Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-05
CHILI's WAR SOON TO END.
Rear Admiral Mccain Says the Struggle IL
Most Filter.

Three bearded men with military bearing,
their faces bronzed by exposure to tropical
sun, arrived in New York the other day. They
were Rear Admiral William P. McCann, Lieut..
Kehnedy and Lieut.. Osterhaus of the United
States navy. They came from Colon on the
Pacific Mail steamship Newport. Rear Admiral
Mccain, when seen by a reporter. said:
The civil war in Chilli will probably progress
until the government obtains some new mem
of-war from Europe. The arrival of the Presi-
dente Erascuree from Lisbon may change the
complexion of affairs adversely to the revo-
luton
a popular uprising that proves successful
generally progresses. Delays and inaction are
apt to prove fatal The end of the war one
way or the other would be boon to the coun-
try as well as to the cause of peace and order
1t Is difficult here. at distance. to under
stand the bitterness of feeling that exists be-
tween the opposing sides. Our own civil war
never brought out such an intensity of rage,
hatred and malice. The wealthy aristOcratic
class is generally on the side of the revolution.
The official class is led by President Balmaceda.
1.-THE mass of the people, the Rotos, the
peones. follow the lead Of their superiors in the
social system. according to the province in
which they live. The people, as we understand
the word, have precious little to do in Chilli
but to do as directed.
THE reports from the country. which have
appeared in the New York papers. have often
times been greatly exaggerated. or course the
Latin people OF South America conduct affairs
differently from tle Anglo-Saxon race. There
Is not much sentiment displayed toward any
one who takes sides against the faction or party
into whose possession he falls.
'Balmaceda has locked up those who shout
Viva EI Congreso! in the streets of Valparaiso
and Santiago. And the congressional party have
suppressed the adherents of the government in
Taranaca.
The American navy made splendid show
ing on the coast. Three ships like the Balti-
more, the Charleston and the San Francisco are
a credit TO any marine power. The United
States navy was treated respectfully and
courteously by both sides The Itata did not
land single rifle. 1t was a great disappoint-
ment to the revolutionary party to lose the
arms.
I'm order to spare their natural feelings of
sorrow the ship was sent to sea after dark, so
that the people on shore would not witness her
departure There were no threats or intimi-
dation. The leaders were notified that the
ltata had violated our laws and her surrender
requested. OF course we had force enough to
lend authority to the request, but this ques-
ton was not raised. There was no need of
raising it.
The revolutionary army is generally uni
formed and well disciplined. The jealousy
which existed between the army and the navy
kept and continues to keep the two branches of
the service apart.
The navy was the favored arm. The army
felt that IT was comparatively neglected.
There has been an immense wheat crop in
Chill and the government has derived increased
strength from that source. The Balmaceda
people also have had more ready money.
Those who have been engaged to undertake
perllous service for the government have been
paid promptly. The officers and sailors on the
Almirante Lynch and on the Almirarte Condell,
the two torpedo cruisers that blew up the
Blanco Encalada were heavily rewarded.
Il met Capt Marago, who commanded the
expedition. He is a man without fear-very
much the same. l imagine, as Arturo Pratt.
who is canonized in the naval archives of
Chill. The war will not last long.
The country, once so prosperous and
wealthy, will recover very slowly from the
effects of the strife. 1t will require another
generation to overcome the infringement that
exists between the two sides"
Official reserve prevented Rear Admiral
Mccain from stating his future plans. Lieut..
Kennedy expressed himself as very glad to re-
turn home.