Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-06-08
Chilli AND PERT,

The war between Chill and Peru, which |
has recently been closed by ignominious con-
ccssions on the part Of the latter country Is
q good instance of the petty greed and con-
tcmptble arti1ce of the minor States oil the
Old World, whose barbarous policy is still
the right of might. The war was deliberate
ly provoked--or rather forccd-by Chill
for the ignoble purpose OF acquiring the right
to certain rich discoveries of deposits of hi
trate of soda and of borax, recently made in
the Peruvian territory. The pretext for war
was found in the fact that Peru and Bolivia,
alarmed and well nigh in despair at the over
beariug attitude of their powerful ncighbor,
had entered into u secret treaty OF mutual de-
fence against the Entertainments OF Chill.
This treaty was nothing more than an agree
ment to stand by each other, in the event oil
an invasion of the territory OF either. II had
no offensive intent or provision. 1t was
no more than the natural drawing to-
gclher of thcweak parties, TO prevent, or guard
against the attacks of third stronger party.
But the existence of such treaty was the
very occasion which Chilli desired She in
solcn,y demanded that it should be abrog-
ated, and upon the refusal of Peru and Boil
via to acccdc to her demand, she instantly
declared war. The result was easily to be
seen, from the first. Chilli was well prepar-
cd for war; it was to her best advantage TO
be so, at whatever cost. Peru hal small
poorly provided andiineilicient army of about
4O, 900 men. Bolivia had virtually no army
at all. In addition to her formidable
land force of about $1,000 mon Chilli had a
powerful fleet Peru had only two war YES
sells of any size and efficiency, the ironclads
lIuascar and Indepencia. Early in the wal
the latter was wrecked, and the Huascar was
left to defend the whole coast against TIC
powerful armament OF Chill. For time
she kept the whole Gillian navy at bay, but
at last she was overcome in terrible engage
ment, after five of her officers had died at The
commanders post. This left the entire Pc
ruvian coast line of 1400 miles exposed to the
Chilan forces. On land the war was equally
disastrous TO the confederates. .Wher
the stronghold of Lima fell, the whole coun
try was laid open 10 the invading hordes
At length, completely exhausted with hel
long struggle; with every industry pros
trated, and all the pursuits of peace giver
over; 0672 of her defenders killed, 443l
wounded and 1920 taken prisoners, Peru
with her feeble ally Bolivia, yielded to the
invader, and ratified humiating peace.
Chilli has realized her scheme of aggrandize.
mcnt. The province Of Tarapaca, where the
valuable beds of soda and borax lie, together
with almost inexhaustible deposits of guano
has been coded to.Chili. The wealthy towns OF
Tacna and africa have been given into
her possession for period of ten years, ut
the expiration of which time it is to be deci-
ded by vote of the people 10 which country
they shall belong. Chill, on the other hand
assumes the foreign debt OF Peru, for which
the latter had already mort gagged her gnano
beds; but the wonderful richness and extent
of the latter will soon enable the conquering
state to discharge all the Obligations of the
conquered ami leave large margin otprolit
for herself.