National Republican., 1880-03-27
FROM SOUTH AMERICA.
A ChlIlan Army Landed on Peruvian
Soil.
Naval Demonstration Against Arica-Chiiinn
Iron CIads Defeated by an American
Built Monitor--Upper Works of the
Uuasoar Dostroyed-A Heavy
Battle Imminent The
Nitrate Contracts.
An Important Movement OF chilInn Forces

PANAMA, March 16.-On the 25th Of Feb.
ruary Chilan force vnriOusly estimated A.
between 5000 and 10000 mon with 900 cavalry
aud abundant artillory-with which Import
ant auxiliary tho Chilinn forces appeer to DO
well suppied-andcd ut the port Of Hoe, or
Pacocha, as it is called, and meeting with no
resistance went quietly into camp. Pncocha
is about sixty miles north Of africa, and equ'
distant from Tucna, and is the bay whore tho
Shah and Amethyst had their encounter with
the IIuascar In May, 1877 On the same day,
Vitor, a small village Oh the coast about twenty
miles south of Pacocha, was occupied by Chill
ian force of 5000 mon, aud communication was
ut once opened between the two camps. As
yet no demonstration by land has boon
madc upon africa. While tho landing
of the troops at Pacocha and Vitor was in
progress a demonstration was mudc against
Africa by tho Huascar and Magallanes, the
two ships on blockade duty, but they arc re-
ported rs having been roughly handled by the
old Amercan-built monitor Nance Capac.
This vessel which has laid at anchor during
tho war, rendering no active service whatever,
was got under steam, and, under tho command
of Captain Moore late OF the ill-fated lnde'
pondenCia, steamed out TO meet the Chilian
| vessels. After balf dozen shots from tho
| j00.pouud ROdman guns carried by the Peru
Wan monitor, the Chilian ships got out OF
range as fast as possible.
| IeTuViAn OllCcf5 GcpDTJ tnAb Inc ilutSUuI
was struck twice by those formidable missiles,
ono shot destroying the upper works Of the
bow and the other sweeping tho deck. The
| Magallanes Is also reported rs injured. These
reports need confirmation, however. The
effect of tho attack Oh africa was to keep Mon
tero occupied so that no opposition could he
made to the Chilian landing further north. 1t
| is believed that tho intended attack on africa
will be made both by land and sea, the Blancc
| Enpnlnln Admiral rnrnnrnn Huuapur
mos and tho two Gorvcttcs, with a competent
| torpedo service, destroying the Nance CaNaC
and occupying tha attention of the fort,
while the land forces surround tht
city and cut Montero Off from all help. Tho
present position Of the Gillian forces will cna
bio them TO stop all supplies and reinforce
ments for Montoro, which may be on the WAY
overland, whether they hazard an engagement
Immediately or not. Should thoy elect to oc
cury strategic points in the MOqneGa valley
| instead of advancing on africa, they will com
pei MOntero TO march out and fight them
when tho town of AFRICA may bo captured by
tho Chilian feet The situation is critical fol
Montero, aud news of the result Of this cam
pagn is awaited iu Lima with undisSuscd
anxiety. Tho land forces employed uro aboui
equal In number, while tho Chilians arc supe
rior 10 artillery and cavalry aud in any Mt
tack upon africa itself would be assisted b,
| tho Chilan fleet.
Our South American Squadron.
PANAMA, March lG.-The United Stitc
steamer Pensacola tho flagship of the Pacf
squadron, sailed on tho l2th inst. for a truis
along the Central American and Mcxical
coast, aud will arrive vt San Francisco abou
the lst of May.
Captain Williams, of the schooner S0phii
Hanson, arrived aL Colon, FROM Bocss del Toro
a day or two since. He reports the Unite,
States stcamc Kcarsarge rs having arrive
under sealed orders, and that when opened
the latter were found to contain directions tt
mako II careful Hnh complete survey of The
Chiriqu lagoon. Tho work had been bogur
and would be prosecuted with rs much dis
| patch as possible
| Chill Assuming Peruvian Contracts.
A recent decree OF tho Gillian government
orders all manufacturers OF mitrates in th
district of Tlrapnca WHO have contracts Will
the Peruvian government or its agents TO dc
liver TO the inspector-gGmcral Of nitrate estab
lishments tho number Of quintals of nitrate
specified in their contracts, for which they
will receive from the Gillian government tht
price stipulated in the contract. Tho amour
of nilratcs ia store and ready for shipment Il
Iququo is to bo reported 10 the govern
mcut at Santiago, who will sell then
in Valparaiso TO tho highest bidder
the amount of such sales to be paid into TIN
Chilian treasury The decree i5 issued by tht
military chict OF tho department, and leaves
no option with tho elaboration OF tho ntratos
The Peruvian government has forbidden tn,
export of nllratoS from tho district under pain
of embargo and coulscation Of the shipment:
wherever found, and of all properties Of the
shipper IN Peru, while the GILLIAN government
commands the contrary and pieces itIil
us regaels sba sredGs9s %: :.::.as55 n
tho same position as the Peruvian gov
crnmont before the ChIlian occupation
The nitrate people are between two fires, bu
IL Is presumed they cannot do otherwise than
Chiian government according to their con
tract with It's enemy, tle ancient owner of tn,
soil. This decree, while it remains in opera
| tion, will restore to Valparaiso tho control o
tho nitrate market of the coast.
| DO Lcsseps in Chicago,
CHICAGO, March 26.-M. do Lcssops, accom-