Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-07-16
THE EVENING STAR.
The Sharp Fighting i'm South Amer
FRIDAY July 16.


ACCOUNT OF THE TAXING OF TACNA AND AFRICA
The most concise account OF the taking OF
Tacna and africa is that given by the Lima cor
respondent OF the Panama Star ana Herald.
that at the battle Of Tacna, Vice Admiral Nor
tero declined the command offered him by
General Campero the day before the Tight. The
disposition Of the allied forces having been
made by the latter the former refused 10
assume so grave responsibility at so critical
a moment. The allied army. It is asserted.
only consisted at $40 Peruvians and 1920
Bolivians. $500 in all, besides some 1000
more In africa, too far of 10 render any
assistance. The allied forces were divided
into two wings, the left wing under Colonel
The Chiians, instead Of attacking IN front,
as seems TO have been anticipated poured their
whole force on the left wing, which was REIN
forced again and again from the reserves under
Montero's command. But no reserves that
could be brought up could repel the impetuosity
and stuhbornness of the attack on the LETT wing,
assistance were finally driven back on the al
ready weakened right wing. With an enemy
double his own numbers at the outset five
times the artillery. pressed by the allies and
the amy now flushed with sure signs of vic
tory, Montero could not hope to win the day
although he fought as all seem to have fought,
untll he as compelled to retire, and to leave
Ia6na to the mercy of the Chilians. After this
disaster it Was seen that
AFRICA NEST FALL
once the copquerorS had reorganized their
forces. they sent 6000 men by train to Lima
where they encamped On the 4th Of June, under
The Command OF Gen. Baquedano. He appar-
emily INV Hing to shed blood unnecessarily
and knowing the little garrison could not hold
the pace, however much they might resist, aud
while compiimenting his foes asked them to
surrender. The answer was Not until the
last cartridge is fired" Once more he sent, and
again Bologneir, the general In command, after
consultation with his brother officer. returned
the same answer and then prepared TO fight to
the last. Juan Moore, In command Of the
MORO, and Logo Marsino Of the Mancocapac
The PeTuvians seemed TO have been under the
same delusion here as at Tacna. They had
made every provision for receiving their enc
miles In the front, while the batteries of san
up well sustained fire on the Lord Cochrane,
the Magallanes. Covadonga and italia, which
were sure TO open fire. But, alas for human
calculations, the enemy marched around, taking
long circuit from their encampment at Luta to
the village of AZapa, occupying In this march
the nights OF the 5th and 9th inst. At daybreak
or the 9TH the men in the newly constructed
forts to the east OF the MORO saw no signs of an
enemy, but at the booming OF gun from sea-
ward
The GROUND WAS ALIVE WITH CH1IIANs.
and with one splendid charge they took the first
fort in the rear. killing every soul within it. The
next was taken In likG manner, and every man
| there also was bayoneted. While this was going
| on the guns from the MORO were fully occupied
by the Gillian squadrons and had such not
| been the case they could not have been turned
against the foe now preparing for one final rush
was made and, after desperate fight. hand-t
| hand, ii fell, few only of its gallant defenders
| escaping To the playa, where they all CALAMITY
| met their deaths. The San Jose and Santa Rosa
| batteries were undermined ana the vaults we'll
| stocked with explosives connected with the
| MORO by electric wires. the intention being IL
they should fall into the possession of the enc
| my they would blow them up. Ii is asserted
| that Moore before he received his death wound
| touched the button and destroyed them. Some
| 400 Peruvian soldiers were blown up with the
| battery of Santa Rosa, they not having had time
| to vacate it.
| THE FIGHT SEWARD,
700, was severe. The Cochrane, it is learned
| from Gillian sources. received one shell, which,
| entering one of her ports killed &c men. The
| COvadOnga received several shots and had to
| be run aground. When Logo Marsino. CON-
| mander OF the Peruvian vessel Mauco Copac,
| saw the heights taken, he knew there was but
| one hope for him, and that was to sink his Ship
| so. Steam1ng gently out, the plugs were opened.
| he and his men took to the boats, and the ship
| keeled over and went to the bottom. Beloved
| as he was by the commanders OF neutral ves-
| sells, the laws OF neutrality did not allow them
| to receive him On board, and he finally sur
| rendered himself prisoner to the captain of
| the italia. In less than three hours from the
| firing of the first shot all was over. and the
| Gillian flag waved trtumphantly over Africa
| hundreds Of women and children of different
| nationalitieS, otherwise the horrors would have
| been increased thousand fold. The victorious
| soldiers were let loose In the city, the wine
| stores were broken open, and In the afternoon
| africa was In flames. Not a single house is left
| standing. 1t is said Admiral Rlveros has de.
| claled that II the Chilians came to Lima 1t will
| share the same fate as AFRICA Admiral Montero
| is reported TO have arrived at Puno on the nth
| ult., after his retreat from Tacna The number
| OF men which he carried in the fight at Tacna
| is stated at 400. The remainder dispersed after
| the action.