The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-24
Desperate Battles Between the
ChileanS.
Government Forces Taken by Surprise BY
The lnsursent army.
BalmSc,da'S Stubborn Resistance TO the
Advance Of the Enemy-FierGe Fight
Ing In Progress Near Valparaiso.
Epecial 10 THE MoRSINs CALL.

NEW YORK, Aug. 24.-The Herald this
mornin, Srints Valparaiso Chile dispatch
as follows: Balmaceda and Junta de Go
bierno are clinehe6 in a final des-
pera'e struggle for the mastery of
the Republic of Chile. The battle-ground
1t has been raging for three days. The first
engagement was at the mouth of the Aeon
cagua on Friday and resulted in reverse to
the Government troops.
A final test of strength is now being made
at Vina del Mar Beach. five miles from Val
paraiso.
Thursday news came that an army of 500
rebels had landed at Quintero Bay. Bal
maceda was taken by surprise, but soon got
his troops to the front to prevent, if pos
sibie, the rebels from crossing the Aconca-
qua River. Six insurgent war-sl ips are
anchored in Cosnon Bay az the mouth of
the river and the rebels attempted to cross
under cover Of their ships guns.
The battle lasted nearly all day. The in
surgents steadily pushed their way forward,
driving the comparatively small Govern
ment forces before them. 1t was a con.
slant skirmish for fifteen miles over
broken country. AT every point
oil vantage Balmacedans made a stand,
and, while constantly forced to give way
under superior numbers, he retained his ad-
vance, and gave the main army a chance to
better prepare itself for a decisive fight
Late in the evening the attacking army ar
rived in front OF Balmaceda's main line of
defense. 1t was then too late to give
battle.
In the meantime, Balmaceda himself in
command. went to the front with over 80, 600
available men. while the insurgents had only
1OoO. At the back of the Government line
Is Fort Callao, whose heavy guns did good
work In to-day's battle, raking the army by
!and and preventing the insurgent fleet
from doing anything but at loDg-range fir
ing.
n The insurgent artillery aided by the guns
from the ships, was too much for the Gov
ernment troops, and they were forced to re-
tire, which they did in good order. Less
than 10000 troops were engaged, and nearly
JOUO were killed and wounded. The Com
manding General of the Government forces
chose strong position on the beach at Del
Mar as his second line of defense, and leav-
Ing force enough In front OF the enemy to
check his progress somewhat. took his place
there yesterday and went to work 10
strengthen It as much as possible.
Inc war-ships sent all the available men
In the attack on Balmaceda's position.
The greatest excitement prevails in the
city. Everyone left here is anxicusly
watching the progress of the battle. a
heavy pail OF smoke hangs like cloud over
the city.
The most powerful glass cannot pene-
trate the smoke, and only OCCASION
ally can the movements of the troops
be even guessed at There is a constant
stream Of wounded being brought into the
city from the front and temporary hos
pitals are being fitted up wherever possible
The medical force OF the city has its hands
full and all the women have volunteered as
nurses.
mentary information as to the progress of
the fight can be obtained, and it is utterly
impossible now to form any judgment as to
which side is getting the better Of it.
Admiral Brown, commanding the Ameri-
can feet, and other foreign commanders,
have combined to protect the lives
and property of foreign citizens. Should
the revolutOnists succeed in defeating
or repulsing the Government troops in
the present struggle they would have to
cross a small creek, which separates the
beach from the village of Viua del Mar, and
on taking possession of the village would
be in the rear of Fort Callao, with the feet
on one side OF tile fort and the insurgents on
the other, it would be untenable.
Thus the northern defense of Valparaiso
would fall, making the work of capturing
the city much easier. 1t is the universal
belief that VALPARAISO will be bombarded
by the feet should Balmaceda fall, and the
victorious army will make a land attack
If, on the other hand, Balmaceda gains the
victory the feet will cover the retreat of the
insurgents and If necessary re-embark the
troops
All the Government offcials here are con-
fdent that Balmaceda will drive the in
surGents back, ana if he does not en-
tirely destroy them he will compel the REM
nant to embark in transports and return
TO the north. The fall Of Valparaiso would
mean the practical collapse of Baimaceda's
power. Outside of the forces now engaged
there are no forces to oppose the march of
the insurgents TO Santiago, and they would,
with that city as a base Of operations
soon overrun all the Southern provinces.
On the other hand, the defeat of the insurg-
ents would mean a result little less than
decisive. for the rebels have put forth all
the strength they have, and while
Balmaceda would not be abc to
follow up victory and take pos
session of Iquique and the Northern
provinces until the arrival of the new war
ships Errazuriz and Pinto, it is hardly
likely that the Junta could recover from
crushing defeat on the Del Ma-.
The srene from Valparaiso is one of
awful grandeur. A heavy pail of smoke
hangs over the contending armies
1t is lit up almost continuously by sharp
flashes of light from the cannOns and rifles,
and the thunderOus roar Of artillery can be
heard continuously.
III