The New York Times, May 19, 1895:
TWO REPUBLICS MAY FIGHT.
War Is Threatened Between Argentina and Chile.
TROUBLE ABOUT THE BOUNDARY LINE
Arbitration Might Avert War, but Arbitration is Not Now Popular in Argentina— Resources of Both Republics.
Disquieting reports and rumors are heard here and in Washington from time to time concerning the relations between the Argentine Republic and Chile... both nations are strengthening their land and sea forces... exchanges of heated language may at any time be followed by resort to more mischievous weapons...
The excuse or pretext for a war between Chile and Argentina will be a question of limits, a boundary dispute touching the line along the Andes. It is not a new dispute. Nearly every South American Republic has a boundary dispute as old as itself...
From 1875 to 1881 there was grave danger of war between Chile and Argentina over this unsettled boundary line... In October, 1881, a treaty was signed at Buenos Ayres by Bernardo de Irigoyen of the Argentine Republic, and by Francisco de B. Echeverria for Chile. It described the boundary line between the two nations as running north and south over the highest peaks of the Cordillera of the Andes...
The Andine limits, however, do not appear to have been clearly understood or described. Indeed, the language used to describe the limits is the ground of the later dispute, which has become extremely critical...
The Chileans insist that the word "cumbre" signifies a "ridge," instead of "the highest peaks," and declare that the line of demarkation should follow the curves of the Cordillera... The Argentines are understood to be positive that the Chilean method, if adopted, would prove on the whole to be much to the disadvantage to the Argentines, and the latter are urging that the line described in the treaty means one to be carried straight from peak to peak... And they support this contention by reference to the fact that the Chilean Government signed a protocol, in 1893, in which it was conceded that all the lands, lakes, rivers, and currents to the east of the highest peaks of the Cordillera, which divides the waters, belong to the Argentine Republic.
Chile and Argentina have Commissioners under the stipulation of the treaty—Barras Arana for Chile and Qurian Costa for the Argentine Republic... It is now learned from Santiago that Señor Arana has published in a newspaper a long and—so the Argentines say—very intemperate exposition of his views on the questions in dispute between the two republics; views which, if indorsed by the Chilean Government, might lead to a rupture of diplomatic relations, or worse...
The two great republics of Argentina and Chile are prodigious in resources, the natural advantages of each country have been rapidly developed, and both have extensive and important commercial relations with Europe and the United States.
The Argentine Republic has, including the annexed Patagonian territory, an area of 1,125,086 square miles, with 4,086,492 population. The population has been rapidly increased by encouraged immigration, but in 1893 the arrivals were about 50,000 and the departures 48,794. The revenues in 1893 were $31,909,953 gold and $108,801,225 paper. The estimates for 1895 were $34,373,000 in gold and $23,825,000 in paper, and the expenditures were estimated at $18,418,300 gold and $61,777,574 paper.
The army consists of thirty-seven Generals, 685 infantry officers, 507 officers of cavalry, 167 of artillery, and two of engineers. The rank and file of the army number 6,498. The national guard is estimated at 480,000, of whom not more than 65,000 have received any military training. The Argentine Navy is third in importance of the navies maintained by South American States. The list of vessels is as follows:
ARGENTINE REPUBLIC.
ARMORED VESSELS. |
Almirante Brown
Independencia
Libertad
Andes
Plata
|
Tonnage.
4,200
2,300
2,300
1,535
1,535
|
Horsepower.
4,500
3,000
3,000
750
750
|
Armament.
8 8-in., 6 4½-in., 4 m.
2 24 c.m., 4 12 c.m., 4 3-pdr.
2 24 c.m., 4 12 c.m., 4 3-pdr.
2 11-in., 2 4½-in., 2 l., 4 m.
2 11-in., 2 4½-in., 2 l., 4 m.
|
UNARMORED VESSELS. |
Nuevo de Julio
23 de Mayo
Patagonia
Argentina
Espora
Aurora
Patria
Parana
Uruguay
|
Tonnage.
3,750
3,200
1,530
520
520
500
1,183
550
550
|
Horsepower.
14,350
13,800
2,400
850
3,250
2,300
2,500
475
475
|
Armament.
