The National tribune., 1892-11-17
THE COMING WAR.

1t looks very much as if bitter war was
imminent between Chile on the one side
and Peru and the Argentine Republic on
the other Chile has been very bad neigh
Dor to the other countries. She has robbed
both Of much valuable territory, and con-
stantly maintained a very insolent and
aggressive attitude toward them. Now it
seems that they are about to unite in pun
ishng her. Preparations for the conflict
are going ahead actively, and only some
overt act seems needed to precipitate the
struggle. None of the three is in financial
position to make war, but this does not seem
to deter them.
Chile has a population of 100000 and a
small but well-diseiplined regular army of
5,s35 men, supported by National Guard
of &c, $50 men. She has fleet of two iron
clads, one protected cruiser, IL torpedo
boats, two coryets, three rams, and four gun
boats Several of these are very powerful
vessels, and they are manned by about 1000
officers and men who have shown them
selves very gallant fighters Her finances
are in not quite SO bad a shape as those of
the other countries, as she has managed to
pay the interest on her public debt, which
amounts to about S7o,00O.Oo0, or s25 per
head of population.
Peru has about the same population as
Chile, though not made up of SO good ma
terial, as the Indian and mixed element is
larger and the pure Spanish smaller than
in Chile. She has an army about the same
size of Cbi,e's, but not nearly so effective, and
her navy contains only single cruiser and
training frigate. She is almost hopelessly
bankrupt, and has paid no interest on her
immense public debt since 1876.
The Argentine Republic has population
of 100000, Of which about 100000 are
European Immigrants, principally Italians,
French and Spanish. She has standing
army Of 5,565 men, with an enrolled and
partially disciplined militia of $4,000, and
a reserve Of 68000 more. She has a navy Of
three ironclads two protected cruisers, seven
gunboats, and eight torpedo-boats, manned
by 1880 men. Her one sea-going monitor
the Al,airante Brown-is more than a match
for any vessel in the Chilean navy.
Owing to the late financial crash, the
Argentine finances are in bad way. She
has q debt of $475,OOOOO0 (paper), and
her legal-tender paper is only worth 81 cents
on the dollar in gold.
In fight on anything like even terms the
Argentinians would probably come off VIC
tors, on account of their superiority in num-
bers and resources. But they will have 70
be the invaders, and operate in a very diff
cult mountain country, at long distances
from their bases of supplies, while the
Chileans would have the advantages of the
defensive, and be near their bases. On the
other hand, the Chileans would have the
| peruvians on their left flank, with the
provinces they wrested from Peru being
made base of operations against them.
1t is not unlikely that Bolivia which
fought with Peru against Chile In 1879 80
will be drawn into the struggle. She has
about g, 100000 population, mostly Indian OF
mixed, and standing army of 800 men, She
has very small debt, and is in the best
financial condition of any of them.
At the outset ii would seem that thu
chances are strongly against Chile. But hel
people, who are styled "the Yankees O
| South America are fulI of resources anf