NationMaster - Encyclopedia: War of the Pacific

The War of the Pacific, sometimes called the Saltpeter War in reference to its original cause, was fought between Chile and the joint forces of Bolivia and Peru, from 1879 to 1883. Chile gained substantial mineral-rich territory in the conflict, annexing both the Peruvian provinces of Tarapacá and Arica and the Bolivian province of Litoral, leaving Bolivia as a landlocked country. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... For other uses, see Pacific War (disambiguation). ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Tarapacá is Chiles northernmost administrative region. ... Antofagasta is Chiles second administrative region from north to south. ... Morro de Arica Arica is a port city in northern Chile, located only 18 km (11 miles) south of the border with Peru. ... Tacna is a city in southern Peru, located only 35 km (21 mi) north from the border with Chile. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Peru_(1825_-_1950). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Bolivia_(state). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Chile. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Peru_(1825_-_1950). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Peru_(1825_-_1950). ... AndrÃ©s Avelino CÃ¡ceres Dorregaray (10 November 1836 â€“ 1923) was twice President of Peru during the 19th century, from 1886 to 1890, and again from 1894 to 1895. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Peru_(1825_-_1950). ... Grand Admiral Miguel MarÃa Grau Seminario (b. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Chile. ... It may have been generated by a computer or by a translator with limited proficiency in English or the original language. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Chile. ... Patricio Lynch (1825-1886) Chilean naval officer, was born in Valparaiso on the 18th of December 1825, his father being a wealthy Irish merchant resident in Chile, and his mother, Carmen Solo de Saldiva, a descendant of one of the best-known families in the country. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Chile. ... Rear-Admiral Juan Williams Rebolledo Juan Williams Rebolledo (CuracavÃ 1825 - Santiago, June 24, 1910) Chilean Rear-Admiral, organizer and Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean navy at the begining of the War of the Pacific. ... Peruvian Navy Jack The Peruvian Navy (Marina de Guerra del PerÃº) is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with surveillance, patrol and defense on lakes, rivers and the Pacific Ocean up to 200 nautical miles from the peruvian littoral. ... Chilean Naval Ensign Chilean Navy Jack The Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile) is the naval force of Chile. ... Combatants Chile Bolivia Commanders ? Ladislao Cabrera Strength 554 soldiers 135 soldiers Casualties {{{notes}}} The Battle of TopÃ¡ter was fought on March 23, 1879 between Chile and Bolivia. ... Combatants Chile Peru Commanders Juan Jose Latorre Aurelio Garcia Strength 1 corvette 1 corvette, 1 gunboat Casualties none none The Naval Battle of Chipana took place on 12 April 1879 during the War of the Pacific between Chile and Peru. ... The Battle of Iquique took place on May 21, 1879 during the War of the Pacific between Chile and the joint forces of Bolivia and Peru. ... Combatants Chile Peru Commanders Carlos Condell Juan Guillermo More Strength 1 schooner 1 armoured frigate Casualties 4 dead 3 wounded 18 dead 5 wounded 1 armoured frigate lost The Naval Battle of Punta Gruesa took place on May 21, 1879 during the War of the Pacific between Chile and Peru. ... Combatants Chile Peru Commanders Juan Jose Latorre Miguel Grau â€ Strength 2 armoured battleships 3 corvettes 1 transport 1 turret ship Casualties 7 dead 31 dead 4 missing 162 captured 1 turret ship captured The Naval Battle of Angamos (October 8, 1879) was an important struggle in the War of the... Combatants Chile Peru, Bolivia Commanders Erasmo Escala Strength 2,100 1,150 The Battle of Pisagua was fought on November 2, 1879, between Chile and the combined forces of Peru and Bolivia. ... Combatants Chile Peru, Bolivia Commanders Erasmo Escala Strength 6,000 7,400 The Battle of San Francisco was fought on November 19, 1879, between Chile and the combined forces of Peru and Bolivia. ... Combatants Peru Chile Commanders AndrÃ©s Avelino CÃ¡ceres Eleuterio RamÃrez Strength at least 4,000 at least 3,000 The Battle of TarapacÃ¡ was fought on November 27, 1879 between Chile and Peru. ... Combatants Chile Peru Commanders Pedro Lagos Francisco Bolognesi â€ Strength 4,000 2,000 Casualties 474 dead or wounded ~1,000 dead or wounded 1 monitor lost The Battle of Arica or the assault and capture of the Morro de Arica (Arica Cape), took place on July 7, 1880, between the... Combatants Chile Peru Commanders Manuel Baquedano Patricio Lynch Emilio Sotomayor Baeza Pedro Lagos NicolÃ¡s de PiÃ©rola AndrÃ©s Avelino CÃ¡ceres Belisario SuÃ¡rez Justo Pastor DÃ¡vila Strength ~ 10,000 - 13,000 soldiers 88 cannons 8000 soldiers Casualties 2,124 killed 3,000 killed The Battle of... This article is for the Bombardment of Callao during the War of the Pacific, for the conflict during the Chincha Islands War see Battle of Callao. ... Battle of La ConcepciÃ³n (Spanish: Batalla de la ConcepciÃ³n) was a battle between a Chilean patrol and Peruvian forces during the War of the Pacific. ... This article or section is missing references or citation of sources. ... R-phrases S-phrases Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, Îµr, etc. ... TarapacÃ¡ is Chiles northernmost administrative region, hence also known as I RegiÃ³n (1st Region) in the standard north-to-south numbering of Chilean regions. ... Arica is a province in Tarapacá Region in Chile. ... Antofagasta is Chiles second administrative region from north to south. ...

