The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-09-15
Balmaceda Beaten !!
Valparaiso Falls and Chile is
at Peace Undef the Con-
sreSsional Party.
IngIorious Flight Of the Tyran-
nicai President Over the
kndas.

A decisive battle TOOK place De-
tween President Balmaceda's forces
and the Congressional army on the
east side of Valparaiso Bay on August
20. Balmaceda's generals were kill
ed and his army. put to rout. The
battle lasted five hours and 5000 men
were killed and wounded.
Ever since the arrival of the Con-
gressional army under General Canto
at Vina del Mar there had been con-
slant series of maneuvers for posi-
ton by both generals. Every day
there were skirmishes, sometimes
amounting almost to battles. Up to
the 28th Balmaceda was not 10
position to make an offensive move
ment. He was at a serious dis
advantage also in having both bis
generals, Barbosa and Alzerrega, in
rivalry for the supreme command.
General Canto was in no hurry to
move. He had strongly entIench
ed position, and was constantly re-
ceiving accessions of men from the
surrounding country. His position
was on the hills above the race track
at VIVA del Mar, outside of the city.
He had absolute control of the rail
road to Santiago and commanded the
ordinary roads, hence Santiago was
practically in state of siege.
Affairs had come to such pass on
the 28th that it was necessary for
Balmaceda to make some move. A
little after daylight word was given
to attack the position held by the
revolutionists, aud, led by Generals
Barbosa and Alzerrega, the Presi-
dental troops left their breast
works and advanced on the enemy
under cover of heavy fire from
their batteries. The insurgents were
generally armed with Mannlicher
rifles and used smOkeless powder.
The Government troops were not so
well armed.
AS soon as the approaching col
umns got within range of the Mann
lichers they encountered a destruc-
tive fire from the entrenched revo-
lutionists. Still they advanced with
much steadiness to the attack, and
they were soon near enough to do
effective work with their pieces
Then shot aud shell, grape and can
lister, and rifle bullets tore through
the ranks of the advancing troops.
1t became too hot for them and, de-
spite the efforts of the officers, they
broke and returned almost in
panic.
After working like beavers some
time the officers succeeded in re-
forming their columns. Then came
another attack. In steady ranks the
Governments troops started in
double quick time up into the torrent
of fire and lead which blazed from
the ranks of the insurgent army.
Early in the second charge General
Barbosa was shot dead. The line
wavered but kept on. Then General
Alzerrega fell from his horse, wound
ed to the death. He was removed
from the field and died within an
hour.
Another break ensued in the Gov
eminent ranks, and then General
Canto gave the order to charge. With
wild yell the Congressional army
left its defenses and charged on the
retreating enemy. Its artillery
poured deadly fire into the ranks of
Balmaceda's army. The loss of their
generals left them without a head,
and all the efforts of the subordinate
officers to rally them to meet the on
set of Canto's regiments and squad
rons were of no avail The retreat
became rout, the rout a panic, and
then came utter decentralization. The
Government cavalry made stand,
but it was short. They were literally
cut to pieces. Volley after volley
was poured into the demoralized mob
of Balmacedists.
Whole regiments which had not
lost the reginental formation went
over to the victorious troops of Canto
and joined in the attack on their late
comrades. Those deserters were
generally "volunteers" who had been
impressed into the service by Balma-
ceda since the commencement of hos
tilities. Their sympathies have all
along been with the insurgents, and
they took this first opportunity to go
over to them.
Early in the morning stragglers
began entering the city from the bat
tie field, and it was apparent that the
Government troops were getting the
worst of it. President elect Vlcuna
took alarm and went on board the
German flagship, where he asked and
was granted protection. AT the re-
quest of the Intendente, Oscar Vicl,
Admiral Brown sent party of blue
jackets and marines ashore from the
U. S. S. San Francisco, and they
took up a position near the Ameri-
can Consulate. Other naval COM
manders followed suit, and soon there
were enough foreign men ashore to
protect the city against any possible
outbreak.
The execution among Balma ceda's
officers had been terrific. Besides
the two generals, nearly all the staff
officers had been killed or wounded,
and 80 linz 1HSaoso