Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-09-03

Special csblegram to New York Herald.
VALPARAISO, CHILL, VIA GALVESTON,
Aug. 2S.-Balmaceda's power in Chill is
broken.
His army has been crushed after five
hours hard fighting, and is scattered
beyond all hope of reorganization. The
revolutionists have taken possession of
Valparaiso
This is the big budget of news from
this city to-day.
The future of Chill for the time has
been settled, and settled conclusively on
the hills to the east of this city to-day
by the grim arbitrament of war.
With Balmaceda practically fugitive
without resources in men or money;
with the principal seaports Of the
country in the hands of the congression-
alists, and a consequent shutting off all
income from customs receipts; with
President-elect Vicuna a refugee on
board a German war ship, and the
country flocking en- masse to the stand
ard of the invaders, it is matter of
only few days when the capital will
fall into the hands Of the revolutionary
leaders.
MAY BE PRESIDENT.
A new government, with possibly
Judge Belisario Prats, head of the last
parliamentary cabinet Of Balmaceda, or
Manuel Jose lrarrazaval, head of con-
gress cabinet, at its head, will be formed,
and things will go along in about the
same way in Chill as they did before
January It'll, when hostilities were
formally begun.
General Canto and his army won to-
days battle by superior generalship,
good hard fighting, assisted by good
fortune in the killing of Balmaceda's
generals and the consequent demorali-
cation of the army and the desertion of
entire regiments.
MANY sKTRMIsHEs.
Ever since the arrival of the Congress
sionalist army at Vina del Mar there
has been constant series of manmuvres
for position on the part of both generals,
as was indicated in these dispatches.
Every day and nearly every hour of the
day there have been skirmishes, in some
instances amounting almost to battles.
In nearly all Of these the opposition has
had the better of it.
A close censorship of dispatches was
established by Balmaceda, however, and
only all inhlluS VI tne TeVcTSeS 10 MS
arms could be got through.
The position up to this morning was
in brief: Balmaceda was not in Il posi-
ton to make an offensive movement
and devoted his time and energies to
making his defences as strong as posi-
BILE.
Then all was not harmony in the mill
tary councils of the president. Both
alu por Nd ~
to have supreme command of the forces
in the field. This friction and jealousy
resulted in almost an open rupture yes
terday and the two officers worked at
cross purposes.
CANTo NOT IN A HURRY.
General Canto was in no hurry to
move on the enemy, because he was re-
ceiving constant accessions to his ranks
from the people in the surrounding
country, which is populated largely by
those bound by ties of blood or interest
to the leaders of the revolution, many
of whom are natives of the province.
Then he had a strongly intrenched posi-
ton and could well afford to wait.
Early this morning the boom of q
cannon announced to the people Of Val
paraiso that movement beyond the
ordinary skirmishes had begun
The occasional loud reports of the
heavy guns soon swelled into one con-
tinuous roar, and then 1t was known
that the final decisive struggle which
at the cost Of thousands of lives, perhaps
was to decide whether Balmaceda or
the Junta was to be the ruling power in
Chill had begun.
VALPARAISO INTENSELY EXCITED.
Excitement was intense in Valparaiso.
The streets were crowded with people,
women predominating, anyiously wait
ing for news and talking of the momen-
tous contest which was in full progress
only few miles away.
General Canto's position was on the
hills above the race track at VIVA del
Mar, outside of the city. Ills raiders
have been getting holder and boldcr as
the time passed and have been making
excursions further in the country. lie
had absolute control of the railroad to
Santiago and commanded the ordinary
roads. Hence Santiago was practically
in state of siege
Affairs had come TO such pass that
it was necessary for President Balma.
ceda to make some move, and little
after daylight this morning the word
was given to attack the position held by
the revolutionists, and, led by General,
Barbosa and Alcerreca, the government
troops left their broastworks and adj
vanced on the enemy under cover Of q
heavy fire from their batteries I'll,
insurgents were generally armed witt
,Mannlicher rifles and used smokelesi
powder. The government troops wer,
not SO well armed,
NOW FOR THE GREAT BATTLE.
AS soon as the approaching column
got within range of the Mannlcher
destructive fire was opened from
the intrenched reyolu.ionists. Til
Chilians are brave, however, whcthei
government troops or revolutiunists
and advanced with much stcadincs
to the attack. They were s00i
near enough to do effective worl
with their pieces, and the eng0gemen
became general. Shot and she'll, crap,
and canister and rifle bullets tore through
the ranks of the advancing troops unit
it became too not, and despite the effort
of the officers they broke and retire,
almost in panic.
Officers worked like beavers 10 reform
their columns as soon AS they 60
without range of the deadly Mann
lichers and at last succeeded.
Then came another attack. In stead
ranks the government troops started o.
double quick up into the torrent q
fire and lead whIcii 5.a2ed from til
ranks of the insurgent army.
TWO GENERALS KILLED.
Early in the second charge Genera
Barbosa was shot down and was killed
The line wavered. but kept on. The