Origins of the War of the Pacific

The War of the Pacific grew out of a dispute between Chile and Bolivia over control of a part of the Atacama desert that lies between the 23rd and 26th parallels on the Pacific coast. The territory contained valuable mineral resources which were exploited by Chilean companies and British interests. The Bolivian government decided to increase taxes to take advantage of the increasing income of the region, which led to a commercial dispute. Atacama The Atacama Desert of Chile is a virtually rainless plateau made up of salt basins (salares), sand, and lava flows, extending from the Andes mountains to the Pacific Ocean. ... Pacific redirects here. ...

Since the border treaty of 1874 did not allow such increase, the companies felt the tax was unfair and demanded the Chilean government to intervene. This eventually led to diplomatic crisis and war which revealed Peru's secret alliance with Bolivia.

Control of natural resources

The dry climate of the area had permitted the accumulation and preservation of huge quantities of high-quality nitrate deposits — guano and saltpeter — over thousands of years. The discovery during the 1840s of their use as fertilizer and as a key ingredient in explosives made the area strategically valuable; Bolivia, Chile and Peru had suddenly found themselves sitting on the largest reserves of a resource that the world needed for economic and military expansion. Not long after this discovery, world powers were directly or indirectly vying for control of the area's resources. The U.S. had passed legislation in 1856 enabling its citizens to take possession of unoccupied islands containing guano. Spain had seized Peruvian territory, but was repulsed by Peru and Chile fighting as allies during the Chincha Islands War. Heavy British capital investment drove development through the area, although Peru later nationalized guano exploitation during the 1870s. The Chincha guano islands in Peru. ... R-phrases S-phrases Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, Îµr, etc. ... Spreading manure, an organic fertilizer Fertilizers (also spelled fertilisers) are compounds given to plants to promote growth; they are usually applied either via the soil, for uptake by plant roots, or by foliar feeding, for uptake through leaves. ... This article is concerned solely with chemical explosives. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... The Guano Islands Act (48 U.S.C. ch. ... Combatants Kingdom of Spain Chile; Peru The Chincha Islands War (Spanish: Guerra Hispano-Peruana, Guerra Hispano-Chilena, Spanish-Peruvian War or Spanish-Chilean War, the name changing depending on the nationality of the author) was a series of coastal and naval battles between Spain and its former colonies of Peru...

In any case, an unresolved border issue would come to the forefront in the next few decades.

Border dispute

Bolivian and Chilean historians disagree on whether the territory of Charcas, originally part of the Viceroyalty of Peru, later of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata belonged to Bolivia or not. Supporting their claims with different documents, Bolivians claim that it did while Chileans disagree. When Simón Bolívar established Bolivia as a nation, he claimed access to the sea, although most economic exploitation of the coastal region was being conducted by Chilean companies and British interests. Borders between Peru, Bolivia and Chile before the 1879 War of the Pacific (note: map does not faithfully represent some of the border, particularly the Bolivia-Argentina one. ... Charcas is a province in the Bolivian department of PotosÃ. Categories: South America-related stubs ... Created in 1542, the Viceroyalty of Peru (in Spanish, Virreinato del PerÃº) contained most of Spanish-ruled South America until the creation of the separate viceroyalties of New Granada (now Colombia, Ecuador, PanamÃ¡ and Venezuela, the last-named previously in the Viceroyalty of New Spain) in 1717 and RÃo... Created in 1776, the Viceroyalty of La Plata (in Spanish, Virreinato del RÃo de la Plata) was the last and most shortlived viceroyalty created by Spain. ... This article is about the South American independence leader. ...

National borders in the region had not been clearly agreed until 1866; the two countries had negotiated a treaty^[2] that established the 24th parallel as their boundary, and entitled Bolivia and Chile to share in tax revenue on mineral exports out of the territory between the 23rd and 25th parallels. A second treaty in 1874 superseded this, entitling Bolivia to collect full tax revenue between the 23rd and 24th parallels, but fixed tax rates on Chilean companies for 25 years.^[2] Bolivia subsequently became dissatisfied at the arrangement, as Chilean interests backed by British capital quickly expanded and controlled the mining industry, and feared Chilean encroachment on its coastal region.

Crisis and war

In 1878, the Bolivian government of President Hilarión Daza decreed a backdated 1874 tax increase on Chilean companies, over protests by the Chilean government of President Aníbal Pinto that the border treaty did not allow such increase. When the Antofagasta Nitrate & Railway Company refused to pay, the Bolivian government threatened to confiscate its property. Chile responded by sending a warship to the area in December 1878. Bolivia announced the seizure and auction of the company in February 14, 1879. Chile in turn threatened that such action would render the border treaty null and void. On the day of the auction, 2000 Chilean soldiers arrived, disembarked and claimed the port city of Antofagasta without a fight. HilariÃ³n Daza Groselle (January 14, 1840 - February 27, 1894) was President of Bolivia from 1876 to 1879. ... AnÃbal Pinto AnÃbal Pinto Garmendia (March 15, 1825 - June 9, 1884) was a Chilean political figure. ... The Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia (in English: Antofagasta (Chili) & Bolivia Railway or for short: FCAB) is a non-government railway operating in the northern provinces of Chile. ... is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... For the copper-mining company named after the region, see Antofagasta plc. ...

