The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-10-01

Pezuea, the last of the "A legally constituted vice
roys Ok Peru. reported that the whole country was
ripe for rebellion and that. although he reaiiZeu
the danger, he unable to take effective precau-
tionary MEANS since he could in no wsy foreteh
from what direction the blow would come Ing
royal troops at his disposal amounted to ~ men
-7.S15 in Lima and CaHao S,4S5 quartered at Cuz-
co, Arequipa and Xauxa 5000 in upper Peru and
700 at Psco and Caneta on the coast
So 1t was that preparations to free Peru from
Spain were largely made in distant Buenos Aires.
Ii. 1914 General de San Martin began the task OF
creating the "Andes Army" his plan OF campaign
being to march across the Andes to Chile. jan
uary II, 1917, he began his march, with 26O regl-
mental officers and $500 foot soldiers. There were
three divisions under Generals Las Heras. Al
varado and Condo. There were LOGO horses and
02S1 mules with supplies and equipment.
The army crossing through Uspallata pass a.
sou feet) entered Santiago in February lhe bat
tie of Maipu, April 5, ended Spanish power IN
Chile. Then San Martin induced the chileans to
gather fleet, without which successful invasion
Of Peru could not be made.
Lord Cochrane British nobleman with q dis
-tingushed naval record accepted command OF the
feet and hoisted his flag on the O'Higgins Decep
Der o. 1873 AL the ships were commanded by
British officers: the one exception was Captain
Worster, an American. After several cruises and
some minor fighting the fleet returned to Val
de San Martin was nearly ready to embark, having
obtained aid from the foreign merchants of Buenos
Aires In August of 1870 She had at valparaiso
a force of 45OO-five infantry battalions and two
regiments Of cavalry.
August Fl General de San Martins expedition
sailed from Valparaiso Lord COchrane in command.
OF the feet September the troops landed in Par
accas hay. After a successful expedition TO the
Interior San Martin re-embarked and established
headquarters to the north OF Lima.
San Martin had wisely chosen his headquarters
as near the capital as possible. On December 3,
1890 an entire Spanish battalion $50 strong. con-
sistinc chiefly of Colombans, went over to the pa
trots aad shortly afterwards, 38 PERUVIAN officers
and a number of cadets arrived from Lima. San
Martins line now extended from the sea to Say
an distancec OF about 20 miles; the Spanish army,
under Pezuea, occupying position about miles
north OF Lima. Early in 1921 discomfort arose
among the officers in the Spanish army, and on
the 10Th Of January an nsubordinate letter signed
by all of the generals was addressed to the vice
rov calling upon him to resign and to deliver MS
command to Gen. Jose de la Serna. Pezuela had
no alternative but to obey says the Bulletin OF the
Pan-American Union.
Immediately after the deposition of the viceroy
San Martin raised the first battalion of Peruvians.
REGARDLESS of the irregularity. de la Serna de-
clared yceroy being eventually recognized by the
Snonlsh government. and emissary arrived
from Spain to ascertain the demands of the patri-
ota and arrange a compromise. San Martin, de-
c,arine an armstice of 20 days. proposed as
basis Of peace recognition Of the Independence OF
he country the establishment of provisional con-
st,tution until the election of congress and the
ascension OF a Bourbon prince to the throne Of
Peru. Tho new viceroy assented but his generals
insisted upon the rejection Of these proposals The
negotiations were discontinued in May.
soon after this the royalists found It necessary
to eyacuate the coast being without ships and
cut or from all means of communication. The
roSalist general, Canterac, marched into the IN.
teriorin June while the viceroy having garrisoned
end proyisioned Callao castle (Which In September
surrendered to the Rrotector) left Lima. July 8.
On the night OF July 8, Gen. San Martin entered
the capital Of Peru. and on July %, 1871, the in
dependence OF Peru was proclaimed. San Martin
l.eInr unanimously acclaimed Protector. This of
fice he held until the establishment OF the Peruyi-