New-York tribune., 1880-06-15
CJ{JIVS YICTORY.

There seems to he no longer any rclSonlhIc
doubt that after hard fighting the ClIillln army
has captured africa, ana the victory Is notable
one, not only as Il military achievement, but
also in its bearing upon the ultimate decision OF
the contest between the South American Re
publcs. Since the brilliant conquest of Tara
paca and the destruction of the allied army
under General Bucndia by the ChilIdn invading
force. there has mtcrvcnCd n long period OF
apparent inactivity. But the months 0i mos!
debilitating fervOrs III the tropical regions south
of the equator have now passed by, and the lrSt
news of importance shows that Chll IS s;ill
pressing the war with undlminishcd energy.
The second landing upon Peruvian soil was made
at IiO. which lies 100 miles north of africa, and
the crcuitous march of the 10000 ChiianS
under General BaqucdanO for $50 miles over the
rugged foot-hill of the Andes and the inter-
yening desert stretches, has few parallels IN
military annals. The march was made through
a country which furnished hardly any food or
forage. and for much of the way every drop oi
water used by man or beast was carried 10y
pack-mulcs, while the artillery was dragged
for leagues through wild region where there
is not a pathway which could be called road.
After surlnOuntmg obstacles like these, the scat
trring of MontcrO's 14,OOO allies, and the
stOlming of the fOrtilicat Ons around Tacna ana
AIica was light work quickly done.
This virtury completely cuts the only remain
ing connection between Bolivia and the Pacific
ports; it puts Chill in command OF another
entire province Of Peru; it gives her control of
800 miles of coast, ard il virtually destroys all
the allied forces in the field except the hastily
recruited army which garIisons the defensive
works about Lima. Meanwhile CallaO lies at
the mercy of the Chian fleet. and even Lima Is
within range of the Armstrong guns OF the
blockadcrs. Peru is completely shut out from
tnc rest of the world With all her commerce
gone her trade is dead She has no customs,
no revenue, no credit. Exchange on London is
6 pcncc. which means that a Peruvian dollar ~
worth about = cents. On the other hand, al
though the strain upon the resources of Chill
must be severe, the war is not mt her doors
She reads of battles in the newspapers, but he:
commerce is prosperous, and hcr revenues are
undminished. She holds the richest territory
of her antagonist, and she has the hOpciulnrsS
inspired by steady success. From the single
Peruvian port of lqnique she is collecting duties
nt the rate Of 10000 per month, and she mas
lately sold at auction nitratcs captured from the
Peruvian Government to the amount o! nearly II
million dollars.
With a Chllian feet commanding the sea, and
a victorious little amy thoroughly disciplined
and equipped, it is hard to see how the bankrupt
and dcmolaiznd PrIuvians can hoid ont much
longer against the invaders. And considering
the revolutionary tendencies OF the people, it
looks now as if the most serious difficulty
which +, mains for Chill to encounter will be to
find any SrmhancC of organized government TO
treat with when her armies occupy Lima. This
is GOOD time to l,call the fact that this contest
was not one Of Chili's seeking, but that it w.s
forced upon her by the want0n violation 0i
solemn treaties by &c Peruvian Government,
ard civilized nations can rejoice over the VIC
tories of the staunch little Republic because
they are substantial triumph OF the cause Of
| right and Justice.