Now facing a territorial issue, Bolivia declared war a week later, and invoked its secret alliance with Peru: the Defensive Treaty of 1873.^[3] The Peruvian government was determined to honor its alliance with Bolivia to contain what they perceived as Chile's expansionist ambitions in the region, but was concerned that Allied forces were not in shape to face the Chilean Army; a peaceful resolution was preferred. Peru attempted to mediate by sending a top diplomat to negotiate with the Chilean government. Chile requested neutrality and Peru declined, citing the now public treaty with Bolivia. Chile responded by breaking diplomatic contact and formally declaring war on both Allies on April 5, 1879. Peru thus found itself drawn into the war in spite of not being a party to the original dispute. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... is the 95th day of the year (96th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Argentina was invited to join the Alliance since it had a territorial dispute with Chile regarding the region of Patagonia, and was also wary of Chilean position. Its entry in the war seemed possible and would have provided an advantage to the Allies. Argentina, however, decided to pursue a peaceful settlement to its own separate dispute and resulted in Chile renouncing her ambition over a million square miles of Patagonian territory claimed by Argentina. The Empire of Brazil was however a traditional ally of Chile and it was understood that if Argentina declare war to Chile it would strain its relations with Brazil. Patagonia, as most commonly defined (in orange). ... The Empire of Brazil was a political entity that comprised present-day Brazil under the rule of Emperors Pedro I and his son Pedro II. Founded in 1822, it was replaced by a republic in 1889. ... Argentina and Brazil are neighbouring countries of South America, and two of the most important economies in Latin America. ...

The War

Bolivia, after several short-lived governments, stood unprepared to face the Chilean Army by itself. From the beginning of the war it became clear that, in a difficult desert war, control of the sea would provide the deciding factor. Bolivia had no navy and Peru faced an economic collapse that left its navy and army without proper training or budget. Most of its warships were old and unable to face battle, leaving only the ironclads Huáscar and Independencia ready. In contrast, Chile – although in the middle of its own economic crisis – was better prepared, counting on its modern navy supplemented by a well-trained and equipped army. Ironclad warships, frequently shortened to just ironclads, were ships sheathed with thick iron plates for protection. ... HuÃ¡scar is a small armoured turret ship, similar to the monitor type. ...

The Battle of Topáter, on 23 March 1879 was the first of the war. On their way to occupy Calama, 554 Chilean troops and cavalry were opposed by 135 Bolivian soldiers and civilian residents led by Dr. Ladislao Cabrera, dug in at two destroyed bridges; calls to surrender were rejected before and during the battle. Outnumbered and low on ammunition, most of the Bolivian force withdrew, except for a small group of civilians led by Colonel Eduardo Abaroa, that fought to the end. Combatants Chile Bolivia Commanders ? Ladislao Cabrera Strength 554 soldiers 135 soldiers Casualties {{{notes}}} The Battle of TopÃ¡ter was fought on March 23, 1879 between Chile and Bolivia. ... is the 82nd day of the year (83rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... City motto: ( Calama, land of sun and copper ) Founded XVI century, Original Name Ckolam Region Antofagasta Region Area - City Proper 15. ... Ladislao Cabrera is a province in the Bolivian department of Oruro. ... 1952 Bolivian stamp honoring Abaroa Colonel Eduardo Abaroa was the Bolivian hero of the War of the Pacific (1879â€“1883) between Chile, on one side, and Bolivia and Peru on the other. ...

Further ground battles would not take place until the war at sea was resolved. Chile declared war on Peru and Bolivia on April 5, 1879.^[4] is the 95th day of the year (96th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Naval Campaign

Under the direction of Rear Admiral Juan Williams, the Chilean Navy and its powerful battleships — Almirante Cochrane and Blanco Encalada — started to operate on the Bolivian and Peruvian coast. The port of Iquique was blockaded, while Huanillos, Mollendo, Pica and Pisagua were bombarded and port facilities burned. Rear Admiral Williams hoped that, by disrupting commerce and especially saltpeter exports or weapons imports, the Allies' war effort would be weakened and the Peruvian Navy would be forced into a decisive showdown. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Rear-Admiral Juan Williams Rebolledo Juan Williams Rebolledo (CuracavÃ 1825 - Santiago, June 24, 1910) Chilean Rear-Admiral, organizer and Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean navy at the begining of the War of the Pacific. ...

The smaller, but effective, Peruvian Navy did not oblige. Under the command of Admiral Miguel Grau aboard Huáscar, Peru staged a series of blockade runs and harassment raids deep into Chilean waters. The plan was to disrupt Chilean operations, draw the enemy fleet back to the South while avoiding at all costs a fight against superior forces; as a consequence the Chilean invasion would be delayed, the Allies would be free to supply and reinforce their troops along the coast, and weapons would still flow into Peru from the North. Grand Admiral Miguel MarÃa Grau Seminario (b. ...

The Naval Battle of Chipana, the first of the war at sea, took place off Huanillos on 12 April 1879, as Peruvian corvettes Unión and Pilcomayo found Chilean corvette Magallanes on its way to Iquique. After a two-hour running artillery duel, Unión suffered engine problems; the pursuit was called off and Magallanes escaped with minor damage. Combatants Chile Peru Commanders Juan Jose Latorre Aurelio Garcia Strength 1 corvette 2 corvettes Casualties none none The Naval Battle of Chipana took place on 12 April 1879 during the War of the Pacific between Chile and Peru. ... is the 102nd day of the year (103rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... French steam corvette Dupleix (1856-1887) Canadian corvettes on antisubmarine convoy escort duty during World War II. A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft. ...

