Evening star., 1942-02-13
BY HAROLD b. ROGERS,
Star Staff CORRESPONDENT


TALCAHUANO, Chile-Traveling
southwark along a part of Chile's
2,900-mile Pacific coastline, the
visitor is impressed with the i'm
portance of Chile's navy, whose
traditions and some of its present
strength are represented at the
Chilean naval base at Talcahuano.
1t is a long ways from this western
coast of South America to Japan,
with which Chile is still at peace.
but to the traveller, hearing on every
side the rumors of Japanese sub
marines, there is keen interest in all
the fine traditions OF the Chilean
navy and the sight Of Its proud
battleship and other vessels an
chored in the large harbor of Tai
cahuano. They may play part IN
this war some day.
The old warship Huascar, gray
painted former monitor" of the
PERUVIAN navy, whose deck once ran
with the blood of gallant officers
of both Chile and Peru, symbolizes
Chile's naval traditions.
A group of us boarded the old
vessel and read an inscription tell
ing the story of the Chilean hero,
Arturo Prat, who died with his
officers after valiant hand-to-hand
battle. He had leaped from his
Chilean ship. the Esmeralda, after
she had been rammed by the Huas-
car. His Esmeralda went to the
bottom May 81, 1879.
Sinking Was Avenged.
On the same deck we found an
other inscription showing where
Admiral Grau, commander Of the
Hauscar, had died October 8, Of the
same year, in the battle Of Angamos,
when the Chilean ships Corcoran
and Blanco had avenged the sinking
of the Esmeralda and captured the
Huascar.
Chileans almost worship the gal
liant heroism of Admiral Prat. A
copper bas-relief Of him adorns the
Huascar near the spot where he
died. We saw paintings Of the
famous battle in the Naval Club
at Valparaiso, and in the naval
school we saw the captains head"
q large metal disc FURNISHED and
shining. In the naval school also
hangs the bell of the Esmeralda.
which, seldom struck, still calls all
naval students in.the school to the
heroic tradition.
The surprise Of our visit to the
Huascar came when we were taken
below by Carlos Manterola Murray
of Ell Diario Ilustrada, who accom-
panied the newspaper journey to
the South Of Chile. He pointed to
picture of a group Of officers OF
the Esmeralda, who had died in the
battle. This one" he said, "is
my grandfather" He was Dionisio
Manterola Villarrael, engineer off,
Ger of the Esmeralda.
Chinean Navy Is Small
From the deck of the Huascar we
saw floating in the harbor the
Chilean battleship Latorre. There
also was the old battleship Prat,
named for the Chilean hero; the
Aracauno, mother ship Of subma-
rines: the cruiser O'Higgins, and
others. The new dry dock there is
large enough to accommodate battle
ships and larger vessels.
The Chilean navy Is small IN
number of vessels, considering the
long coastline of this country, but
its traditions and spirit are heroic.
We North American newspaper
men have been privileged to hear
much of the tradition Of the Chilean
navy during our visit. We have
been entertained by several officers
OF the navy, and an address OF well
come by Admiral Julio Allard.
The traditions Of the Chilean
navy recall the stirring words Of
our own United States naval heroes:
Don't give up the ship" and Il
have not yet begun to flght!"
The stirring words of Admiral
Prat from the Esmeralda, known to
every Chilean schoolboy, reflect the
spirit Of the Chilean nation-the
Chilean navy: my men, this is an
unequal battle. Our flag has never
been lowered, and hope this will
not be the occasion to do so. If I
die, my officers will know how to
do their duty!"