Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-24
CHILE'S ADVANTAGE.
The United States Might Not Be Sue
cessfnl In Case of War.
ENGLAND WOULD BE UNFRIENDLY.
DR.. Nsrdyz Thinks War Vessels Have
Already Peen offered.
CHILEANs. WOULD 60 TO THE MOUNTAINS

DR.. Nardyz, the italian physician in
Pittsburg, who speaks the Spanish language
fuently and has travelled extensively in
Chile, thinks the United States will have a
big job on hands if it attempts to thrash
that country into line. He believes Eng
land will secretly oppose the United States
and that warships have already been placed
at the disposal of the Chileans.
Americans do not understand the people
of Chile, or their fighting qualities, said
Dr. Nardyz. ''They are q half Indian,
half Spanish class, who have as
much hardship as the Indians of
America, and love fighting more than their
homes or their cities. The United States
might be able to take Valparaiso, but that
would only drive the natives back into the
mountains, where all the able-bodied men
of this country could not take them. The
mountains are not more than 20 miles from
Valparaiso, and if the United States navy
would appear in sufficient force to take the
city, I think from my knowledge of the
people, they would desert their capital and
form in the country. If they would do
that, and the United States would send
troops after them, 25 or 80 natives could
hold regiment at bay.
Plenty of Outside Aid at Hand.
= "There is doubt, however, whether the
United States could take Valparaiso. The
wealthy people in Chile are English, French
and Germans, who have great influence in
their native countries and would get sup
port for Chile. England depends on that
country for its raw wool supply, and would
consequently aid it if there was any trouble
with the United States. 1 have informa-
tion to the effect that the English Govern
ment has in an indirect way placed % war
vessels at the disposal of the Chilean Gov
ernment, and if that is so the new United
States navy would have difficulty in hold
ing its own.
''The fact should not be lost sight of that
In case of war it would be this country that
would be the aggressive party. 1t would
be difficult to get volunteers to go into
South American climate in case it was de-
cided to carry the war into the interior, and
in no other way can the United States be
successful Some people imagine that if
Valparaiso was taken the Government
would come to time, but whoever talks that
way does not understand the nature of the
native Chilean. He is dogmatic, bullheaded,
and has no regard whatever for property.
Foreigners have control of the entire
wealth, and the Chileans would look upon
the destruction of Valparaiso with no more
regard than would the Spaniards on the
loss of Gibralter. They are not financially
and the Chileans on the coast
would look upon refuge in the mountains as
an exciting diversion of little consequence.
Could Not starve Them Out.
''They could get..supplics through Peru,
and in fact they would need few supplies
The Spanish in that country live on what
the day brings forth. Every man is a
warrior, and while they usually fight each
other, all would combine against a foreign
foe.
"The belief that Chile is far in advance
of other South American countries is due
to the fact that SO many traders from
abroad have settled there. They retain
their citizenship in their native countries,
and would, of course, have to be protected.
The natives would 60 back into the mount
aims, the foreigners would stay on the coast
under international protection and the
United States navy would find itself in
Chilean waters without an enemy in the
seaport towns and no one within reach
from whom proper apology for the
experience would be about the same as that
Of Napoleon when he went to take Moscow
in 1872. He found the city deserted and in
lanes and the enemy Just as strong in
mother part Of Russia.
"The Chileans would sooner fight than
lat and the new Republics popularity will
De insured if it laughs at the United States.
The people are used to war all the time and
would just as soon keep up a conflict with !
he United States for five or six years as be |
It war among themselves"