In the Naval Battle of Iquique of 21 May 1879, Peruvian ironclad ships Huáscar and Independencia lifted the blockade of Iquique by Esmeralda and Covadonga, two of Chile's oldest wooden vessels. Huáscar sank Esmeralda, while Covadonga forced the larger Independencia to run aground at Punta Gruesa (some historians consider this a different engagement and call it the Battle of Punta Gruesa). The Battle of Iquique took place on May 21, 1879 during the War of the Pacific between Chile and the joint forces of Bolivia and Peru. ... is the 141st day of the year (142nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... HuÃ¡scar is a small armoured turret ship, similar to the monitor type. ... Walk Baquedano Iquique (IPA /ikike/) is a city in northern Chile, capital of TarapacÃ¡ Region, on the Pacific coast, just west of the Atacama Desert. ... Esmeralda (BE-43) Esmeralda (BE-43) is a steel-hulled four-masted barquentine tall ship of the Chilean Armada. ... Combatants Chile Peru Commanders Carlos Condell Juan Guillermo More Strength 1 schooner 1 armoured frigate Casualties 4 dead 3 wounded 18 dead 5 wounded 1 armoured frigate lost The Naval Battle of Punta Gruesa took place on May 21, 1879 during the War of the Pacific between Chile and Peru. ...

The Chilean Navy lost a wooden corvette and elevated Captain Arturo Prat of Esmeralda as a martyr to their cause: he died leading a handful of sailors boarding the ironclad after it had rammed his ship. The Peruvian Navy lost a powerful ironclad frigate and saw Admiral Miguel Grau's renown grow among friend and foe as a result of his actions: he rescued the survivors of Esmeralda after the battle and wrote condolences to the widow of Captain Prat. Significantly, Huáscar remained the only Peruvian vessel capable of holding off the invasion. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... AgustÃn Arturo Prat ChacÃ³n (April 3, 1848, near Ninhue - May 21, 1879, Iquique) was a Chilean navy officer, and is considered to be Chiles greatest hero. ... In warfare, ramming is a technique that was used in the air, sea and tank combat. ...

For six months, Huáscar roamed the seas and effectively cut off the Chilean supply lines. In an impressive display of naval mastery, Captain Grau was able to hold off the entire Chilean Navy, recover captured Peruvian vessels and severely damage many ports used by the Chilean Navy. These actions are known as the "Correrías del Huáscar" (Huáscar's Exploits) and as a result Grau was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral. A brief listing of these actions include:

It took the Chilean Navy a full day of sailing with six ships in order to corner Húascar, and then, nearly two hours of bloody combat with their vessels Blanco Encalada, Covadonga and Cochrane to cause her to founder with 76 artillery hits in the Naval Battle of Angamos on 8 October 1879. The dead included Admiral Grau. ... is the 281st day of the year (282nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

With the capture of Huáscar, the naval campaign was over. With the exception of local skirmishes, Chile would control the sea for the duration of the war.

Land Campaign and Invasion

Having gained control of the sea, the Chilean Army started the invasion of Peru. Bolivia, unable to recover the Litoral province, joined the Peruvian defence of Tarapacá and Tacna. However many Bolivians would abandon their allies in the heat of the battle, demoralizing both armies.

On 2 November 1879, naval bombardment and amphibious assaults were carried out at the small port of Pisagua and the Junín Cove –some 500 km North of Antofagasta. At Pisagua, several landing waves totalling 2,100 troops attacked beach defenses held by 1,160 Allies and took the town; the landing at Junín was smaller and almost unsuccessful. By the end of the day, General Erasmo Escala and a Chilean army of 10,000 were ashore and moving inland, isolating the province of Tarapacá from the rest of Peru and cutting off General Juan Buendía's 1st Southern Army from reinforcements. is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Marching south towards the city of Iquique with 6,000 troops, the Chilean Army held off a sudden 7,400-strong Allied counterattack at the Battle of San Francisco on 19 November, with high casualties to both sides. The Bolivian force with a weak leadership withdrew during the battle, forcing the Peruvian Army to retreat to the city of Tarapacá. Four days later, the Chilean Army captured Iquique with little resistance. Walk Baquedano Iquique (IPA /ikike/) is a city in northern Chile, capital of TarapacÃ¡ Region, on the Pacific coast, just west of the Atacama Desert. ... Combatants Chile Peru, Bolivia Commanders Erasmo Escala Strength 6,000 7,400 The Battle of San Francisco was fought on November 19, 1879, between Chile and the combined forces of Peru and Bolivia. ... is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Escala sent a detachment of 3,600 soldiers, cavalry and artillery to wipe out the rest of the Peruvian Army, estimated at fewer than 2,000 poorly trained and demoralized men. The Battle of Tarapacá, on 27 November, took place as the Chilean attack found the Peruvian force in better morale and at almost double the number expected. Led by Colonel Andrés Cáceres, the Peruvian Army routed the Chilean expedition, which left behind significant quantities of supplies and ammunition. The Peruvian victory at Tarapacá would have little impact on the war. General Buendía's army, down to 4,000, retreated further north to Arica by 18 December. Combatants Peru Chile Commanders AndrÃ©s Avelino CÃ¡ceres Eleuterio RamÃrez Strength at least 4,000 at least 3,000 The Battle of TarapacÃ¡ was fought on November 27, 1879 between Chile and Peru. ... is the 331st day of the year (332nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... AndrÃ©s Avelino CÃ¡ceres Dorregaray (10 November 1836 â€“ 1923) was twice President of Peru during the 19th century, from 1886 to 1890, and again from 1894 to 1895. ... Morro de Arica Arica is a port city in northern Chile, located only 18 km (11 miles) south of the border with Peru. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

A new Chilean expedition left Pisagua and on 24 February 1880 disembarked nearly 12,000 soldiers at Pacocha Bay (near Ilo). Commanded by General Manuel Baquedano, this force isolated the provinces of Tacna and Arica destroying any practical hope for reinforcements from Peru. On the outskirts of Tacna combatants from the three contending countries met on what would later be known as The Battle of El Alto de la Alianza. Commanding the allied army was Narciso Campero the Bolivian president himself. In the subsequent carnage Chilean artillery proved superior. As a result Chile wiped out most of Peru's professional army, after the battle Bolivia withdrew completely from the war. is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Ilo may refer to: Ilo, a port in southern Peru Ilo, an artist on the Icelandic Bad Taste record label Ilo, the Estonian goddess of feasts This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... It may have been generated by a computer or by a translator with limited proficiency in English or the original language. ... Tacna is a city in southern Peru, located only 35 km (21 mi) north from the border with Chile. ...

