HISTORY OF CHILIAN WAR.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9193, 22 September 1891, Page 3

HISTORY OF CHILIAN WAR.

. CRUELTY OF BALMACEDA. WHAT THE JUNTA IS. {Continued from yeuterday.) The Opposition actively worked to form an army, which was hastily disciplined in the Island of Santa Maria, in the south (province o£ Araaco). It was prepared by General Urrutiaand Commander Canto, who from the first joined the revolutionary movement. On 14th February these troops • were in Iquique, and, after a bloody encounter with the Government troops took possessipn of the town, as also of Pisagua. This was a very decisive and important event, and a very great blow to the President. Situated as the Government was, with no men-o'-war to convey troops, they could only their preparations for defence on shore and along the cosst ; to take troops by land was an impossibility beyond the final line of railway, for the north is all sandy, arid plains, or cut up by impassable ravines. The navy has shown great fortitude tinder difficulties, and energy and perseverance during the long weeks that have passed, for the Government showered money on the army, and disposed of all the railways, incessantly carrying troops up and Mown and fortifying every port. Communicatbn between the navy and the leading members of the revolutionary movement became almost impossible, owing to the system of spies, who incosaantly tracked and denounced tho messengers ' and Agents of the Opposition, introducing spies into evory honso as tradesmen, servant?, even visitors, paying highly the few who lent themselves to this shameful service. Nine tenths of the army remained loyal to the established Government, but the cooperation of the fleet has enabled the insurgents to dominate the coast line, and to capture as a basis of operations the im portant nitrate export town of Iquiquo Fighting has been continued with varying i success a d groat loss of life on both sidea Ifor months past, but victory finally rested |with the insurgents, in their attack upon Valparaiso. There is a body of evidence to show that, whatever be the conatitu tional aspects of the colony, it has beon fought on Bahnaceda's part with absoluto unscrupulousness and unflinching cruelty. The temper aroused in bin partisans may be judged from the horrible story concerning the sinking of tho Blanco Encalada. It is affirmed by the survivors that after the explosion the Presidential ships fired grape shot at the unfortunate crow, and so killed scores who might have encaped to tho shore from the sinking ironclad. Concerning tho Pi ©visional Junta, the following was recently published by an Ea^lieb contemporary j w Tbo jtoJtowtojf

I resolutions adopted at Iquique on the Ist \ of April have been communicated by cable by the Chilian Parliamentary leader to the French Governmeut. It has been declared, firstly, that a Government Junta with the title Provisional shall be formed and i organised by the undersigned; secondly, i that tho resolution of this Junta shall be J signed by the president and secretary of the proper department; thirdly, that four secretaries be created, one for the Interior and Public Works; tho second for Foreign Affairs, Justice, Public Instruction, and Worship; the third for Finance; and the fourth for War and Marine. Each one of these departments Bhall have a responsible secretary and clerks, to be appointed shortly. We appoint Secretary of the Junta for Foreign Affairs, Justice, Worship, and Instruction, Isidor Errazuriz ; Secretary o£ the Junta for linance, Halker Martinez; and Secretary of tho Juuta for War and Marine, Colonel Holley." Each one of these nominations and the telegram to tho French Government bears the following signatures: — Monti Silva and Barros Luco. *