The exceedingly valuable nitrate deposits in the Atacama Desert, north of Chile, were opened imp by Chilean capital, between ISM; and 1578 Chile repeatedly advanced claims to the possession of this territory. Eventually, April 5, 1579, it declared war on Bolivia and Peru. Its armies were less in numbers, but far better equipped and officered, than those of its op ponents, and it had much the superior fleet. The naval operations were watched with special in terest by all outside powers. as being the first between modern ironclads. On October 8, 1879, the Peruvian battle-ship Huascar was taken by the Chilean fleet, and on November 19 the combined Peruvian and Bolivian forces were almost annihilated at Dolores. In October, 1880, Chile was in possession of all the disputed ter ritory, and the United States Minister succeed ed in bringing about negotiations for peace. The conditions imposed by Chile were not accepted by the ;lilies, negotiations were broken off, and the battle of Miratiores, January 15. iSSI. gave the Chileans possession of Lima, Callao, and practically all of the other Peruvian cities. Des ultory fighting continued until October 20, 1583, when a treaty dictated by Chile was finally signed by the Peruvians. It gave to Chile the territory in dispute. excepting the districts of Tacna and Arica, which it was to administer for ten years. a plebiscite at the end of that period to determine whether the inhabitants wished to re turn to Peru or continue under Chilean rule. The Oovernment of Chile, however, has been careful to postpone such an appeal to the popular voice, and as late as 1900 the Chilean Congress rejected a convention concluded with Peru in i SOS provid ing for a plebiscite. In 1891 war broke out be tween the President. Balmaeeda. and his oppo nents in the Congress. The Congressionalists induced the principal part of the national fleet to revolt, and seized the nitrate provinces, and, with the revenue derived from them, purchased modern arms and munitions, with which they defeated the regular army near Valparaiso, captured that city, and entered Santiago (August). Balmaccda
committed suicide, and order was promptly re stored with the election of Jorge Montt as his successor. During the Civil War the United States had taken sides with the established Government. and. as :t result, after the capture of Valparaiso, there was much ill feeling against the United States. A number of sailors from the 'United States steamship R..//tiniorc on shore leave were attacked by a mob and one of them was killed. Serious complications threatened for a while, but the Chilean Government eventually apologized and paid $75.000 for the benefit of the injured sailors.
For general information concerning Chile, con sult: Vincent. Round and .I bout South .1 incrica New fork, 1900) ; Smith. 'Temperate Chile (London. 1900) ; Fitzgerald, The Highest Andes London, : Espinoza, Geogrofia (le Chile (Santiago, 1897) ; Kunz, Chile and (lit deutsche,' Kolunien (Leipzig. 18)11).
There is an excellent short history of Chile by Ilancoek t Chicago, 18931, Slolina. (;co .Vat urn!, and Ciril History of Chile ( London. 18171. is popular, hut unreliable. I In the war with Peru. there are a great number of hooks, of which the best are: Markham. The War Between. Peru and Chile (London. 1882) Barros Arana. Lu guerre (111 Pacifique 1882) ; and the report of Lieutenant 'Slason, of the rnited States Navy, who witnessed the lighting in the character of naval expert for the l'nited. States IItivernment. The most recent general history is that of Perez I;arcia, Historia natural, militar, ti•il y sagrada del rein° de chile (Santiago, 1900). For illustration. see COATS OF Aims and 'MARITIME FLAcs, aceont rallying articles HERALDRY and FLAG.