The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-12
NEWS FROM THE CHILEAN WAR.
Unimportant Skirmishes-Insurge Get
Arms-Patrick Egan's Error.

Unimportant Skirmishes-Insurgen Get
Arms-Patrick Egan's Error.
PANAMA. Aug 11.-Late Chile mails from the
south coast bring little news of interect. There
has been slight fighting on land, which in one
place resulted In the congressional forces cap
turing colonel, and on the other hand their
forces were driven out of Vallenar and that
town recaptured for Balmaceda.
A dispatch from Iquique says: The con-
grcssional steam transport Maise brought q
large supply of munitions of war, including
seventy-fiye Krupp guns of different caliber and
1900 magazine rifles, with plentiful supply of
ammunition. 1t is not known where they
were embarked. Ell Mach, the congressional
organ, came out recently with a scathing arti-
Gle against the United States minister, Egan,
who, in q letter addressed to the Iquique junta,
expressed the opinion that 1t 10 impossible for
them to overthrow Balmaceda. This incident
along with the Itata business has caused bitter
feeling against the United States.
LONDON, Aug. 1L-Cable dispatches from
Balmacedan source in Santiago de Chile re-
ceived here deny the reports that fighting had
taken place between the government troops aud
insurgent forces at Valparaiso and Coquimbo on
August 3. According to these dispatches the
government torpedo boat Admirable Condell at
tackled the congressional party's cruiser Esmer-
aida and a number OF transports at Caldera. A
number of torpedoes were discharged from
the AOmlrdlte SOnOeit, DuL as the dttdck was
made at night and as IL was very dark, the re-
suit is not known. None of the vessels have
since been seen near the provinces held by Presi-
dent Balmaceda. The dispatches further relate
that reports as to the relations between Chile
and Bolivia, growing out of the latter's recogni-
ton OF the insurgents as beligerents is untrue,
and that the stories of cruel punishments in
ficted by the government are pure inventions
CHICAGO, Aug. 11.-An Iquique correspondent
has been over the whole congressional field
within the last few days, and is astonished at
the great change for the better which has taken
place in the condition of the insurgent party.
From all that he has seen and heard, he is led
to the confident belief that in their expedition
to the South the congressional forces will meet
with success, and prove victorious over the forces
of Balmaceda. Every indication points that
way. The army is admirably drilled, and in
some way or other, the seizure of the Itata not
withstanding, has been armed fully. The in
surgent ranks are sweled by large accessions
of volunteers from the mining districts of Anto-
fagasta and Caldera. The utmost unanimity
prevails among the leaders OF the congressional
party Balmaceda's issue OF notes for 1891 is re-
fused at all northern ports held by the junta.
Much feeling is expressed here over the delay in
the case of the Itata. is thought that the matter
should have been settled long ago aud the Itata
released. Unless BaImaceda gets his two new
cruisers his foe Will. unless all appearances
are deceptive, gain a substantial advantage over
him. There is no doubt that there are many
unwilling soldiers in Balmaceds's ranks-men
forced TO serve against their wills. Many of
them at heart are in sympathy with tho insur-
gent cause, and 1t will not take much to put
them to flight