On 7 June, some 4,000 Chilean forces backed by the Navy successfully attacked a Peruvian garrison in Arica, which was under the command of Colonel Francisco Bolognesi. Chilean forces, directed by Colonel Pedro Lagos, had to run up the Morro de Arica (a steep and tall seaside hill) facing 2,000 Peruvian troops commanded by Colonel Bolognesi. is the 158th day of the year (159th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Francisco Bolognesi was a Peruvian military hero. ... It was born in ChillÃ¡n in 1832, the family formed by Manuel Lagos y Jara Quemada, and Rosario Marchant . ... Arica is a port city in northern Chile, and is the capital of Arica Province in Tarapacá Region. ...

The assault became known as the Battle of Arica, which turned out to be one of the most tragic and at the same time the most emblematic event of the war: Chile suffered 479 mortal casualties, while almost 900 Peruvians lost their lives, including Colonel Bolognesi himself. This battle was especially bloody since most Chileans died because of landmines and with bullets running low most of the Peruvians deaths were in the hands of Corvo-wielding berserk Chileans. The multiple cuts on the corpses made many speculate about execution of prisoners, but most authors say that the Captains were actually holding back the enraged Chileans to prevent the deaths of routed soldiers.^[5] Combatants Chile Peru Commanders Pedro Lagos Francisco Bolognesi â€ Strength 4,000 2,000 Casualties 474 dead or wounded ~1,000 dead or wounded 1 monitor lost The Battle of Arica or the assault and capture of the Morro de Arica (Arica Cape), took place on July 7, 1880, between the...

Other high ranking Peruvian officers who also perished were Colonel Alfonso Ugarte, and Colonel Mariano Bustamante, his Chief of Detail. These three Peruvian officers belonged to the group that, on the eve of battle, had gallantly rejected an offer to deliver the doomed garrison to the Chileans in an honourable surrender; Colonel Bolognesi bore out his famous vow to the Chilean emissary that he would defend Arica "to the last cartridge." Alfonso Ugarte (born 13 July 1847, died ?) was a Peruvian hero of the War of the Pacific, between Peru and Bolivia against Chile. ... Mariano Ernesto Bustamante, A native of Arequipa, Peru who incorporated into the army to fight as a colonel during the War of the Pacific between Chile and Peru. ...

Since the Morro de Arica was the last bulwark of defence for the allied troops standing in the city, its occupation by Chile has been of utmost historical relevance for both countries. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

In October 1880, the United States unsuccessfully mediated in the conflict aboard USS Lackawanna at Arica Bay, attempting to end the war with diplomacy. Representatives from Chile, Peru, and Bolivia met to discuss the territorial disputes, yet both Peru and Bolivia rejected the loss of their territories to Chile and abandoned the conference. The first USS Lackawanna was a screw sloop-of-war in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. ...

19 November 1880 the Chilean Army landed in Pisco, and by January 1881, the Chilean Army marched towards the Peruvian capital, Lima. For other uses, see Pisco (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Lima (disambiguation). ...

Regular Peruvian army and poorly armed citizens set up to defend Lima. However, Peruvian forces were defeated in the battles of San Juan and Miraflores, and the city of Lima fell in January 1881 to the forces of General Baquedano. The southern suburbs of Lima, including the upscale beach area of Chorrillos, were looted. Every civilian was forced to surrender their valuables or suffer a bitter end. This desperate order was issued to raise money to pay the late wages of the soldiers and prevent an uprising. Combatants Chile Peru Commanders Manuel Baquedano Patricio Lynch Emilio Sotomayor Baeza Pedro Lagos NicolÃ¡s de PiÃ©rola AndrÃ©s Avelino CÃ¡ceres Belisario SuÃ¡rez Justo Pastor DÃ¡vila Strength ~ 10,000 - 13,000 soldiers 88 cannons 8000 soldiers Casualties 2,124 killed 3,000 killed The Battle of... Chorrillos, which gets its name from the constant trickle of water, is a district of Lima, Peru. ...

The outlying haciendas were burned down by Chinese coolies who had been brought in from South China since the early 1850's for cheap labor at the haciendas. Coolie refers to unskilled laborers from Asia of the 1800s to early 1900s who were sent to the United States, Australia, New Zealand, North Africa and the West Indies. ...

Occupation of Peru

With little effective Peruvian central government remaining, Chile pursued an ambitious campaign throughout Peru, especially on the coast and the central Sierra, penetrating as far north as Cajamarca. Even in these circumstances, Chile was not able to completely subjugate Peru. As war booty, Chile confiscated the contents of the Peruvian National Library from Lima and transported thousands of books (including many centuries-old original Spanish, Peruvian and Colonial volumes) to Santiago de Chile, along with much capital stock. These books were partially returned (4000 of 30 000) to Peru in November of 2007.^[6] Chilean Army marching on Lima This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Chilean Army marching on Lima This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This article is about the city of Cajamarca. ... The National Library of Peru is a national library located in Lima, Peru. ... Satellite image of Santiago Santiago (full form Santiago de Chile) is the capital of Chile. ... National Library of Peru, became a necesity since XVI century, many years before the arrival of the General San Martin to Peruvian beaches. ... For other uses, see November (disambiguation). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

