New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-07
THE CHILEAN WAR.

The latest mail adviceS from Chill by way
Of tho JsthmuS disclose most deporabe state
If affairs. BamaccdaS arbitrary rule having
boon sanctioned by the now Congress Is raPiuN
Incoming As tyIanncal as that of the monsters
who once governed Paraguay by their cll'el
capriceS. The Executive Government is now
empowered to impose any fines upon property
which il NAV decree, and if these are not paid
70 inHfct punShments upon dellnquentS. re
course has been had to this monStrouS system
in order to defray the expenses OF the war. A
Iotte, has been published in an lqmque journal
from one of Bamaccdas victims, who was ar
rested on suspicion Of being implicated in the
insurrection. and was publicly logged III the
expectation that State secrets could be wrung
ont Of him. As the result of this barba1ty the
man is manned for life. Political prisoners are
confined in dark dungeons fogging and torture
are commonly practised and arbitrary arrests
oro of constant occurrence. To add 10 these
horrors Of Russian deSpotism prices are ruin
ouslv high. provisions are scarce, business Is
nara wed. and santiago and other cities are
ravaqod by smallpox. The accounts which we
have been condensng come mainly from in
suroent sources, and are probably exaggerated;
color. the condition of Chill must be admitted
to he unspeakaby deplorable.
The insurgent forces are slowly recruiting
but arms and ammunition are lacking and their
naval resources are declining. In order TO take
the field against ]almacedaS army and to bring
the war to an end the leaders require at least
, {. 900 soldiers but it is not probable that they
have one-half Of thi, number at their disposal,
nor any means of arming more than 5000
Notwithstanding their recent success at lluaSco
which has undoubtedly been Overrated in the
dispatches from lquiq1c they are unprepared
to take the offensive. They have the lluascar,
tbe Esmerada and the C0chrane as their avail
able ships.of-war, with number OF gunboatS
and armed transports. Without coal supply
their fleet is useless and facilities for coaing
are deficient at Iquique. From constant ser
vice the ships are in need OF repairs and gen
eral overhaung, and in the open rOadsteadS Of
the nitrate coast where high surf is always
raining there are 10 dry-docIls in which they
can be relitted The inSlTgent nsyy will be
of little uSe during the remainder Of the war.
If is not strong enough to blockade Valparaiso,
and is mainly available for defending the sea
approaches to the nitrate coast Land battles
alone will be decisive.
The Gillian war threatens TO drag along in
definitely until one side or the other collapses
from sheer exhaustion BalmacedaS soldiers
will probably stand by him so long as he can
contrive 70 raise the money required for feeding
and paying them. When his financial resources
RIM out. they will abandon his cause. With a
printing press at hand for turning out dcpIeci-
ated paper currency and with authority from
Congress TO impose fines at their discretion, the
Ealmacelists will probably hold out for long
time The insurgents on the other hand will
be compelled TO postpone active operations
until recognition of their belligerent rights en-
! abes them to obtain military supplies, or until
there is a popular uprising In their favor in