The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-08-02
NEXT GREAT BATTLE
A Port Which the Chilean Rebels
Must Capture.
THEY WOULD TAKE THE CAPITAL
We're It not for Considerations Of Personal
Safety the Opposition Would
Abandon the Struggle.

TGLCAHUANo, DE CHILE, July ~, 1871
Especial correspondence Of THE HERALD. ]
Returning from Crusoe's island 10 our
starting point, Talcahuano, 1 find this por-
ton of Chile so full of novelty and interest
that the impulse is strong to stop here
abouts for a time. Though the northern
half of the republic is richer in minerals
and great cities, the central and southern
portions comprise nearly all the agricul-
tural area, which will ensure permanent
prosperity after the gold and silver and
nitrate and guano of the deserts in the
north are exhausted. In g scenical point
of view, the south is certainly to be pre-
ferred, with its lofty mountains, great
rivers, green valleys, and dark forests
where dwell the great, unconquered
Araucenisns-the bravest Indians in South
America. All the coal OF the country is
found in the south (Which brings from IS
to $50 per tom, and all the timber; and
though it has neither Santiago nor VAL
parsiso, the City Of Conception is not a
great way behind, being reckoDed third in
size In the republic, while Vaidivia, Linar-
les, Coronel, Imperial and other growing
towns are already of considerable import
snce. In short, is southern half is to this
country what the great west is TO the
United States, and is q comparatively new
possession, having been part OF Patagonia
until 6 recent period, when that territory
was divided between Chile and the Argen-
tine Republic. Another good reason for
tarrying awhile is that the
"sEAT or WAR;
will probably soon be transferred to Tai
cahuano, and, therefore, one must visit the
locality now or not at all. 1t is not unlikely
that before this letter can reach the United
States and appear in print, the telegraph
may have brought you news of fresh hor
rors-that this peaceful village is laid
waste its citizens murdered and their
property destroyed The insurgents arc
now practically prisoners in the northern
provinces, where they have set up an OPP
position government, and so far all the bet
ter portion of the country has been beyond
their grasp. Should they gain possession
of Talcahuano, il viii be the best, or rather
the worst, stroke of work they have yet &C
complshed, except the taking OF Iquiqui,
the nitrate port which furnishes them with
plenty of money TO carry on the conflict
and correspondingly cripples the federal
treasury. Via Taicahuano is the one route
by which the rebels have the remotest
chance of reaching the capital, it being less
than a hundred miles distant and directly
connected oy rail. The port would make
an excellent base for future operations, for
in It's well sheltered bay their transports
could lie secure from all the winds that
blow; and here, where wheat, corn, fruit
and vegetables grow in abundance, supplies
can be obtained at much cheaper rates than
in the desert north, where everything in
the line Of fruit is imported. Besides, Tai
cahnano is virtually undefended, and might
be more easily taken than Iquiqui, africa,
xrhich hor al
secured, where nature furnished admirable
sites for Notifications. We are expecting
NEWS AT ANY HOUR OF BATTLE
at Coquimbo, the port next north of VAL
paraiso; and should the rebels come OF vic