Peruvian resistance continued for three more years, with apparent U.S. encouragement. The leader of the resistance was General Andrés Cáceres (nicknamed the Warlock of the Andes), who would later be elected president of Peru. Under his intelligent lead, Peruvian militia forces inflicted painful defeats upon the Chilean army in the battles of Pucara, Marcavalle and Concepcion. However, after a substantial defeat Battle of Huamachuco, there was little further resistance. Finally, on 20 October 1883, Peru and Chile signed the Treaty of Ancón, by which Tarapacá province was ceded to the victor. On its part, Bolivia was forced to cede Antofagasta. AndrÃ©s Avelino CÃ¡ceres Dorregaray (November 10, 1836 â€“ October 10, 1923) was twice President of Peru during the 19th century, from 1886 to 1890, and again from 1894 to 1895. ... Concepci n (Spanish: (Immaculate) Conception) is the name of two cities in Latin America: Concepci n, Chile Concepci n, Paraguay It is also the name of a volcano in Nicaragua: Concepci n (volcano) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the... This article or section is missing references or citation of sources. ... is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Postal Stamp that picture the Treaty The Treaty of AncÃ³n was signed by Peru and Chile on 20 October 1883, in the district of AncÃ³n, Lima, Peru. ...

Characteristics of the War

Strategic control of the sea

The war theater between 1879 and 1881 was a large expanse of desert, sparsely populated and far removed from major cities or resource centers; it is, however, close to the Pacific Ocean. It was clear from the beginning that control of the sea would be the key to an inevitably difficult desert war: supply by sea, including water, food, ammunition, horses, fodder and reinforcements, was quicker and easier than marching supplies through the desert or the Bolivian high plateau.

While the Chilean Navy started an economic and military blockade of the Allies' ports, Peru took the initiative and utilized its smaller but effective navy as a raiding force. Chile was forced to delay the ground invasion for six months, and to shift its fleet from blockading to hunting Huáscar until she was captured.

With the advantage of naval supremacy, Chilean ground strategy focused on mobility: landing ground forces into enemy territory to raid Allied ground assets; landing in strength to split and drive out defenders; leaving garrisons to guard territory as the war moved north. Peru and Bolivia fought a defensive war: maneuvering along long overland distances; relying where possible on land or coastal fortifications with gun batteries and minefields; coastal railways were available to Peru, and telegraph lines provided a direct line to the government in Lima. When retreating, Allied forces made sure that little if any assets remained to be used by the enemy.

Sea mobile forces proved to be, in the end, an advantage for desert warfare on a long coastline. Defenders found themselves hundreds of kilometers away from home; invading forces were usually a few kilometers away from the sea.

Occupation, resistance and attrition

The occupation of Peru between 1881 and 1884 was a different story altogether. The war theatre was the Peruvian Sierra, where Peruvian resistance had easy access to population, resource and supply centers further away from the sea; it could carry out a war of attrition indefinitely. The Chilean Army, turned occupation force, was split into small garrisons across the theatre and could devote only part of its strength to hunting down rebels without a central authority.

After a costly occupation and prolonged anti-insurgency campaign, Chile sought to achieve a political exit strategy. Rifts within Peruvian society provided such an opportunity after the Battle of Huamachuco, and resulted in the peace treaty that ended the occupation and the war. This article or section is missing references or citation of sources. ...

Participation of Chinese immigrants

According to Hong Kong Asia Television programme "Stories of Chinese Afar III", there were about 2000 Chinese workers participating on the Chilean side. Their roles were spoofing as working with the Peruvians to acquire intelligence, act as back-end support or to initiate a sudden attack to the Peruvian army during Lynch's Expedition. Asia Television Limited (logo aTV) (Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ) was Hong Kongs first television station under Rediffusion. ... Forgery is the process of making or adapting objects or documents (see false document), with the intention to deceive. ... Patricio Lynch (1825-1886) Chilean naval officer, was born in Valparaiso on the 18th of December 1825, his father being a wealthy Irish merchant resident in Chile, and his mother, Carmen Solo de Saldiva, a descendant of one of the best-known families in the country. ...

Technology

The war saw the use by both sides of new, or recently introduced, late 19th century military technology such as breech-loading rifles, remote-controlled land mines, armour-piercing shells, torpedoes, torpedo boats and purpose-built landing craft. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... A breech-loading weapon, usually a gun or cannon, is one where the bullet or shell is inserted, loaded, into the gun at the rear of the barrel, the breech; the opposite of muzzle-loading. ... â€œMinefieldâ€ redirects here. ... An Armour piercing shell is a type of ammunition designed to penetrate armour. ... A modern torpedo, historically called a self propelled torpedo, is a self-propelled guided projectile that (after being launched above or below the water surface) operates underwater and is designed to detonate on contact or in proximity to a target. ... A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval ship designed to launch torpedoes at larger surface ships. ... Landing craft RapiÃ¨re LCU 1656 departs USS Bataan (LHD-5) well deck during Hurricane Katrina relief operations. ...

Second-generation ironclads (i.e. designed after the Battle of Hampton Roads) were faced in battle for the first time. This was significant for a conflict where a major power was not directly involved, and drew the attention of British, French and U.S. observers of the time. Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders John L. Worden Franklin Buchanan Catesby R. Jones Strength 1 ironclad, 3 wooden warships 1 ironclad, 2 wooden warships, 1 gunboat, 2 tenders Casualties 2 wooden warships sunk, 1 wooden warship damaged 261 killed 108 wounded 1 ironclad damaged 7...

