THE WAR BETWEEN CHILI AND SPAIN.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 386, 18 June 1866, Page 1

THE WAR BETWEEN CHILI AND SPAIN.

A naval engagement took place on the 6th of February, between two Spanish ships of war and four of the allied fleet of the Chilians and Peruvians. Spanish vessels: The Yilla de Madrid and La Blanca, 94 guns in all. Allied vessels; Apurimac, 23 gnus; Union, 12 ; America, 12 ; Covadocga, 3. The scene of the combat was near the island of Chime, in the archipelago, between the main land and the former island, close to a place called Abtao.

It appears that the Spanish vessels, en- ‘ countering a little coaster, with two men, a woman, and a child on board, all of the aboriginal race, made them believe that their vessels were Peruvian meu-of-war, coming to rendezvous with the allied fleet. The aboriginals thereupon served them as pilots in the archipelago. At C a.m. the allied fleet observed two s'rmige vessels standing in towards their hay ; at 9 a.m. they made them out to be the Villa de Madrid and the Blanca. Gapt, Williams being absent on a cruise with the Esmeralda, Captain Yilhir, of the Peruvian navy, took the command, and went to meet the Spaniards with the Apurimae and Cevu* donga, engaging at once La Blanca. The ilrEg began at It 00 to 1300 yards. About 1-100 rounds were fired on both sides, the 1 Spaniards retiring evidently crippled. The [ Po\ e.uonga followed the Blanca to within [ 400 yards, but was beaten back, as no support was given her, through the machinery I ot the Apurimae getting out of order ; the [t America having been from the beginning in fan unfit state to move; the Union alone ;i roam ring any active assistance. The lire of the America, Apurimae, and Union made, however, considerable havoc on board the j Villa de Madrid, which bad also to retire. The allies lost two men, the Spaniards thirty-five, according to the statements of the aboriginals, who, having served as pilots, were not lauded before the combat. The fight lasted for two hours and a half. La Blanca had her main-yard shot down, and several shots between wind and water. Pieces of her bow and stern have drifted ashore, also many bodies, arms, legs, and the remnants of a boat which was sunk by a shot with twenty Spaniards, 'who were trying to reconnoitre.

The iby previous to this combat, the Italian steamer Laularo (formerly Lerzundi) burst her boiler in running the blockade from Abtao; five men killed and sixteen wounded by the explosion. Williams has joined the allied fleet in the Esmeralda.

The tendency of the public voice, as enunciated by the Mercuric, is to continued resistance.to the demands of Spain. The means of to be shortly adopted are to be a closing of all SpanishAmerican ports on the Pacific; Monitors, with 300-pounders, stationed along the most important points of the coast; and telegraphic communication along the whole coast.

The commerce of Chili being carried on by neutral vessels, the main object of the Spanish blockade islherefore lost. From reports on wheat are as follows : —l7 vessels loading on the 3rd February; the supply being more abundant this year than almost any other year.

Prices:—From Tome, 9s to 9s 6d; from Talcahuano, 9s to 9s 6d; from Penio Lirguen, 8s 6d; from Puchacai, 8s; from Biobio, 7s 6d.