Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-27
THE GILLIAN REBELLION,
An Interesting Talk on the situation By DR..
A. II. Soteldo,

a. II. Sotol0o.
RELATIVE STRENGTH OF THR RrsKIs AND rHr
eovERNNEST-rHE LArTRR WILL SOON OBTAIN
TIE MAsTERY-FuTILE ArrEMPrs TO cAPrunx
VALPARAISO BIZ THE NsunexSrs.
The interview with DR.. A. NJ Soteldo, sx-
minister from venezula and one Of the shrewd-
est South American diplomats in Washington.
recently published in The STAR, caused no
small interest among those who are Watching
the progress of the Gillian rebellion. Some
new facts were presented in that inter-
view and better understanding of the situa-
ton was given by them than can be obtained
by the regular press dispatches, which are
alleged to be colored for party and fnan-
correspondence with the leaders Of the
government in Chill and is always in
receipt Of the very latest reliable information
In regard to the condition Of affairs Meeting
him this morning STAR reporter asked IL he
had received any additional news recently. Dr..
Soteldo said:
TO SUCCEED BALMACEDA
''Don Claudio Vicuiia has been nominated BY
the electoral convention convened at Santiago.
the Gillian capital, to succeed President Bal
maceda, whose term Of Office expires on the
18th Of next September, when the anniversary
Of the independence Of the republic is to be
celebrated, and in all probability Senior
Vicufias Inauguration as the constitutional
successor Of the present incumbent will take
place.
President Balmaceda feels anxious and
promises to do his best to suppress the present
armed rebellion against the government before
the expiration of his constitutional term, SO as
not to leave to his successor any of the fighting
membranes Of such a domestic trouble, so
dot wi <al 20 &hA nj
the nation.
The government is in possession OF every
thing necessary to accomplish that end before
the middle Of next September. Let US see."
THE REBEL FORCES.
do you know" asked the reporter, "whst
the rebel forces amount top
THE faction against the government ap-
pears to have had the control Of the Tarapaca
coast, with the ports of Pisagua and Iquque,
and no foothold whatever in the adjacent terri
tory. They have the powerful ironclads Blanco,
Encalada and Cochrane, the cruiser Esmeraida,
the monitor Huascar, the gun boats Magallas and
Abtao, one Of iron and the other OF wood.
Their speed lie Of ten knots except the Esme-
ralda which, in her present condition, may
steamers of the South American mail service,
the property Of an English company, under q
government mail contract, are serving the
rebels as transports.
mo matter how powerful such feet may be it
is by no means adequate to control the extensive
coast Of the republic from Pisagua to the Straits
of Magellan. Their attempts at Caldera and
Coquimbo have met with partial success only at
the start. but they have lost it all by repeated
acts Of violence cruelty and lawlessness. Their
attempts at Valparaiso and other places at the
south have proved disastrous in every way"
THE GOVERNMENT RESOURCES.
"What are the government forces and re-
sources?''
"Not only are the resources Of the govern
ment abundant in cash and men and the good
will of the people, especially the laboring and
industrial classes. but in ammunitions, war
materials of every kind, and the powerful
and more modern ironclads, which have been
for the last two years in course of construction
at the principal navy yards of Europe, as may
be seen by the last reports Of the secretary of
the Gillian navy.
the latest styles have been successfully de-
hvered already to the government in Gillian
ports. The landing Of 1000 rifles by the Ger
man steamer Blanca has been lately effected
within range of the vessels kept by the rebels to
intercept them, but 80 far without success.
The arrival Of the powerful and fastest IRON
clads, built at Birkenhead by Laird Bros, has
been reported at Montevideo. and thence by q
cablegram Of the 2lst instant on their way to
Valparaiso through the Straits Of Magellan.
THE CHILEAN NAVY.
"The new vessels-the Admiral Lynch and
the Admiral Condell-are built according to
the specifications and conditions reported
lately by the secretary of the navy. They both
attain speed of twenty-one knots and possess
all the modern improvements Of artillery and
everything else.
Besides the Lynch and Condell the govern
ment has the frst-class and fast ironclads
Presidente ErraZuriZ and the Presidente
Pinto, both furnished with the more modern
and powerful armament and Of a tested 81 . ID
of twenty miles an hour in ordinary weather
The CHILEAN government has purchased
besides two of the more formidable vessels ever
built, which will join soon the above vessels
with the necessary tenders sufficient to under
take the capture Of the rebel men-of-war. The
government feet, now about ready for action, is
superior in every respect to that OF the rebels. "
CAN'T GET VALPARAISO.
''The rebels are striving to capture the forti-
fed port of Valparaiso are they not?''
1.-THE possession of Valparaiso has been the
golden dream of the rebels. Their attempts to
seize it failed when its Notifications were not
by any means what they are now, after every
strategic point has been carefully furnished
with the best armament known in modern war;
fare.
Admiral Oscar Viele, who represented Chill
recently at the international marine conference
here, is the chief in command at Valparaiso.
Besides the Notifications on shore there is feet
of torpedo boats to protect the port against any
attempt on the part of the rebels. viz, the FIRE.
cha. Colocolo, 1ncapel, Geracolda, Segeralda,
Ianaques. Gaule, Quidora, Rucamilla and Sar-
gento Aldea, all of the whitehead system, fur
nished by Fiume."