until the city capitulated, January 28, 1871. In accordance with the terms of the treaty of peace, accepted by the National Assembly on March 1st, and ratified May 18th, France ceded the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, and agreed to pay an indemnity of five milliards of francs ($1,000,000,000). The losses of the French during the war amounted to about 350,000 men, while the German loss was but 25,000, with 100,000 additional wounded.

CHAPTER XLI

THE BATTLES OF IQUIQUE AND MIRAFLORES

CHILI VERSUS BOLIVIA AND PERU

FLEETS IN ACTION

THE

"COVADONGA" AND THE 66 INDEPENDENCIA " - CHILIANS'

T

DEADLY FIRE - PERU'S DEFEAT

A.D. 1879-1881

OWARD the close of 1878 difficulties arose between the

South American republics of Chili and Bolivia in regard to the nitrate districts, to a portion of which Chili laid claim. As Bolivia was supported by Peru, and would not grant the required concessions, Chili declared war upon both states on February 5, 1879.

Bolivia possessed no fleet at all, and Peru had only six serviceable ships besides some transports. Four of these were ironclads: the "Huascar," the "Independencia"-armored broadside vessels of about 3,500 tons, protected by four and a half-inch armor, with a battery of two 150-pounder, twelve 70-pounder and four 30pounder muzzle-loading rifled guns; to which on the outbreak of war were added one 250-pounder (8-inch, 9-ton) gun and one 150pounder and the "Manco Capac" and "Atahualpa," the two latter monitors of the "Passaic" type built in the United States. Their armor was five inches thick on the side, and ten inches on the single turret, which mounted two smooth-bore 15-inch 440

pounder guns. The "Union," an unarmored wooden corvette of 1,500 tons, had received new boilers just before the war, and carried twelve 70-pounder muzzle-loaders. Lastly, there was the gunboat "Pilcomayo," of 600 tons and six guns, 70-pounders and 40-pounders.

The Chilian fleet included two fairly modern and powerful ironclads, the "Blanco Encalada" and "Almirante Cochrane." They were ships of 3,500 tons, protected by armor eight inches thick on the battery, and nine inches amidships on the belt which completely encircled the ship. They were armed each with six 9-inch 12-ton guns, two of which fired right ahead, two right astern, and three on the broadside. Each also carried one 9-pounder and one 7-pounder gun. All these weapons were rifled muzzle-loaders. The "Blanco Encalada" had two 1-inch Nordenfelts, and the "Cochrane" one. Their crew was 300 men, and they carried 254 tons of coal, or sufficient for one week's work at a constant speed of ten knots. The hulls of both ships were in a bad condition; the "Blanco" was very foul, having never been docked since she came out, and the "Cochrane" was not much better, as there was no dry dock on the Chilian coast where they could be cleaned. The trial speed of the two had been from twelve to thirteen knots; it is doubtful whether they could either of them exceed nine knots in 1879. The "O'Higgins" and "Chacabuco" were wooden sloops of 1,100 tons, each armed with three 115-pounder, two 70-pounder, and four 40-pounder muzzle-loaders. Their boilers were in very bad condition, and their speed was only eight or nine knots. They carried crews of 160 men. The "Abtao" was a similar vessel, with a similar crew, but carried only three 115-pounders and three 30pounders as her armament. The "Esmeralda" was the worst ship in the squadron; an old wooden vessel with boilers in the most shaky condition, and a speed of only six or seven knots. She was armed with fourteen 40-pounder muzzle-loaders. The "Magallanes" was a gunboat of 775 tons, carrying one 115-pounder, one 68-pounder, and two 20-pounders. The "Covadonga" was a steamer of six knots speed and armed with two 70-pounders.

The Chilian fleet was, on the whole, very much stronger than the Peruvian, but it had one most fatal defect at the begin

ning of the war. Whereas three of the Peruvian vessels-the "Huascar," "Independencia," and "Union"-could steam more than ten knots, there was not a Chilian vessel which came within a mile of them. This lends great interest to the strategy of the initial period of the war. The Peruvians suddenly appeared off the Chilian ports, captured transports and merchantmen, and committed numerous depredations. The Chilians saw themselves helpless; they could not redress the balance of speed by cleaning the bottoms of their ships, since, at Valparaiso, they had no dock which could take their ironclads. The Peruvians, on the other hand, had accommodation for the "Huascar" at Callao, and could keep her in good condition, while the Chilian ships grew slower and more foul. This weakness of Chili had serious consequences, as the physical configuration of both Chili and Peru made both singularly dependent upon the sea. Whichever power commanded the sea must inevitably reduce the other to submission.

Chili's difficulties were increased by the facts that she was unprepared, while Peru was ready, and that she had no fortified naval port in which to shelter her ships. Valparaiso was poorly defended, and little more than an open roadstead. Callao, the Peruvian base, was well protected by fortifications.

