samnle of the average officef Of the coun-
try. In fact the Peruvians seem to be |
utterly demoralized and totally unfit to
stand even against such irregular and pre- /
datory warfare rs their foes are waglne. !
Tie bonbardment Of CallaO, which was
IN vIggtUSs process a month sgo, must
have reduced tia. port before this, for the
guns ON the ChiIian vessels are capable OF
sending shot far beyond it and OF shellms
the entire adjacent district, while what
guns the Peruvians possess cannot reach |
tbs vessels by some distance. Callao once |
destr,ysr,, TIE taking Of Lima Will be !
matter yf course. With the Chilian feet
riding at ease In the bay, and tine Chilian
army maxim. All assault On the Land side,
the famed city would fall frSdy pray to ,
her enemies. When this has Oeci,red,
the fate of Peru is probably decided, un-
Isss foreign powers intervene. Indeed, 1t
NAV be too lste already for efficient inter
ference from outsidg, smless the latest re-
port of the destruction WfhsYbs by the
Chilians are very highly colored
OF eourss the finances OF Peru are rum.
ID, and Chill seems to have done herself
much harm in the ssrne way. The recsnt
issue of sl2 ,OOO, 600 id paper by the Chii-
ian government has caused the banks 70
give their Gepositors warning, and :" at
tempt to pay their coin depositors IN de-
f,ffelstAd notes. The effect has been al
ready extremely disastrous, and the busi-
ness of the country iiiuet suffer most Sc
verely. In fact, it is war to TIE aest4
between the two countries, and 1t would
not be surprising if both failed to recover
from the fearful injury which they are
inhictina on themselves and on each