The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-31


he was endorsed and sustained
broken arm. This injury incapacitated
him from participation in the glorious
victory of Maipo, as he was left in
charge of the garrison of Santiago.
While San Martin lost 1000 killed
and wounded, he took 1850 men and
officers prisoners at Malpo, together
with twelve guns, battle flags and all
the material OF war. The effect Of
Maipo was worldwide, for the reason
that since the downfall Of Napoleon
there had been none of the excitement
of fighting save Lord Exmouth's de-
struction of the Algerine power on tho
Mediterranean in 1916.
Not merely decisive Of the liberation
of Chile, the battle of Maipo conferred
an enormously enhanced prestige on
the republican arms. O'Higgins was
destined to become the first dictator
of the new republic, and to this day
the Chilean navy contains an OHig-
gins and a Dundonald ironclad.
After San Martin and OHiggins, the
principal honors of the army of the
Andes rested with Gen. Las Heras. the
second in command in the battle Of the
ON VI APRIL 1910. I>Ol less 10 LILO COh-
spcuous humanity than to the admir-
able strategy of this chivalrous soldier
was due the completeness Of the Chill
can triumph on that April day. Maipo
paved the way for the freedom of the
New Granada, which was brought
about by the decisive victory of BoyAca
| en- August II of the succeeding year.
Apart from the circumstances that
it was not a very happy Chile that he
had to rule over O'Higgins had some
more fighting to do. Near the close
of the year 1918 he smashed the enemy
at the battle OF Talcahuano. Mean
while the dashing Cochrane had ar
rived to give his sword to the cause,
and he and O'Higgins between them
provided Chile with her first fleet.
THE King OF Spain won South
America with five small ships. We
shall drive them out with the same
number" said O'Higgins. These fve
vessels were the Lautaro, Cumber-
land. San Martin, Araucano and Cha
| cabuco, and a sixth was presently
| added, the O'Higgins. A devoted and
| lifelong friendship sprang up between
| these two colleagues in the struggle.
In 1919 Gen. Osorio reappeared
at the head of great army and we
find San Martin writing to O'Hig-
gins: United We are invincible; d.
us anywhere with our 400 leagues of
coast"
He advised general despoliation OF
the country, so that the Spaniards
might obtain no sustenance anywhere.
| This actually was done, OHiggins
taking about with his army some Co.
| 900 on-combatants.
In 1920 a ruffianly guerrilla rene
gade, one Benevades. with 2.400 Span
ish and "miXed" troops, lured 500 pa
| triot soldiers under General Alcazar
into an ambush. On promise OF good
treatment, they were induced TO ca
! pitulate, when the miscreant Bene-
vaGes had every man of the 600 shot
in cold blood. O'Higgins afterward
captured and hanged Benevades. but
the incident makes one OF the most
appalling stories in the history OF
South Americas fight for indepen-
dence.
Gradually the Spaniards were driven
out of Chile, but the dictator found
himself hedged around by enemies Sc
cret and avowed. The gallant Coch-
rane Indignantly declined to partici-
pate in a plot for his removal; but a
crisis was reached when, in January.
1928, the disillusioned O'Higgtns thus
addressed the junta at Santiago;
| "If It has not been given to me to
! consolidate the new institutions of the
republic, have at least the satisfac-
ton OF leaving II free and independent,
respected abroad and glorious in its
&C nquests. 1 thank God for the favor
which He had given to my Govern
ment, and l pray that He may protect
those who have to succeed me. Dur
! ing my government I may have COM
mitted mistakes, but they were due to
| the difficult circumstances. If these
faults have caused evils which can
Only no purged by my blood. here Is
my breast!"
Efforts were made to induce him TO
retain power, but he declined, and re-
| tired to Peruvian estate conferred
upon him by San Martin, where he
lived until his death, at the age of So.
| on October 81, 1912, OF the sincerity
OF his patriotism there was never tho
! slightest doubt and the name Of Ber-
rardo O'Higgins stands second to none
on the scroll OF South American his
| tory.