Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-25
BATTLE IN Chill.
Balmaceda and the Junta de
GObiernO Clinched
In a Desperate Struggle for the
Republics Mastery.

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Leads His Troops in a Battle Which
Has Lasted Three Days.
New YORK, Aug. 25.-The Herald
Monday morning had a Valparaiso,
Chill, cable dispatch as follows
President Balmaceda and the Junta de
Gobierno are clinched in the final des-
perate struggle for the mastery of the
republic of Chill.
The 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
decide the fate of the country.
Commenced Friday.
The battle has been raging practically
for three days. The first engagement
was at the mouth of the Aconcagua on
Friday and resulted in a 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 five miles away. When
the news reached here that an army of
5000 rebels had landed at Quintero bay,
Thursday, Balmaceda and his generals
were taken by surprise, but the utmost
activity was used in getting troops to
the front so as to, If possible, prevent the
invading army from crossing the Aeon
cagua river, Immediately south of the
bay. The arrangements were made hur-
riedly, and only a little over half the
troops were available for this purpose.
On Both Land and Sea.
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 apassage of the river
Friday morning
A most desperate and bloody battle
resulted, lasting nearly all day. A gall
ing fire from the insurgent army, which
was parked on the northern bank Of the
river, aided by the heavy batteries and
machine guns from the ships, was too
much for the government troops, and
they We're forced to retire, which they
did in good order.
Thousands Killed and Wounded.
Both sides fought with the utmost
valor, and while less than 10000 troops
were engaged, the list of casualties are
nearly 5000 in killed and wounded.
The general in command of the gov
ernment forces selected strong position
on the beach of Vina del Mar, the east
ern shore of Valparaiso bay, as his sec
ond line of defense. and leaving force
enough in front of the enemy to check
his progress somewhat, took his place
there yesterday and went to work to
strengthen it as much as possible.
Repeatedly Forced to Retreat.
All day long Saturday the insurgent
IDos. 3D.
ward, driving the comparatively small
government forces before them. 1t was
q constant sbirmish for fifteen miles,
over broken country. AT every point of
vantage the Balmacedists made stand,
and while they were constantly forced
to give way before superior numbers,
they retarded the advance and gave the
army at Vina del Mar chance to better
prepare itself FOR the decisive fight.
Balmaceda to to the Rescue.
1t was not until late in the evening
that the attacking army arrived in front
of Balmaceda'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 10000 available
fighting men, while the insurgent 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 Sundays battle,
both in rallying the enemy by land and
preventing the insurgent feet, which
had entered the bay Saturday night,
from doing anything more effective than
firing. The congressionalists
attacked in force Sunday morning, and
all day long the battle has ragged with
the utmost fierceness.
The warships did all they could to aid
their land forces, but they had regard
for the heavy guns in the forts, and were
compelled to do their fighting at long
range. Consequently they were not
nearly so effective in aiding the land at
tack as they had been at the passage of
the Aconcagua on Friday.
They sent as many men as they could
spare, however, with all their available
machine and rapid firing guns to aid as
n naval auxiliary brigade, the attack on
Balmaceda's position.
Valparaiso Excited.
The utmost excitement prevails in
this city. The roar of heavy artillery
and the sharp rattle of small arms re-
sound through the streets, and are
echoed back from the high hills sur
the city.
Watching the Struggle.
Everybody who is left here has sought
some place overlooking the battle
ground, and thousands of people are
watching the desperate struggle which
is being fought under their very eyes.
There is a constant stream of wounded
being brought into the city from the
front, 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 medical
force of the city have their hands full
Admiral Brown, commanding the
American fleet here and the COM
officers of the other foreign
naval forces, have combined to protect
the lives and property of foreign citizens,
Have Not Heard of 1t.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25.-The state and
navy department are both in ignorance
of any fight having occurred Sunday
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