During the war, Peru developed the Toro Submarino ("Submarine Bull"). Though completely operational, it never saw action, and was scuttled at the end of the war to prevent its capture by the victors. The Toro Submarino (Submarine Bull) was a Peruvian submarine developed during the War of the Pacific, but though completely operational, never saw action before the end of the war, when it was scuttled to prevent its capture by the victors. ...

Aftermath

Peace terms

Under the terms of the Treaty of Ancón,[1] Chile was to occupy the provinces of Tacna and Arica for 10 years, after which a plebiscite was to be held to determine their nationality. The two countries failed for decades to agree on the terms of the plebiscite. Finally in 1929, through the mediation of the United States under President Herbert Hoover, an accord was reached by which Chile kept Arica; Peru reacquired Tacna and received $6 million indemnity and other concessions. Postal Stamp that picture the Treaty The Treaty of AncÃ³n was signed by Peru and Chile on 20 October 1883, in the district of AncÃ³n, Lima, Peru. ... Tacna is a city in southern Peru, located only 35 km (21 mi) north from the border with Chile. ... Morro de Arica Arica is a port city in northern Chile, located only 18 km (11 miles) south of the border with Peru. ... A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ... Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874 â€“ October 20, 1964), the thirty-first President of the United States (1929â€“1933), was a world-famous mining engineer and humanitarian administrator. ...

In 1884, Bolivia signed a truce that gave control to Chile of the entire Bolivian coast, the province of Antofagasta, and its valuable nitrate, copper and other mineral deposits. A treaty in 1904 made this arrangement permanent. In return Chile agreed to build a railroad connecting the Bolivian capital of La Paz with the port of Arica and guaranteed freedom of transit for Bolivian commerce through Chilean ports and territory. For the copper-mining company named after the region, see Antofagasta plc. ... Central La Paz La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of La Paz Department. ...

Long-term consequences

The War of the Pacific left traumatic scars on Bolivian and Peruvian society. For Bolivians, the loss of the territory which they refer to as the litoral (Spanish for "littoral," the coast) remains a deeply emotional issue and a practical one, as was particularly evident during the internal natural gas riots of 2004. Popular belief attributes much of the country's problems to its landlocked condition; conversely, recovering the seacoast is seen as the solution to most of these. However, the real issue is the fear of being too dependent on Chile or Peru (Both nations are not trusted by Bolivians). In 1932, this was a contributing factor to the Chaco War with Paraguay, over territory controlling access to the Atlantic Ocean through the Paraguay River. In recent decades, all Bolivian Presidents have made it their policy to pressure Chile for sovereign access to the sea. Diplomatic relations with Chile have been severed since 17 March 1978, in spite of considerable commercial ties. Currently, the leading Bolivian newspaper "El Diario" [2] still features at least a weekly editorial on the subject. The Bolivian Gas War was a social conflict in Bolivia centering around the exploitation of the countrys vast natural gas reserves. ... Combatants Republic of Bolivia Republic of Paraguay Commanders Hans Kundt Mcal. ... The Paraguay River near AsunciÃ³n The River Paraguay (Rio Paraguay in Spanish, Rio Paraguai in Portuguese) is a major river in south central South America, running through Brazil and Paraguay and forming a border between Brazil and Bolivia as well as Paraguay and Argentina. ... The President of Bolivia is the head of state of Bolivia. ... is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ...

Peruvians developed a cult for the heroic defenders of the patria (nation, literally fatherland), such as Admiral Miguel Grau, Colonel Francisco Bolognesi who were killed in the war, and General Andrés Cáceres who went on to become a leading political figure and symbol of resistance to the occupying Chilean Army. Peruvian heroes of the war are buried in the "Cripta de los Héroes" in Presbítero Maestro cemetery in Lima, Peru. This mausoleum is the largest in the cemetery, and its entrance reads "La Nación a sus Defensores" (From the nation, to its defenders). The defeat engendered a deep inferiority complex among the ruling classes, which also led to a skewed view of the role of the armed forces, which dominated society throughout the 20th century. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1440x954, 127 KB) Picture from Bolivia, 1992. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1440x954, 127 KB) Picture from Bolivia, 1992. ... Fatherland is the nation of ones fathers or forefathers. ...

Chile fared better, gaining a lucrative territory with major sources of income, including nitrates, saltpeter and copper. The national treasury grew by 900% between 1879 and 1902 due to the taxes coming from the newly acquired Bolivian and Peruvian lands. Victory was, however, a mixed blessing. During the war Chile waived most of its claim over Patagonia in 1881 to ensure Argentina's neutrality; Chilean popular belief sees this as a territorial loss of almost half a million square miles. British involvement and control of the nitrate industry rose significantly after the war,^[7] leading them to meddle in Chilean politics and ultimately to back an overthrow of the Chilean President in 1891. High nitrate profits lasted for only a few decades and fell sharply once synthetic nitrates were developed during World War I. This led to a massive economic breakdown (known as the nitrate crisis), since many industrial factories around the country had closed in the early 1880's to free up labor for the then rising and now dead extraction business, dramatically slowing the country's industrial development. When the saltpetre mines closed or proved no longer profitable, the British companies left the country, leaving a large unemployed population behind. Currently, the former Bolivian region is still the world's richest source of copper and its ports move trade between nearby countries and the Pacific Ocean, the former Peruvian region faces more problematic issues since no new sources of richness have been discovered since the Nitrate Crisis and in August 28, 1929 Chile returned the province of Tacna to Peru [3], where a huge copper mine was later discovered. The Haber process (also known as Haberâ€“Bosch process) is the reaction of nitrogen and hydrogen, over an iron-substrate, to produce ammonia [1] [2] [3]. The Haber process is important because ammonia is difficult to produce, on an industrial scale. ... â€œThe Great War â€ redirects here. ... is the 240th day of the year (241st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Tacna is a city in southern Peru, located only 35 km (21 mi) north from the border with Chile. ...

