Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-08-29
A FIERCE BATTLE.

VALPARAISO, Aug. a. - President
Balmaceda and the junta de Gobierno
are clinched in the final desperate
struggle for the mastery of the re-
public of Chilli. The chosen battle
ground is in full view of the city of
Valparaiso, and thousands of anxious,
eyes are watching from every point
of vantage the battle which is to de-
eide the fate of the country. The
battle has been raging practically
for three days. The first engagement
was at the mouth of the Aconcagua on
Friday, and resulted in reverse to the,
government. The final test of strength
is now being made at Vina del Mar
beach, directly across Valparaiso bay
and less than miles away.
When news reached here that an
army of 5000 rebels had been landed
at Quintero bay Thursday, Balmaceda
and his generals were taken by sur
rise, but the utmost activity was used
in getting troops to the front, If pos
sible, to prevent the invading army
from crossing the Aconcagua.
river Immediately south of the
bay. The arrangements were
made hurriedly and only little over
half of the troops were available for
this purpose. Six of the insurgent
warships were anchored in Cosnon bay,
at the mouth of the river, and under
the cover of their guns the army of the
junta undertook the task of forcing a
passage of the river on Friday morning.
most desperate and bloody battle
resulted, lasting pretty nearly all day.
A nn1lipcr Hra f,,v,, f1,
lery, which was parked on the north
ern bank of the river, aided by the
heavy batteries and machine guns
from the ships, was too much for
the government troops and they
were forced to retire, which they
did in good order. Both sides fought
with the utmost valor, and the des-
perate character of the battle NAV be
judged from the fact that while less
than 10000 troops We're engaged the
list of casualties will foot up nearly
5000 men killed and wounded.
The general in command of the gov.
ernment forces selected strong po-
sition on the beach of Vino del Mar,
the eastern shore of Valparaiso, as his
second line of defense, and, leaving
force enough in front of the enemy to
check his progress somewhat, took
his place there Saturday and
went to work to strengthen it as
much as possible. All day long Satur-
day the insurgent forces pushed their
way steadily forward. driving the COM
paratively small government force
before them. 1t was constant
skirmish for Is miles over
broken country. At every point of
vantage the Balmacedas made a
stand, and while they constantly were
forced to give way before superior
numbers they retarded the advance and
gave the main army at Vina del Mar a
chance to better prepare for the deci-
sive fight. 1t was not until late in the
evening that the attacking army ar
rived in front of Bamaceda's
main line of defense. 1t was
then too late to give battle. In the
meantime President Balmaceda, with
every available man in this department,
with himself in command, went to the
front. He had over $4,000 availa-
BILE fighting men, while the in
surgent forces had been reduced
to less than 1000. AT the back
of the government line is Fort
Callao, the heavy guns of which have.
done good work in the battle, both in
raking the enemy by land and prevent
ing the insurgent feet, which had en-
tered the bay Saturday night, from do
ing anything more effective than long
range firing. There was some desul-
tory firing late Saturday afternoon, but.
it was only skirmishing. The congress
sionalsts attacked in force Sunday
morning, and all day long the battle.
ragged with the utmost fierceness
The most intense excitement prevails
in this city. The roar of heavy artil-
lery and the sharp rattle of small arms
resound through the streets Thou
perate struggle which is being
fought under their very eyes.
The western shore of the bay,
from Fort Valdevia, on the ex-
treme northwestern point, to Fort
Andes, on the southeastern
shore, is lined, and great crowds of
anxious citizens have found places on
Duprat and San Antonio points, the
landing place, the floating docks and in
fact every other place from which even
the most unsatisfactory glimpse of the
contending armies could be had a
There is constant stream of
wounded being brought into the city
from the fort, and temporary hospitals
are being fitted up wherever possible.
Nearly all the women who had not left
the city have volunteered their services
as nurses, and they and the full med.
ical force of the city have
their hands full From the wounded
and their attendants only the most frag-
mentary information as to the progress
of the fight can be obtained, and it is
utterly impossible at this writing to.
form any Judgment as to which side is
getting the better of it.
Admiral Brown, commanding the
American fleet here, and commanding .
officers of the other foreign naval
forces have combined to protect the
lives and property of the foreign citi-