The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-08-24
READY FOR A FIGHT,
Balmaeeda's Army to Give Battle
With the Revolutionists.
FIRING AT REBEL WAR SHIPS
They Appear or the Forts. We're
Cannonaded, but No Damage Was
Done and They Sailed Away With
out Returning the eFire-Non-Com.
batants Fly for Safety. !;

VALPARAISO, Chile. Aug. 24.-within
very few hours now the battle which
is to decide the fate of Chile will be
fought and the question as to who shall
govern the Republic-the Balmacedists
or the congressionalists- be de-
cided.
The news that the insurgent fleet had
landed an army of 5000 men at Quin-
tero Bay caused the widest kind of ex-
citement both among the officials and
the populsee here, and preparations
were at once begun to give battle to the
invaders.
The government has an available
force OF some fifteen thousand troops in
this district and these We're as rapidly
as possible gotten into marching and
fighting order.
1t was not known Just what course
the insurgents would pursue. At first
it was thought that they would march
rapidly southwark to this city, which is
only twenty miles from Quintero Bay,
while the fleet would proceed also to
Valparaiso and combined sea and land
attack would be made.
Fired at the War Ships,
1t seemed for awhile that this idea
was the correct one, for six of the ships
of the hostile fleet appeared off the forts.
A humber of shots were fred at them.
but they were out of range and no dam.
age was done. The ships sailed away
without returning the fire. The visit OF
the hostile war ships and the conse.
quent cannonading added to the already
intense excitement.
All was bustle and hurry around
army headquarters, and from the char
acter OF the work it was soon evident
that Balmaceda intended to take the in.
itiatiye and give battle to the enemy
outside OF the city.
Troops March Away.
Regiment after regiment started for
tne north until every available man OF
the presidents forces had left the CITY,
except soldiers enough to man the forts
and prevent any successful attempt To
carry the city by the hostile fleet and
enough police to prevent the possibility
of riot.
In view of the fact that there are
many sympathi2ers with the revolution,
lists here, this is by means improbable
unless they are overawed by show Of
force and prevented creating diversion
in favor OF their friends.
Everything points to desperate bat
tie, therefore, within few hours. Bal
maceda appears confident of the result
of the fight.
The land telegraph lines between San.
tiaSo and Valparaiso We're cut on the
morning Of August 20, it is supposed on
the line of railroad running northward
from Valparaiso to Santiago. This
would Indicate that scouting party al
least from the ilsurgent army had men.
etrated inland as far as the railroad.
1t is doubtful, however, if they are in
any force.
The government is taking every posi-
BILE precaGtion toprevent any news lepy.
ing here. Telegraph and cable oper
ators have been forbidden to send any
news messages whatever, and the tele.
graph ohces are closed to private busi.
ness
Citizens Seek Safety.
The streets of Valparaiso present
dreary aspect. Nearly every business
house is closed and such of the inhabit.
ants as can get away have left the city
and sought safer quarters in case the in.