The first action of any note is of importance, as showing what may be effected by a resolute man with odds overwhelmingly against him. In May, the Chilian admiral Rebolledo was blockading Iquique with the greater part of the Chilian fleet, when the news reached him that General Prado was sailing south from Callao to Arica with a number of transports and warships. On this, Rebolledo at once went to intercept the Peruvians with his ironclads and sloops. He left his two slowest and most worthless ships, the "Esmeralda" and "Covadonga," at Iquique to continue the blockade, but failed to capture General Prado or to bring him to action, owing to a three days' fog, which enabled the Peruvians, sailing without lights, to pass the Chilians. Having reached Arica in safety, General Prado heard by telegraph that there were only these two feeble vessels off Iquique, and, wishing to destroy or capture them, he sent his two best ships, the "Huascar" and "Independencia," south, to do the work. The "Huascar" was

commanded by Captain Grau, and the "Independencia" by Captain Moore.

By daylight on the 21st of May the two were off Iquique, and were seen by the "Esmeralda." This vessel was commanded by Arturo Prat, an officer of the most determined courage and of great professional ability. He was thirty-one years of age, and the idol of his crew. Upon the approach of the enemy, he saw that to escape with his two slow ships was hopeless. He decided then to fight to the last, though had he scuttled his ship and surrendered no one could have blamed him, so terribly were the odds against him. The "Esmeralda" and "Covadonga" cleared for action, while a Chilian transport in the harbor was sent off southward for safety.

At 8 A.M. the "Huascar" fired her first shot, which dropped between the two Chilians. A few minutes later the fight began, the turret-ship attacking the "Esmeralda," and the "Independencia," the "Covadonga." Nothing could exceed Prat's skill. He had placed his vessel close to the Peruvian town, so that, if the "Huascar" fired carelessly at her, shot and shell must fall into it, and cause the Peruvians damage. He was supposed to be surrounded by mines on the strength of information brought by the captain of the port, who had put out in a small boat to the “Huascar" before the engagement. The "Huascar" could therefore use neither her ram nor her guns with effect upon her small opponent. After an hour's desultory fighting, the "Covadonga" began to steer south, keeping close inshore and almost on the breakers, while the "Independencia" followed on her heels. Meantime the Peruvians ashore had brought down a field battery to the beach and opened at a range of 300 to 400 yards upon the "Esmeralda" with this artillery and with small-arms. Boats also were putting off and endeavoring to board her and the "Covadonga." So hot and galling was the fire of the guns on land that the "Esmeralda" was obliged to leave the protection of the shoal water, where she was safe from the "Huascar's" ram, if not from her guns. At this point two of her boilers burst, and her speed sank to three knots. Three had been killed and three wounded on board by the fire of the field battery, but not one as yet by the "Huascar.”

Soon after ten o'clock she had moved from her position, and at once the "Huascar" tried to ram her, as Captain Grau found that his fire was most ineffective, and would not be likely of itself to disable her. Indeed, during the four hours which the action lasted the "Huascar" fired forty rounds from her heavy turret-guns, of which only one shot struck the target. This passed through the "Esmeralda's" side, and, bursting in the engine-room, killed all the engineers and disabled the engines. The lighter guns were more effective. The Chilians in reply fired with great steadiness and accuracy, their feeble 40-pounder shells striking their enemy's turret and side repeatedly, but failing to do the slightest damage owing to the "Huascar's" armor. About 10.30 the "Huascar" rammed for the first time. At the rate of eight knots, steering northeast, she struck the "Esmeralda," which was nearly motionless, on her port quarter. One length off the Chilian ship the "Huascar's" engines were stopped, but either because of this, or because the "Esmeralda" veered as she was struck and only caught a glancing blow, little damage was done. For an instant the two vessels were in contact: Arturo Prat's moment had come. In the din and confusion his voice was heard crying, "Children, on board her," and he himself leaped on the "Huascar's" forecastle, followed by only one man, a sergeant of marines. The rest of his crew did not hear what he said, or could not follow him before the ships separated. Sword in hand Prat rushed aft, but just as he neared the turret a bullet struck him and killed him. By fortune's will he fell fighting against heavy odds on the "Huascar's" deck, where months later his antagonist Grau was also to die, also with odds against him.

The "Esmeralda's" decks were covered with dead and wounded, but she still fought on. The "Huascar," having backed clear, rammed her again, heading southward; but this time the "Esmeralda" succeeded in presenting her bows to the enemy, who came on, and, stopping too soon, struck her a glancing blow on the starboard bow. The crew of the "Huascar" were demoralized by the steady fire of the "Esmeralda." One solid shot had entered a turret port and flown round the interior without harming any one; had it been a shell the result would have been very different.