Chili.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 25 August 1891, Page 2

Chili.

4h "■■ The cablegrams assert that preparations for the final struggle between the contending parties are rapidly drawing to a head. The capital of Chili is Santiago, lying in land about eighty miles from the port of Valparaiso. Santiago, before the war, had a population of 189,000, and Valparaiso a population of 104,000. The insurgents are closing round Valparaiso, and have landed 10,000 men at Guntero Bay, who have cut the wires and blown up the bridge north of Valparaiso. They have a fleet off the harbour carrying 19 guns. The President Balmaceda has 80 guns mounted on the forts at Valparaiso, and has concentrated 10,000 men at Santiago for its defence, the rest of his army is at Coquimbo, a , port about 250 miles to the north. The insurgents appear to have successfully divided his forces, and should make a hard fight. It is alleged that the British warship Espiegle, attached to the Pacific station, at the request of President Balmaceda, of Chili, has conveyed one million dollars, seized from the Santiago Treasury, from i Valparaiso to Monte Video, the capital city of Uruguay. It is also stated that merchant vessels were asked to take the shipment, but declined.