THE CAPTURE OF ARIOA

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3894, 11 October 1880, Page 3

THE CAPTURE OF ARIOA

The Panama Star and Herald of July 1, says :— "Her Britannic Majesty's sloop Gannet, Commander Bourke, arrived in Panama Bay from Chimbate on the afternoon of Juno 27. The Gannofc brings news of the capture of Aric:i Ono of the forls was taken by un unexpected attack of the Chilians, and afterwards the combat was continued from street to street until tho placo was won. Tho loss of life was very considerable. The old monitor Mauco Capac was sunk by tho Peruvians to prevent her falling into Chilian hands. The officers and crew are among the prisoners of war in Chilian hands. With this victory the southern army of Peru is wiped out of existence, and thero remain to carry on tho fight only the army about Lima and the army of the North. Th? policy of the Chilians will probably be to blockade the entire Peruvian coast which is not already in their hands, and tiro out their stubborn'adversary rather than attempt an attack on Lima for which at present they havo not the necessary force."

The same paper contains a letter from its Lima correspondent, dated Jur.e 15, from which vre tako the fcllov,i!!<j : ~" After the capture of Tacnn, it was seen that Arica must fall. Once the conquerors had reorganised their forces they sent 6000 by train to Liuta, where they encamped on June 4 under the command of General Baquedano. He, apparently urs willing to shed blood urmccesearily, and knowing tho little garrison could not. hold tho place however much they might resist, sent in a flag of truce, and wliiie complimenting his foes, aßked them to surrender. The answer was characteristic :— 'Not until the last cartridge is fired. 1 Once more he sent, and again Bolognesi, after consultation with his brave brother officers, returned tho came answer, and then prepared to fight to tho last. Bolognosi was the General in command j Juan Moore was in command of the Morro, and Lagomaraino, of tho JVJanco Capac, also prepared to take his share in the coming struggle. Tho Peruvians seem to have been under the same delusion horo cc at Tacno. They had made every provision for receiving (heir enemies in the front, while the battories of San Jose, Bauta Bosa, and the Morro were to keep a well-sustained fire on tho Lord Cochrane, the Magallanes, Covadonga, and Itata, which were sure to open fire. But alas for human calculations ! Tho enemy marched round, taking a long circuit, from their encampment at Lluta to tho village of Azapa, occupyiug in this march Ilia nights of June 5 and 6. At daybreak o( Ihe 7th tho men in tho nowlyconetructed forts to tho east of the Morro saw no signs of an enemy, but at tho booming of a gun fro v seaward the ground was alive with Chilians and with ono splendid charge they took the first fort in the rear, killing every soul within it. The next wss taken in like manner, and owry man thero also bayoneted. While this was going on the guns from the Morro were fully occupied with tho Chilian squadron ; and had such not been tho case they could not havo been turned against the foe now preparing for ono final rush to capturo this post so long desired. Tho charge was made, and after a desporate fight— hand to hand— it fell, a few only of its gallant defendants escaping to the Plaza, where they all gallantly met their deaths. Tho San Jose and Santa Koßa batteries woro undermined, and the vaults -well stocked with explosives connected with the Morro by electric wires, the intention being, if they should fall into tho possession of tko enemy, to blow them up. It is asserted that Moore, beforo he received his death wound, touched tho fatal button and destroyed them ; but whether they were clear of soldiera does not yet appear; probably they wero, otherwise so many prisoners (600) would not have been takon. Tho fight seaward, too, was severe. Tho Cochrane, wo learn from Chilian soureeß, received one shell which, entciing one of her ports, killed 2G men ; tho Covadouga received several bliols, and according to reports from tho eaine quarter, had to be run aground. And the Manco Capac ? When Lagomarsino Baw the heights taken he knew thoro was but one hope for him, and that wus to sink his ship. The plugs were opened, lie and his mon took lo the boats, and the ship heeled over and went to tho botlom. Beloved as ho was by tho commanders of the neutral vessels, the laws of neutrality would not allow them to receive him on board, aud ho finally surrendered himself a prisoner to tho captain of tho Itata. In less than three hours from tho firings of tho firat shot all was over, and tho Chilian flag waved triumphantly over Arica. Fortunatoly, tho foreign men-of-war had taken on board hundreds of women and children of different; nationalities, otherwise the horrors would havo boon increased a thousand- fold. The victorious soldiers were let loose in the city, tho wine Btorcs were broken open, and in the afternoon Arica was in flames."