The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-09-02
THE WAR IN CHILE.
Nearly. 5000 Killed and Wound
ed in the Skir1uish,


dispatch as follows: Balmaceda and |
Junta de Gobierno are clinched in a |
final desperate struggle for the mastery |
of the Republic of Chile The battle |
ground is in full view OF Valparaiso. 1t |
has been raging for three days The |
first engagement was at the mouth OF
the Aconcagua on Friday and resulted
in reverse to the Government troops.
A final test OF strength is now being
made at Vina del Mar Beach, five miles
from Valparaiso.
Thursday news came that an army of
| 5000 rebels bad landed at Quintero Bay.
| Balmaceda was taken by surprise, but
soon got his troops to the front to pre-
vent, if possible, the rebels from cross
| ing the AconcagIa River Six insur-
| gent war~hips are anchored in Cosnon
| Bay at the mouth of the river and the
rebels attempted to cross under cover
of their ships guns.
The battle lasted nearly all day. The
insurgents steadily pushed their way
| forward, driving the comparatively
small Government forces before them.
1t was a constant skIrmIsh for fifteen
miles over broken country. At every
point of vantage B4lmacedans made ii
stand, and, while constantly forced to
give way under superior numbers, he re-
tanned his advance, and gave the main
army chance to better prepare itself
for decisive fight Late in the evening
the attacking army arrived in front OF
Balmaceda's main line of defense. 1t
was thea too late to give battle.
In the meantime, Balmaceda himself
in command, went to the front with
over - 600 available men, while the in
surgents had only 1000. At the back OF
the Governments line is Fort CalIao,
whose heavy guns did good work In to-
days battle, raking the army by land
and preventing the insurgent fl ct from
doing anything but at long range firing.
The insurgent artillery, aided by the
guns from the ships, was too much for
the Government troops, and they We're
forced to retire, which they did in good
order. Less than 20. 900 troops were en-
gagged, and nearly 5000 were killed and
wounded. The commanding general OF
the Government forces chose q strong
position on the beach at Del Mar as his
second line OF defense, and leaving force
enough in front of the enemy to check
his progress somewhat, took his place
there yesterday and went to work to
strengthen it as much rs possible.
The war ships sent all the available
men with rapid-fire guns to aid the land
forces IN the ATTACK OH Balmaceda's posi-
ton.
The greatest excitement prevails in
the city. Everyone left here is anxious
" watching the progress of the battle. A
heavy pail OF smoke hangs like a cloud
over the city.
The most powerful glass cannot pene-
trate the smoke, and only occasionally
can the movements of the troops be even
guessed at There is a constant stream
OF wounded being brought into the city
from the front, and temporary hospitals
are being fitted up wherever possible.
The medical force of the city has its
hands full and all the women have vol
unteered as nurses.
From the wounded only the most
fragnentary information as to the pro-
gress of the fight can be obtained, and it
is utterly impossible now to form any
Judgment as to which side is getting the
| better OF 1t.
Admiral Brown, commanding the
American fleet, and other foreign COM
manders, have combined TO protect the
lives and property of foreign citizens.
|
feating or repul>ing the Government
troops in the present struggle they
would have to cross a small creek, which
separates the beach from the village of
Vina del Mar, and on taking possession
of the village would be IN the rear of
) Fort CaIiao, with the fee on one side Of
the fort and the Insurgents on the other,
it wsud be untenAble.
Thus the northern defense of Valpa-
| ralSo would fall, making the work OF
capturing the city much easier. 1t Is the
universal belief that Valparaiso will be
bombarded by the feet, should Balma-
ceda FALL and the victorious army will
make land attack. Ii, on the other
. hand, Balmaceda gains the victory the
fleet will cover the retreat of the inSur-
gents and If necessary re-embark the
troops.
All the Government officials here are
confident that Bamaceda will drive the
insurgents back, and if he does not en-
tirely destroy them he will compel the
remnant to embark in transports and re-
turn to the north. The fall of Valpa-
t raise wond mean the practical collapse
OF Balmaceda's power. Outside of the
forces now engaged there are no forces tC
oppose the march of the insurgents tC
Santiago, and they would, with that city
as base of operations, soon overrun all
the Southern provinces. On the other
hand, the defeat of the insurgents would
mean result little less than decisive
for the rebels have put forth ali the
strength they have, and while Bama-
ceda would not be able to follow up a
victory and 'ake possession of lquique
J and the northern provinces until the ar
rival of the new war-ships Errazuriz and
Pinto, it is hardly likely that the Junta
could recover from crushing defeat on
the Del Mar.
The scene from Valparaiso is one OF
awful grandeur. A heavy pail OF smoke
hangs over the contending armies. 1t is
lit up almost continuously by sharp
flashes of light from the cannons and
rifles, and the thunderous roar OF artil-
lery can be heard continuously.
Brain workers, and ali who have to
stand the severe mental strain ConSe-
c,ra.,I ON i,toiloo+,1ol tSn1