The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1921-03-10
ALetter From Peru.

ALetter From Peru.
The editor has just received a letter
from his youngest brother, Lieut.. Com.
#. w. Scanland, who for some time past
has been stationed on the battleship
Utah. The letter was written in port
at Cailao, Peru, and bears the date
February 9Th. AS it makes mention of
the movements of both the Atlantic
and Pacific fleets and is In part de-
scriptive, the following extracts are
given in the hope TINT they will be Of
interest to the young mans boyhood
friends here at home:
Have been pretty much on the go
since last January 3d. We sailed from
Boston on that date and, joining up
with the rest of the Atlantic Fleet, off
Virginia Capes, on the 10Th, proceeded
with them to the Navy's usual winter
headquarters, or rather, base Guanta-
namo Bay, Cuba. From there the fleet
sailed on the 18th of January, proceed
ing to and passing through the Panama
Canal and anchoring off Balboa, G. T.,
where we were Joined by the ships Of
the Pacific Fleet. From Balboa the
combined fleets sailed on the 10th for
a weeks maneuvers at sea, then we
parted company, the Pacific Fleet going
to Valparaiso, Chile, and the Atlantic
Fleet to this pOrt-Calla0, Peru-f0r
five days liberty and recreation. We
will sail this afternoon for Panama,
where we are to remain for week and
then return to Guantanamo. Will not
return to U. S. ports until May LIST.
When crossing the equator en- route
to CallaO the old salts held t h e
customary ceremonies of initiating us
boots who had not before crossed
| the line It is an old, old naval custom
| and they always make quite an affair
of it. After going over one is supposed
to become real .shell-backed salt
CallaO is the principal port and is
the naval base of Peru. The city of
Lima is only seven miles inland, with
frequent connections by electric and
steam railway trains. Lima Is q very
interesting city of nearly SOC, 600 popu-
lation. 1t was founded during the early
15O0's by the Spanish c0nquistador
led by old Pizarro, and SO there are
many very quaint, and very fine old
buildings -plazas, cathedrals, etc. But
the city is also very modern In its pub
lie utilities and it's modern section
compares most fayorably with our own
cities. l thought the city very well laid
out. well administered and quite clean
in fact, remarkably clean for a Latin
American city. Spanish Is the national
language, and was told that the com.
mon speech of the Peruvians is more
nearly pure Castilian Spanish than one
hears anywhere, except In the highest
circles Of Spain itself. This is quite
different from what is found in Cuba
and Mexico and Panama, etc.-where
the Spanish has become 50 corrupted
through mixture with local native
tongues that it is difficult to get our
Naval Academy Spanish understood
The country Is rather poor, having
been robbed at various times OF some
OF its richest territory by Chile, Bolivia
and Brazil. Its principal sources of in
come are the guano beds, gold mines
and sheep and cattle raising. The
guanO beds are very valuable, guane
being an exceedingly efficient fertilizer
The beds are found along the shores
Of Peru and are the deposits Of genera
tions Of millions of sea fowl on the is
lands and cliffs of the coast.
The coast line is quite barren, owing
to a popularity OF climate, produced b,
the proximity of the Humboldt Cur
rent Ia stream of cold water flOwins
nOrthward along the coast and origin
ating In the Antarctic Ocean. 1T Ia sale
that 1t never rains along the coast Al
any rate, between the coast line ani
the foothills of the Andes about ter
miles In width-it is a barren deser
land, except where irrigation has beer
S~.k, 49, ~