River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-08-27
A FIERCE BATTLE.

Ut RACES Near Valparaiso, ChiIi-Tnsur-
gents Attack BaImaceda's Troops-both
sides Lose Heavily. 5000 Being Slain
The Fate of the Republic in the Bal
anee.
VALPARAISO. Aug. "a. - President
Balmaceda and the junta de Gobierno
are elinehed in the final desperate
struggle for the mastery of the re-
public of Chilli The chosen battle
ground is in full view of the city of
Valparaiso, and thousands of anxious
eyes are watching from every point
of vantage the battle which is to de-
eide the fate of the country. The
battle has been raging practically
for three days The first engagement
was at the mouth of the Aeoncagua on
Friday, and resulted in a reverse to the
government The final test of strength
is now being made at Vina del Mar
beach. directly across Valparaiso bay
and less than miles away.
When news reached here that an
army of 5000 rebels had been landed
at Quintero bay Thursday, Balmaceda
and his generals were taken by sur
rise. but the utmost activity was used
in getting troops to the front, if pos
sible, to prevent the invading army
from crossing the Aconcagua
river Immediately south of the
bay. The arrangements were
made hurriedly and only little over
half of 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
ha ,f he -
| junta undertook the task of forcing
passage of the river on Friday morning.
A most desperate and bloody battle
resulted, lasting pretty nearly all day.
A CALLING fire from the insurgent artil-
lery, which was parked on the north
ern bank of the river, aided by the
heavy batteries and machine guns
from the ships, was too much for
the government troops and they
were forced to retire, which they
did in good order. Both sides fought
with the utmost valor, and the des-
perate character of the battle may be
judged from the fact that while less
than 10000 troops were engaged the
| list of casualties will foot up nearly
5000 men killed and wounded.
The general in command of the gov
eminent forces selected strong POI
sition on the beach of Vino del Mar,
the eastern shore of Valparaiso, as his
second line of defense, and, leaving
| force enough in front of the enemy to
check his progress somewhat. took
his place there Saturday and
went to work to strengthen it as
much as possible. All day long Satur-
day the insurgent forces pushed their
way steadily forward, driving the COM
paratively small government force
before them. 1t was a constant
skirmish for - miles over
broken country. At every point of
vantage the Balmacedas made a
stand. and while they constantly were
forced to give way before superior
numbers they retarded the advance and
gave the main army at Vina del Mar a
chance to better prepare for the deci-
| sive fight. 1t was not until late in the
evening that the attacking army ar
rived in front of Eamaceda's
main line of defense. 1t was
then too late TO give battle. In the
meantime President Balmaceda, with
every available man in this department,
WIFI nililSCAl III NChb W bliO
| front. He had over $4,000 availa-
BILE fighting men, while the in
surgent forces had been reduced
| to less than 1000. At the back
of the government line is Fort
Callao, the heavy guns of which have
! done good work in the battle, both in
raking the enemy by land and prevent
ing the insurgent fleet, which had en-
tered the bay Saturday night, from do
ing anything more effective than long
range firing. There was some desul-
tory firing late Saturday afternoon, but
it was only skirmishing. The congress
sionalists attacked in force Sunday
morning, and all day long the battle
ragged with the utmost fierceness.
The most intense excitement prevails
in this city. The roar of heavy artil-
lery and the sharp rattle of small arms
resound through the streets. Thou
sands of people are watching the des-
perate struggle which is being
fought under their very eyes.
The western shore of the bay.
from Fort Valdevia, on the ex-
treme northwestern point, to Fort
Andes, on the southeastern
SnOfe. IL llneu, anu great cfONuS OF
anxious citizens have found places on
Duprat and San Antonio points, the
landing place, the floating docks and in
fact every other place from which even
the most unsatisfactory glimpse of the
contending armies could be had.
There is constant stream of
wounded being brought into the city
from the fort, and temporary hospitals
are being fitted up wherever possible.
Nearly all the women who had not left
the city have volunteered their services
as nurses, and they and the full med
ical force of the city have
their hands full. From the wounded
and their attendants only the most frag-
mentary information as to the progress
of the fight can be obtained, and it is
utterly impossible at this writing to
form any judgment as to which side is
getting the better of it.
Admiral Brown, commanding the
American fleet here, and commanding
officers of the other foreign naval
forces have combined to protect the
lives and property of the foreign citi-
zens. and in case of an attack on the
city marines and bluejackets from the
foreign warships will probably be land.
ed to see that order, so far as the for.
eign element is concerned, is preserved.