New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-11
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

UgE WAR BETWEEN PERU AND chill, 1891 $50.
By CLEMENTS r. MARKHAM. c b.. r. X, 3 New .
Marston searle d RIvingtOn. 1883 LIMO pp'
800.
In December 1873, an officer OF the BOLIVIAN Oov-
eminent attempted by force to collect export duties
upop some nitrate from Gillian subjects who were
working the beds near AntOfagasta. This act IN
connection with others OF similar kind was held
by Chill to be q violation OF the treaty under winch
CHILEAN subjects entitled to certain privileges
in that district in return for concessions .Gade to
Bolivia il a boundary dispute Of long standing
Chill promptly occupied the disputed territory
with a military force, and on the 1st Of March
1879. Daga the Bolivian President. declared war
npon that republic. SIX years before a secret
treaty had been ratified between Peru and Bolivia
an which each country agreed 10 make common
cause with the other against any threatened ag-
qressOn. After the Bolivian declaration OF war
Peru refused to abrogate this treaty the terms OF
which had become known e. the Santiago Govern
1nentJ and remain uedral. Whereupon Chill, on the
9th Of April, 1879, declared war upon Peru. Two
years later the Peruvian navy had been swept from
the sea- all the armies of the allies had been broken
and scattered, Chill had obtained possession OF
200 miles Ct hostile coast aud her lae Heated over
tho Peruvian capital. lnaswuch AS Lima IS Loo
miles from Valparaiso. and Peru alone IS larger
achievement from military point of view, and an
Impartial account OF the operations by sea and the
three decisive campaigns on land, prepared 10y
competeut historian, would prove an interesting
work.
b Mr. Markham however. has not written with any
tuch purpose He frankly declares himself an adj
vooatc OF the Peruvian side. and of course his work
is rot history. IL should he added that his par
tsauship IS obtrusiycly manifest that lie Injuries
llo.I
tory in which one combatant Is habitually aluocd
10 as fighting for manure and TIE other As night
ing Tor the holy cause of liberty" does uot com
mend itself with any weight of ar thorIy To the
reader as q serious narrative of actual events.
Certainly lie ~ not judjciOuS advocate any more
than he is impartial ChrOnlcler who finds no
word of appreciation for the steadneSs and valor of
the troops who stormed the heights of Psaga, the
patient endurance Of the men who made the desert
mach IN the Tacna campaign. OF the skill persist
ence and energy displayed throughout the war by |
the invading army and lis leaders. while at the |
same time magnifyug every achievement Of the |
Peruvian arms, eXcusing every mistake and adding
a eulocistc adjective 10 the name of every Peru
Wan big or little as often as it occurs. diNpas
sonate discussion of the causes Of the not |
10 bs Looked for from advocate. But 10 Intelli-
gent reader should he asked TO believe that the |
PeruV ian Minister at Santiago dId not know that |
u treaty haG been made between his Government |
and Bolivia. while the CHILEAN Ministry had full |
information the subject. In the same discussion !
il is denied thai Chill had made any concession in
the boundary dispute with Bolivia while it appears
IN .he very same paragraph that the Bolivian
Government itself admitted the fact of such con
ces,ion. An argument based on such data does not
tell heavily against an adversary. and as a matter
oi fact the book tends to Justify rather than cou-
denim the course of Chilli. Mr.. Markham'5 mistake
is the greater misfortune because TIE story of tho
war has been written with minute detail from tie
CHILEAN point OF view, and this side OF the conrO-
versy did not call for his assistance