The rustler., 1891-09-04


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NEw Yonk. Aug. a4-The Herald has
Valparaiso. Chilli. cable dispatches sub
stantiAlly as follows
President BalmnccdA and the Junta
ae Gobierno are clcnched In the fnal
desperate struggle for the mastery Of
the republic Of Chill
The chosen battle ground Is In FUN
view Of the city OF Valparaiso. and
thousands Of anxious eyes are watch
ing from every point Of vantage the
battle which IA 10 decide the fate Of the
country.
The battle has been raging practical
II for three days The first engagement
was at the mouth of the Aconcagua
on Friday and resulted In a reverse to
the government. The fnal test Of
strength Is now being made at vina del
Mar beach. directly across Valparaiso
'oay and less than Eve miles away.
When the news reached here that an
army Of G. 600 re bells had been landed at
Quintero bay Thursday. Balmaceda and
his generals were taken by surprise,
but the utmost activity was used In get
ting troops TO the front 80 as II possible
TO prevent the invading army from
crossing the Aconeagua river inimedi-
ately south OF the bay. The arrange
meuts were hurriedly and only a little
over half the troops were available for
this purpose.
Six Of the insurgent warships were
anchored in 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 morning. most desper-
ate and bloody battle resulted, lasting
nearly all day.
Agalling fire from the insurgent army
which was parked on the northern bank
OF the river, aided by the heavy bat
teries and machine guns from the ships.
was too much for the government troops
and they were forced 10 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 Is nearly 5000
killed and wounded.
All day long yesterday the insurgent
forces pushed their way steadily for
ward, driving the comparatively small
government forces before them. Itwas
a constant slirmish for fifteen miles
over a broken country. At every point
OF vantage the Balmacedists made n
stand, and while they were constantly
forced to give way before superior
numbers they restrained the advance
and gave the main army of Vina del
Mar chance TO better prepare itself
for decisive fight.
II was not until late In the evening
that the attacking army arrived in front
of Balmacedas main line OF defense.
1t was then too late to give battle. In
the meantime President Balmaceda,
with every available man In this de-
partmenL with himself In command,
went to the front He had over 10, 900
available men, while the insurgent
forces had been reduced 10 less than
1000.
The scene from Valparaiso is one Of
awful grandeur. A heavy pail OF
smoke hangs like a cloud over the con-
tending armies. IL Is lit up almost
continuously by sharp flashes OF light
from the cannon and rifles and the thun.
derous roar of the artillery can be
heard continuously.
The most powerful glass cannot PEN
citrate the smoke and only occasionally
can the movement OF the troops be
guessed at, though from Gruesa point
glimpses of charging regiments can oc-
casionally be seen through riffs in the
smoke cloud.
There is constant stream of
wounded being brought into the city
from the front and temporary hospitals
are being fitted up wherever possible.
Nearly all the women who have not
left the city have volunteered their SER
vices as nurses and they and the full
medical force OF the city have their
hands full.
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