THE REVOLUTION IN CHILI.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9137, 9 June 1891, Page 4

THE REVOLUTION IN CHILI.

PAETIOULARB OF THE FIGHTING,

By the San Franoisco mail we are in possession of some particulars of the recent occurrences in connection with the Chilian revolt.

When the Laja was at Iquique, on March 6, the authorities were actively engaged in collecting the arms of all private people. The greater part of the populace, both native and foreign, were in favour of the Congressionalists (as the insurgents are called).

The French steamer Ferou landed at Callao, on the 12th, about 450 emigrants from Iquique. All the troops which attacked Iquique nnder the command of Colonel Soto, and were routed by the Con^ressionalist forces, have, with the exception of three officers, joined the ranks of their former adversaries. Colonel Soto only gave the soldiers 3000dolout of ll.OOOdol, which the Congressionalists gave him for distribution among them, and the latter had to pay it over again in order to have everybody satisfied. There have been tremendous floods on the Tamarugal plains owing to the heavy rains, which may interrupt the operations of both belligerent parties.

About 250 soldiers who were wounded in the battles of San Francisco and Iquique, when the latter port was attacked by Colonel Soto, were taken to Caldera by the Amazonas and O'Higgins, in order that they might not want for the resources necessary for their delicate condition. They were not, however, allowed to land. This resolution was only made known after three hours' delay, during which time it is supposed that the Intendente, Senor Rizo Patron, communicated with the Government, and that the latter took this course in order to prevent the news of the Iquique disaster from becoming known. The wounded men were subsequently taken to Iquique. At Arica the poor are saffering owing to the military authorities prohibiting fishing. Three hundred pounds is the usual daily supply, and this will now have to be replaced by other food, which will certainly prove dearer. The banking firm of A. Edwards and 00., of Valparaiso, will be dissolved by mutual consent of the partners.

The Government forces underJColonel Robles, at the time of the departures of the steamers, were expected to have an encounter with the Congressionalists, who were merely waiting for the completion of some repairs to the railroad to start for the pampas. All the inhabitants were in a state of consternation in expectation of the battle, which took plape on the 7th, as was advised by cable. Business, of course, was not to be thought of. Merchants were hiding their stocks, and the Peruvian Consulate was continually thronged with people asking for passages to Peru, while many families sought refuge on board foreign vessels in the bay. It is said that the Congressionalists have issued some paper money in bills of 50 and 100 sols, payable within three months without interest. They circulate at a discount of 20 per cent.

It ia said that the division commanded by Colonel Gano, which left Pisagua recently for the interior, succeeded in joining Colonel Eobles. In this case the Government forces will outnumber the Congressionalists. The emigrants from Iquique on board the Perou came down in the greatest disorder. The captain endeavoured to introduce some discipline amongst them, in order to facilitate the distribution of food, &c, but they would [not hear of it, and several times nearly got themselves and the vessel into trouble, piling up their baggage in such a way, at Mollendo, as to impede the working of the tiller—at the latter port, in fact, there waa a panic, as, due to the cause mentioned, the ship was momentarily at the mercy-of the waves. They entered Gallao hurrahing for Peru, ana were received by the authorities, who attended to them in the most considerate manner. Of the Government 2000 men landed at Antofagasta, 900 are reported to have passed over to the Congressionalists, and other uprisings are announced in Santiago, whilst it is further asserted that the three menof war at Monte Video have also deserted the Government. Assuming this to be a fact, the Congressionalist fleet will consist of the following vessels:—lronclads: Blanco Encalada and Cochraue, the monitor Huascar. The cruisers: Almirante Lynch, Almirante' Condell, Esmeralda, and Pilcomayo. The corvettes: Chacabuco, O'Higgins, and Magellanes. And the transports: Aconcagua, Amazonas, Cachapoal, Limari, Copiapo, Bio Bio, Tolten, and Trumag. The anxiously expected battle near Iquique has been fought. The Congressionalists won tho day, taking 39 pieces of artillery from their adversaries.

A division of 1200 men, sent by the Government:, landed at the mouth of the River Loa, under the command of General D. Orozimbo Barbozo, with orders, apparently, to proceed to Tarapaca. They would in such case have to pass over a desert of 30 leagues. Santiago snd Valparaiso are in a state of tranquillity, and business is being carried on as usual. The Government are taking every precaution with the troors, in which they are beginning to lose confidence.

The Chilian Ministers in France and the Argentine Republic have been declared traitors by the Government. Regarding the latter, it is said he received a large sum of money from Santiago for the purpose of acquiring a new fleet, and that he devoted it to Congressionalist interests. '

The conduct of the Congressionalists has been severely criticised. On the 19th, although an attack was expected at any moment from the Government forces, they had not even an advence guard. The consequence was that they were surprised by a portion of the Government troops under Colonel Soto, and had juet time enough to escape and get on board. A bombardment immediately began by the ships. The spectacle presented was horrible. Women and children, and also men who were taking no part whatever in the action, were killed by tho bombs or cruelly assassinated by the infuriated soldiers. No plan of attack or defence was visible on either side, and it is hard ito say which side should be condemned most, the Congressionalists for their criminal carelessness, or the Government troops for their harebrained attack. Firing continued to be exchanged for several hours iv an irregular way between the latter and a force which landed from the ships and took the customhouse and BOino adjacent building;. The Government soldiers were distributed in groups of 10 and 20 around the town, and fired at anybody who happened to bj within range1 of their rifles. Many people were killed in their houses by stray bullets. The Government forces finally surrendered with tha honours of war, it being agreed that after they laid down their arms the Congressionalists would place a transport at their disposal, so that they might return to the south. The basis of this arrangement was agreed upon at a conference on board H.M.3. Warspite.' ■ The number of killed and wounded amounted to respectively 60 and 128, . The town suffered severely during the action, five blocks having been burned to the ground. The damage is estimated at over a million pesos. During the bombardment about 50 or 60 bomba were thrown on tho town from tho ships.