The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-07
CHILE BOMBS
OWN NAVY TO
HALT MUTINY
Spectacular Battle Waged;
Machine Gun Bullets
Hail on Fleet.
HUNDREDS SHOT DOWN
Loyal Troops Storm Huge
Arsenal; Surrender of
Rebels Near.

DV CUtbtU TTC3S
SANTIAGO, Chile, Sept. Part
OF the Chilean mutineers, their
morale broken by an attack without
quarter on land and heavy bonn
bardment from the air, raised the
white flag today.
The government expected COM
plete surrender momentarily of the
group that had seized control of the
battle fleet.
Federal troops captured the naval
base at Talcahuano after heavy
fighting, in which rebel casualties
were estimated unofficially at from
500 to 300. Government losses were
light.
Army and navy airplanes raked
the decks of Chile'S modern battle
fleet with machine gun fire and
damaged several ships with bombs.
Many sailors jumped into the sea
and tried to swim to shore.
The rout of the mutineers ap-
peared complete. Officers held
prisoner aboard the battleshipS were
allowed to come ashore.
Battle for Two Hours
Government forces got into ac-
ton soon after an announcement
that the administration would wage
a fight to the finish" against the
mutineerS. The first attack was
against the Talcahuano base, the
nayy's chief source of supply.
The engagement lasted two hours
and resulted, an official government
bulletin said, in the capture of
thousands of prisoners" and guam
titles of arms and ammunition.
Casualties were not mentioned,
but unofficial estimates placed them
as high as 500 or perhaps 300. Fed
eral troops were commanded by
General Novoa, a veteran in the
regular Chilean army and a loyal
supporter of the present regime.
White Flag Raised
Cannons, machine guns and rifles
were used by both sides. Insurgent
sailors were concentrated in the
barracks and ignored an l1ltimatum
from General Novoa. The federal
troops opened fire from half
dozen points Simultaneously, and
after heavy bombardment white
flag was raised at the entrance of
the arsenal.
FederalS advanced, but were met
by heavy machine gun fire. They
were forced to retreat momentarily,
but rallied and took the arsenal,
capturing several rebel leaders.
The attack on the fleet was made
after repeated threats to make use
of the air force if the rebels re-
fused to surrender. The air squad
rons, concentrated from Iquique
and other bases, advanced from
Valparaiso, about two hours dis
tant from Coquimbo.
They circled over the port and
then headed out to sea to bomb
their former comrades in arms.
Fleet Is Bombed
Smaller planes were equipped
with machine guns and larger
planes were loaded with 1000 kilg-
grams of bombs each. The fleet,
anchored off Coquimbo, offered easy
targets from the air.
The mutineerS, apparently caught
unprepared, because earlier threats
of bombing had not materialized,
mounted anti-aircraft guns hastily
on the decks and attempted to ward
off the bombardment. Their efforts
were of little avail.
The wing of one plane was per-
forated by gun fire, but all the ma
chimes returned safely to their bases.
The airplanes raked the decks of
the moderr. Chilean men of war
with machine gun fire and struck
several of the craft with bombs. One
submarine was put completely out
of action and surrendered. Bombs
damaged the SuperStructure of sew
eral of the larger ships and sent
submarines and deStroyerS Scurry-
inU for. cofofxy