ON THE EVE OF BATTLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 240, 9 October 1891, Page 4

ON THE EVE OF BATTLE.

INTENSE EXC.ITEMENI" IN VAL-

PARAISO.

New York, August 22nd. — The "Herald's" correspondent at Valparaiso, Chili, sends tho following:—Within a vory few hours now tho battle which is to decide tho fate of Chili will be fought, and the question as to who shall govern the republic—tho B.almaeedists or the G'ongrcssionalistS' —will be decided. News that the insurgent fleet had landed an army of S,OOO men at Quintero Bay caused the wildest kind of excitement, both among officials and the populace here, and preparations wore at once begun to give battle to tho invaders, i'he (*overnment has an available force of somo 15,000 troops in this district, and these were as rapidly as possible got into marching and fighting order. Ie was not known just what course the insurgents would pursue. Afc first ib was thought that they would march rapidly southward to this city, which is only twenty miles from Quintero Bay, while tho fleet would proceed also to Valparaiso and a combined sea and land attack would be made. It seemed for a while last night thab this idea waa the correct one, for six ships of the hostile flees appeared of. the forts. A number of shots were tired at them, but they were out of rango and no damage vvas done. The ship 3 sailed away without returning the fire. The visib of fche hostile warships and the consequent cannonading added to the already intense excitement. AH was bustle and hurry around army headquarters early this morning, and from the character of the work it w r as soon evident that Balmaceda intended to take the initiative and give battle to the enemy outside the city. Regiment after regiment started for the north, until every available man of the President's forces had left the city except soldiers enough to man the forts and prevent any successful attempt to carry fche city by the hostile fleet, and enough police to prevent the possibility of a riot.

The streets of Valparaiso presenb a dreary aspect to-day. Nearly every business houso is closed, and such of the inhabitants as can get away havo loft the city and have sought safer quarters in case fche insurgent fleet should seek to aid the land

forces by an attack by sea and a bombard

menfc,