The war consolidated the Chilean Navy as an institution, as the War of Independence and the 1836 War against the Santa Cruz confederation consolidated the Chilean Army. After many years during which it had been considered an irrelevant and unimportant item on Chilean budget, the Chilean Navy gained an important squadron and became a significant power on the Pacific Ocean, with the cruiser Esmeralda, the fastest vessel of its time. A strong class of naval officials also emerged from the war, most of them descendants of immigrants and not related to Santiago's circle of power; this class played a role in the plot against president José Manuel Balmaceda in 1891. The infantry divisions, especially the ones of Atacama, also gained great respect, generating all sort of folk tales of bravery and skill. To this day the Calama division is known and feared for its skill with the Corvo, a close combat crescent moon knife. JosÃ© Manuel Balmaceda JosÃ© Manuel Balmaceda FernÃ¡ndez (July 19, 1840 - September 18, 1891) was a Chilean political figure. ...

In 1999, Chile and Peru finally agreed to complete the implementation of the last parts of the Treaty of Lima, providing Peru with a port in Arica. ^[8] The Treaty of Lima solved the dispute between Peru and Chile regarding the status of the chilean administered territories of Tacna and Arica. ... Morro de Arica Arica is a port city in northern Chile, located only 18 km (11 miles) south of the border with Peru. ...

Prominent military commanders

Bolivia

1952 Bolivian stamp honoring Abaroa Colonel Eduardo Abaroa was the Bolivian hero of the War of the Pacific (1879â€“1883) between Chile, on one side, and Bolivia and Peru on the other. ... Narciso Campero is a province in the Bolivian department of Cochabamba. ... HilariÃ³n Daza Groselle (January 14, 1840 - February 27, 1894) was President of Bolivia from 1876 to 1879. ...

Chile

It may have been generated by a computer or by a translator with limited proficiency in English or the original language. ... Ignacio Carrera Pinto was born in Santiago, Chile in 1848. ... Battle of La ConcepciÃ³n (Spanish: Batalla de la ConcepciÃ³n) was a battle between a Chilean patrol and Peruvian forces during the War of the Pacific. ... Patricio Lynch (1825-1886) Chilean naval officer, was born in Valparaiso on the 18th of December 1825, his father being a wealthy Irish merchant resident in Chile, and his mother, Carmen Solo de Saldiva, a descendant of one of the best-known families in the country. ... AgustÃn Arturo Prat ChacÃ³n (April 3, 1848, near Ninhue - May 21, 1879, Iquique) was a Chilean navy officer, and is considered to be Chiles greatest hero. ...

Peru

Francisco Bolognesi was a Peruvian military hero. ... AndrÃ©s Avelino CÃ¡ceres Dorregaray (10 November 1836 â€“ 1923) was twice President of Peru during the 19th century, from 1886 to 1890, and again from 1894 to 1895. ... Grand Admiral Miguel MarÃa Grau Seminario (b. ... HuÃ¡scar is a small armoured turret ship, similar to the monitor type. ... For other uses, see Gentleman (disambiguation). ... ... Mariano Ignacio Prado was twice president of Peru Mariano Ignacio Prado (1826-1901) was twice the President of Peru, from (1865-68, 1876-79). ... Alfonso Ugarte (born 13 July 1847, died ?) was a Peruvian hero of the War of the Pacific, between Peru and Bolivia against Chile. ...

Other nationalities

Abel Nicolas Georges Henri Bergasse Dupetit-Thouars (1832 - 1890) was a French sailor in the War of Crimea and a Knight of the Legion of Honor. ... Combatants Chile Peru Commanders Manuel Baquedano Patricio Lynch Emilio Sotomayor Baeza Pedro Lagos NicolÃ¡s de PiÃ©rola AndrÃ©s Avelino CÃ¡ceres Belisario SuÃ¡rez Justo Pastor DÃ¡vila Strength ~ 10,000 - 13,000 soldiers 88 cannons 8000 soldiers Casualties 2,124 killed 3,000 killed The Battle of... For other uses, see Lima (disambiguation). ... Colonel Robert Souper Howard (September 9, 1818 - January 13, 1881) English soldier, served the Chilean Army during most of the War of the Pacific. ... Roque SÃ¡enz PeÃ±a Lahitte (1851 - 1914) was President of Argentina from 12 October 1910 to 9 August 1914, day when he died in office. ... The President of Argentina (full title: President of the Argentine Nation, Spanish: Presidente de la NaciÃ³n Argentina) is the head of state of Argentina. ...

Contents

Origins of the War of the Pacific

Control of natural resources

Border dispute

Crisis and war

The War

Naval Campaign

Land Campaign and Invasion

Occupation of Peru

Characteristics of the War

Strategic control of the sea

Occupation, resistance and attrition

Participation of Chinese immigrants

Technology

Aftermath

Peace terms

Long-term consequences

Prominent military commanders

Bolivia

Chile

Peru

Other nationalities

See also

References

External links

Contents

Origins of the War of the Pacific GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Control of natural resources

Border dispute

Crisis and war

The War

Naval Campaign

Land Campaign and Invasion

Occupation of Peru

Characteristics of the War

Strategic control of the sea

Occupation, resistance and attrition

Participation of Chinese immigrants

Technology

Aftermath

Peace terms

Long-term consequences

Prominent military commanders

Bolivia

Chile

Peru

Other nationalities

See also

References

External links

Origins of the War of the Pacific