New-York tribune., 1891-08-29
FALL OF VALPARAISO.
BALMACEDA'S ARMY ROUTED.
THE GILLIAN CONGRESS PARTYS FORCES
ENTER THE CITY.
THE AMERICAN, GERMAN, FRENCH AND ENGLISH
ADMRALs PRESERVING ORDER - HEAVY
LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES IN THE BATTLE
DISPATCHES coSFIRMAToRY OF
CONSUL MCREERY's MESSAGE.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TkIBUNB.l

CONSUL MCREERY'S MESSAGE.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TkIBUNAl
Washington, Aug. 2s.-The first official news
from the seat of war in Chilli reached the State
Department this evening, in the shape of dis
patch from the United States Consul at Val
paraiso. Its contents put new and surprising
face on the contest which has been carried on
for the last six months or more between the Gov
ernment of President Balmaceda and the So
called Congressional party. According to the
statement of the American Consul at Chilis chief
seaport, that city, the most important in the
Republic, has fallen inc the hands of the Con-
gressional army, and Balmaceda's forces have
sustained defeat which is almost certain to
prove fatal to the Government cause
The Congressional army, which boldly landed
north of Valparaiso a few days ago, seems to
have crushed the forces with which Balmaceda
and his generals hasened to the defence of that
city; and the victorious Congressional troops,
after a hard struggle, in possession of
the great port on whose control the maintenance
of Government at Santiago, only thirty miles
distant, absolutely depends. Consul McCreery's
dispatch to the State Department is unequivocal
as TO the outcome of the battle between the Con-
gressonalists and the Balmaccdists, and the sub
sequent surrender of Valparaiso. Here is what
he sends to the State Department by the cable
line, which apparently has just been reopened
Valparaiso, Aug. 2s.-Battle fought near this
city this morning Government forces badly
beaten. Heavy losses both sides. City surren-
dered TO Opposition, but in hands of Admirals
American, German, French and English fleets for
good order. No communication with Santiago.
Opposition forces now entering the city.
"McCREERY."
This is the first information received for some
time by the State Department from it's represen-
tativcs in Chill relative to the state of affairs there
excepting meagre cipher dispatch received this
morning from Minister Egan, dated yesterday
at Santiago, stating that small fight had taken
place that place yesterday morning, and that
the decisive battle would probably be fought this
morning.
Confrmatory dispatches are expected tomorrow,
when the news of the Congress party's victory will
be only too gladly spread from Valparaiso, and
v ien perhaps, the capital itself, where Minister
Egan is still shut Off from the telegraph line, will
be put again in communication with the outside
world. The capture of Valparaiso is looked upon
here by those best informed in Chian matters as
practically certain to end the war. Santiago will
dou foil wit do &c fot ic
intimately involved in that of its larger neighbor
to make any further resistance there
by Balmaceda possible With Valparaiso,
Santiago and all the Northern departments in
their CONTROL the Congressional leaders will
be masters of the situation, and they will un-
doubtedly succeed in driving Balmaceda into the
Argentine Republic or forcing him to continue
desultory and hopeless struggle in the far South
ern departments which have yet taken no decided
part in the civil struggle
The Government torpedo boats it should be re-
mcmbered, were lying in the harbor of Valparaiso.
and have probably fallen into the hands of the
Congress party, thus destroying entirely Balma-
ceda's naval footing, and driving him hopelessly
be maintained in maritime country like Chill,
where all the wealth and resources of the country
are concentrated on the coast.
The success of the Congressional party in taking
Valparaiso was entirely unexpected here. where
the general opinion was that its army had been
led into trap, and would be driven into the
Pacific within week The Of the decisive
Congressional victory will appear later at this
writing they can only be guessed at in the greater
desperation of the leadersso of tho Congressional
cause and the superior discipline and armament of
the infantry from the Northern provinces. The
State Department, of course, will wait for the
receipt Of further information before deciding
what action is TO be taken in the way Of recog-
nizing the belligerency of the party which now
seems to have fair prospect of asserting its
sway over the whole Chilian Republic.
Nothing further has been received at the Navy
Department from Admiral Brown, commanding the
United States Navy forces in Chilian waters; but
as the dispatch from Valparaiso stated that the
American Admiral and the naval commanders of
foreign nations were preserving order, it is pre-
sumed the American ships must have reached the
scene of action as the Admiral in his last COM
munication to the Department, dated Coquimbo.
received Yesterday, said he would soon sail for
Valparaiso if he deemed his presence there neces-
cary. The Baltimore and San Francisco are the
ships under his command.
Mr. Lascano, the Chilian Minister. said tonight
that news had been received by him from Chill
stree Yesterday, stating that battle had been
fought on August 25, in which the Government
forces were victorious. The Minister thinks the
reason he has heard nothing to-day from Santiago
in regard to the reported fight is because Of the
seizure and censorship probably. of the cable and