New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-08-26
a /. BLOOD [ Y BATTLE.
Gillian Insurgents and Government
Troops Engage in a Terrible and
Decisive Battle.
Thousands Of Soldiers Killed in the
Fight, and Still the Battle
Goes on.

| morning has Valparaiso cables substantially
as follows: President Balmaceda and the
| junta de Cobierno are clinchcd in the final
! desperate struggle for the mastery of the
republic Of Chile.
The chosen battle ground is in tull view
OF the City OF Valparaiso. and thousands of
anxious eyes are watching from every point
vantage the battle Which is to decide the
fate Of the country.
| The battle has been raging practically for
three days. The first engagement was at
the mouth OF the Aconca.ua on FRIDAY
and resulted in a reverse to the govern
ment. The final tests of strength is now
being made at Vina del Mar Beach, directly
across Valparaiso bay, and less than three
miles away.
When news reached here that an army of
5000 rebels had been landed at Quintero
bay Thursday, Balmaceda and his generals
We're taken by surprise, but the utmost
activity was used in getting troops to the
front SO as if possible to prevent the in
vading army from crossing the Aconcugna
the river south of the bay. The arrange
ments were made hurriedly and only lit
| tie over half of the troops were available
| or this purpose.
Six OF the insurgent warsh1ps were an
chored i'll Cosnon bay, at the mouth Of the
river, and under the cover of their guns the
army OF the Junta undertook the task of
| forcing a passage of the river Friday morn
ing. 4 most desperate and bloody battle
resulted, lasting nearly all day.
a CALLING FIRE
from the insurgent artillery, which was
parked on the northern bank Of the river.
aided by the heavy batteries and machine
guns from the ships was too much for the
government troops and they were
forced to retire, which they
did in good order. Both sides
fought with the utmost valor and while less
than 10000 troops were engaged the list of
casualties are nearly 5000 men killed and
and wounded. The general in command of
the government forces selected strong DO
sition on the beach of Vina del Mara, The
eastern shore Of Valparaiso bay, as his
second line of de.ense, and leaving force
enough in front Of the enemy to check his
progress somewhat, took his place there
yesterday ana went to work to strengthen
1t as much as possible
Ali day long yesterday the insurgent
forces pushed their way steadily. forward,
driving the comparatively small govern
lncnt force before them. It was a constant
skirinish for fifteen miles over broken
country. At every point Of vantage the
Balmace>lanS made stand, and while thew
constantly We're forced to give way be ore
superior numbers they retarded the ad-
vance and gave the main army at VIVA del
Mar chance TO better prepare itself for
THE DECISIVE FIGHT
1t was not until late in the evening that
the attacking army arrived in front of Bal
maceda's line Of defense. 1t was then too
late to give battle
In the, meantime, President Balmaceda.
with every available man in his depart
mcnt with himself in command, went to
the front. He had over $4,000 available
fighting men, while the insurgent forces
forces had been reduced to less than
1000. At the back of the gov
eminent line is Fort Callao,
the heavy guns of which have done good |
work in to-day's battle both in raking the
enemy by land and preventing the insur-
g''nt feet, which had entered the bay last
night. from doing anything more effective
than longranse firing.
The Congressionalists attacked in force |
this morning, and all day long the battle |
has ragged with the utmost ierceness Che |
warships did all they could to aid their
land forces, but they had regard tor the
heavy guns in the forts, and We're COM
PEELED to DO their
FIGHTING AT LONG RANGE.
Consequently they were not nearly so e.
:ective III aiding the land attack as they
had been at the passage of the Aconcagua |
on Frldoy; They sent as many men as
they could spare, however, with all their
available machine and rapid fire guns, to
aid, as naval auxiliary brigade the at
tack Oh Dalmaceda's position. The most |
Intense excitement prevails in this city.
The roar of heavy artillery and the
sharp rattle OF small arms resound
back from the high hills surrounding
the city. Every body who is let here has !
SOUGHT some place overlooking the battle |
around and thousands OF people are watch
Ing the desperate struggle which is being
fought under their very eyes.
The scene from Valparaiso is one OF aw-
tul grandeur heavy pail OF smoke hangs |
ike cloud over the contendiDg armies It !,
is ~ up most continuously by sharp flashes
OF light rom the cannon and rifles, and !
the 1hunderous roar Of the artillery can be
heard continuously.
The most powerful glass cannot penetrate |
the cloud OF smoke, and only occasionally |
can the movement OF the troops be even !
guessed at, though irom the Gruesah point |
III the sl'mlses OF charging regiments can
smoke cloud.
There is constant stream of wounded |
beng brought into the city !rom the front, |
and temporary hospitals are being fitted up |
wherever possible. Nearly all the men !
who had not lett the city have volunteered |
their services as nurses, and they and the
:uil medical .orce OF the city have their
hands full. ( . - -
From the wounded and their attendants
only the most tragmentary Information as I
to the progress OF the fight con be obtained, |
and 1T IS utterly impossi BILE at this writing
to :orin any Judgment as to which side IS
getting tye better Of it.
Admiral Brown, OF the American feet.
and the commanding officers OF other for
s eisn vessels have combined to protect the
lives and property OF the foreign citizens.
Millionaires Fight.
81 Kansas CRY, Aug. 24.,-The rotunda of
the Coates house was the scene to-day of a |
sensational encounter between J. F. Nc
roy aDf1= E.E =