The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-22
THE DECISIVE BATTLE IN CHILE.

BalmacedaS contention that his adherents
controlled four-ffths of Chile, while the
CongresSonalS only held three northern
provinces, is now going to be put to the test.
On THU Sday last the Congressional army,
from 5000 to 10000 strong, effected landing
in the province of Aconcagun, at point
some twenty-five miles north of Valparaiso
and fifty miles northwest of Santiago. The
insurgent fleet consisted of four men-of-war.
eight steam transports and a number of
smaller craft. The landing was unresisted.
The maneuver had the effect of dividing
the Dictator army. part of which had been
pushed north 10 COquimbo, while the rest
remained to cover the capital and the great
seaport Before the Coquimbo contingent
can march back TO Aconeagua, the Congress
SIGNALS will have tried conclusions with the
army at Santiago, and the fate of the reVo-
luton will probably depend OF the issue of
the battle. Ii the CengreSSionals are beaten
their cause will be in peril. Ii, on the
other hand, Balmaceda is defeated, Santiago
will be uncovered and occupied. and
the path cleared for the occupation of
Valparaiso. The newspaper dispatches
attach weight to the number and
caliber OF the guns that have been
led in the sea batteries of Valparaiso.
But they will cut no figure in determining
the result. The insurgents cannot hope to
effect a landing in the teeth of the fortiiea-
tons, nor can they expect to silence them
by the fire OF their fleet. If Valparaiso is
captured, il must be taken by a land attack
from the rear, assisted perhaps by bonn
bardment from the sea.
1t is quite possible that the decisive battle
may be now impending. The hostile armies
were within five or six days march of each
other on Thursday evening. If both
marched out simultaneously, the encounter
might take place tomorrow. 1t has been
III e boast of Balmaceda that his troops far
outnumbered the rebels, and people have
wondered why, if that were the case, he did
not 20 for his enemy where lie was to be
found and crush him. 1t will probably turn
out that the deXtrous tactics of the Con-
gressionals in turning Ccquimbo have placed
both parties on a footing OF equality on the
present battlefield. Each combatant can
probably turn out something like 10000
men under arms. All other things being
equal, the victory will depend upon the
generalship of the respective leaders and
the lighting qualities of their men. Chileans
now in this country describe Balmaceda's
army as a rabble. consisting largely of
tramps recruited in the harbor Of Nalpa-
raise, while their own, they say, includes in
its ranks the flower of the people of Chile
II so, the COngressionals ought to make
short work of their enemy. Vagab0nds
not trained 10 arms and fighting merely for
pay have no staying power; when the bull
lets begin TO sing, they generally seek the
Seclusion which place of refuge grants.
We shall know all about it in few days.
The war has already lasted longer than it
should have done. The commerce of Val
paraisO has been crippled, and the i'm
p0rtant industrial enterprises, including
the railroads, which were rendering Chile
| the foremost power in South America have
been arrested. This civil war has been very
different from the war with Peru. That
conflict was conducted on foreign territory,
and the cost was borne by Peru. Chile
went on with her industry, her agriculture,
| her nitrate trade and her railroads just as if
no war was raging. The present comtro-
verSy has been carried on at the chief CEN
| tiers OF Chilean life. The whole water front
| of Valparaiso has been torn mp to erect
| Notifications. The fertile wheat fields OF the
provinces of Santiago aud Valparaiso have
been left faIlOw, their cultivators having
| been pressed into the Dictator's army. The
railroads which connect the seaport with the
Interior and the capital have been seized by
troops and war materials. Their equipment
will need complete renewal when the war
ends. The development Of the coal mines
in the southern provinces and the islands
adjacent has been arrested because the insur-
gents had control of the sea. Altogether
Chile has had pretty thorough taste of the
horrors Of war.
II, however, the result of the conflict
should establish the principle that in Chile
as in this country law must prevail, and
armed rebellion against the will of the
PEOPLE can only end in disaster, the price
paid for so great gain may not seem ex-
cessive. The American people will rejoice
If the war ends in the triumph OF constitu-
tional liberty. and warning is given to
revoutionists that whatever they may
accomplish elsewhere they cannot over
throw the Government of Chile for personal