The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-15
THE CHILEAN WAR.
An Insurgents Statement Of the MiSrula Of
BalmaCeda.

WASHINGTON, July 14.-Antonio Varas.
one of the Chilean insurgent representatives
now here, has very rabid communication in
to-day's Post in answer to the Evening
Stars Santiago correspondent. He says in
part: "The article in the Star, in def,nse
of Balmaceda, SO skillfully conceals the
real facts and so adroitly emphasizes every
possible point in Balmaceda's behalf that
the evident intention of misleading the pub
lie mind is apparent. There are indications
that the letter has been 'doetored' in this
country. When the correspondent discul-
pateS the crime OF Balmaceda for the shoot
ing in the public square of Il group of soldiers
as deserters, she is careful not to mention,
what was so notoriouSly true, that these un-
fortunate men had been dragged from their
homes and fresides by force and against
thelr-wll aud their duty to their country
and ordered to bear arms in aid of tyrant.
Carried by brute force to ships, they were
there penned up like cattle, in the belief
that they would at last become tractable
enough to serve the Dictator's ambitious
ends.
CAPTURED AND CONDEMNED.
"1nspired by the loftiest sentiments of
patriotism, they naturally embraced the
first opportunity to escape. They were
captured, and appealed to the courts A
decision was rendered, and by the decree of
the highest tribunal in Chile it was declared
that these men were under no blisation to
serve in the army. Disregarding the decree
of the court Balmaceda interposed his
bloody hand, and the men, who represented
the foremost families of the republic in
wealth, STATEN and Intelligence were bru-
tally shot down, absolutely murdered IN the
public square. This is the deed which the
writer OF the letter endeavors to justify and
excuse. In willful mendacity she avoids
the truth and seeks to palliate crime
which will forever be a stain upon the clos
ing years OF the nineteenth century These
martyrs 10 freedom and their country. on
whom Balmaceda glutted his revenge, will
live In tie hearts of all true men, while the
tyrant and his supporters viii hide their
heads in shame and their nams be handed
down to posterity as curses to humanity.
=" The Post has been solicited to publish
various letters from a Chilean daughter to
her father, giving what is claimed TO be
truthful ani confidential statement of what
she has witnessed. 1t would be very unsafe
for the young lady If any one friendly to the
Dictator came in possession of the name,
which would be wired through 10 Balma-
ceda, and the poor girl and her family would
suffer the consequences. The vengeance Of
the tyrant would be fearful"
NAVAL ENGAGEMENT REPORTED.
SAN DIEGO (Cal), July II. = Commander
Janer of the Mexican man of-war Demo-
crata, In this harbor, has received a dispatch
from the Navy Department of the Mexican
Government TO the effect that naval en-
gagement took place off the Chilean coast
two days ago between the insurgeDt cruiser
MageliaDes and several Government vessels
The engagement resulted In decisive VIC
tory Tor the insurgents, aud two Govern
ment vessels were almost destro yed