THE SOUTH AMERICAN WAR.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXIII, Issue 3609, 19 March 1880, Page 2

THE SOUTH AMERICAN WAR.

The end of the war between Chili and Peru — judging by the latest telegrams, appears to be fast approaching. The Peruvian President Prado has fled, and Colonel Pierola has "pronounced" so successfully that already he is proclaimed Dictator of the Republic. General Dara, Commander-in-Chief of the Bolivian Army, and President of Bolivio, has also fled. During the last few years those who have cared to follow the monotonous tale of South American revolutions will be familiar with the name of Manuel de Pierola. He is an arch rebel of the true Hispano-American type. Always candidate for some high office, invariably protesting — with the bayonet — against somebody or something, the best part of his life has been passed in exile, in futile ravolution, or in prison: On land or on sea Pierola has headed revolts against the constituted authorities, though his success on the one element has not been greater than on the other, It may be remembered that, while in October, 1876, he issued his well-worn profvnnciamienio, it was not until May next year that he was defeated and captured by this same Mariano Ignacio Prado, whom, in the capricious course of events, he has now succeeded in •usttng from the Presidential chair. A few months later he managed to seize the ill-fated Husacar, and had not his piratical proceedings brought him into collision with Admiral De Horsey and the Shah and Amethyst, he might have succeeded in gaining something more substantial thaD a fictitious popularity, which has, however, in the end, landed him at his original gaol. That he will prove a better or more successful ruler than Don Mariano it would be rash to prophesy. Peruvian Presidents very closely resemble each other, and Don Manuel's antecedents are not in his favor. However, he has his folllowing, and appearing as the deus ex nuichina when the country is reduced to the lowest depths of humiliation, he may keep his place in the Presidential Palace until in his turn he is ousted, executed, or murdered. We are informed that the reserve army at Callao and Lima "accept him" — a phrase which, in very brief space, indicates the state of militaryism into which the country has fallen— and that Dr Pedro Calderon has been appointed Chief of the Cabinet, a fact on which it is difficult to congratulate either the new Premier or the new President. To complete the tale of Peruvian misery the same despatch states that a torpedo baat, which sailed in November from Panama, under the Hawaiin flag, has been captured by the Chilians. Hence, at this moment, the latter Power is victorious on land and water, and may be said to have the southern provinces of Peru and the western or Ataouman part of Bolivia at her mercy.