4 6-in., 8 4.7-in., 12 3-pdr., 12 1-pdr.
2 21 c.m., 8 12 c.m., 12 3-pdr., 12 1-pdr.
1 10-in., 3 6-in., 6 l., 10 m.
1 6-in., 6 7 c.m., 4 m.
3 14-pdr., 3-in. q.f., 4 3-pdr.
.... ....
2 4.7-in., 4 3-pdr., 2 3-pdr.
2 6-in., 2 4½-in.
2 6-in., 2 4½-in.
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The Plata and the Andes are port-defense monitors; the Nuevo de Julio and 25 de Mayo are twenty-two knot cruisers, built in 1890 and 1892; the Almirante Brown was built in 1880, and has 14 knots speed. The cruiser rams Libertad and Independencia, launched at Birkenhead in 1890 and 1891, are remarkable vessels. They were the first vessels to be provided with heavy guns for high-angle fire. The Patria, built to take the place of the Rosales, lost at sea, has steamed 20.5 knots with forced draught. There are also eight first-class and six second-class torpedo boats, the naval fleet counting thirty-three vessels of all kinds.
Chile's area in square miles is 293,970, and the population is 2,915,332, or about 1,100,000 less than that of Buenos Ayres. The revenues in 1893 were $60,000,000, and the expenditures $57,000,000. The external and internal debts are small in comparison with the indebtedness of Buenos Ayres.
The army of Chile is restricted by law to 6,000 men, and the force consists of 3 regiments of artillery, 7 of infantry, 4 of cavalry, and a corps of engineers. There are 5 Generals of division, 4 of brigade, 17 Colonels, 40 Lieutenant Colonels, and 460 inferior officers. In 1894 the National Guard consisted of 51,000 men.
CHILE.
ARMORED VESSELS. |
Capitan Prat
Almirante Cochrane
Huascar
|
Tonnage.
6,900
3,500
1,800
|
Horsepower.
12,000
2,290
1,050
|
Armament.
4 24 c.m., 8 12 c.m., 10 57 m.m.
6 8-in., 4 57 m.m., 3 m., 1 l.
2 8-in., 4 4.7-in., 2 m., 1 l.
|
UNARMORED VESSELS. |
Blanco Encalada
Presidente Errazuriz
Presidente Pinto
Almirante Lynch
Almirante Condell
O'Higgins
Abtao
Magellanes
Pilcomayo
|
Tonnage.
4,400
2,080
2,080
750
750
1,470
1,390
800
790
|
Horsepower.
14,500
5,400
5,400
4,500
4,500
1,200
1,000
1,230
180
|
Armament.
2 8-in., 10 6-in. q.f.
4 15 c.m., 2 12 c.m., 4 57 m.m., 6 m.
Same as Errazuriz.
3 14-pdr., 4 3-pdr., 2 m.
Same as Lynch.
3 7-in., 4 10-pdr.
1 70-pdr., 4 40-pdrs. 4 m.
1 7-in., 1 64-pdr., m. l. r., 3 l.
1 70-pdr., 6 l. r., 2 40-pdr.
|
There are also five gunboats of about 420 tons each, six second-class, and three third-class torpedo boats. The Capitan Prat, built a La Seyne, is a remarkable vessel of 18½ knots speed, powerful armament worked by electricity, and ample protection. The Presidente Errazuriz and Presidente Pinto, launched in 1890, have 19 knots speed. The Blanco Encalada, launched in 1893, made 22.78 knots under forced draught and is a powerful as well as a swift vessel. The Condell and the Lynch are torpedo gunboats. The whole number of naval vessels is twenty-six.
In 1894 Argentina had a commerical fleet of 73 steamers of over 100 tons and 97 sailing vessels. Chile's commercial navy in 1894 consisted of 137 vessels of more than 100 tons, of which 39 were steamers and 98 were sailing vessels.
In the event of a conflict between the two nations, the Argentines would be prepared to meet the Chileans with larger resources than the Chileans command, and with a slightly superior navy. For a time the political dissensions that have recently and do still weaken Argentina might embarrass that Government in undertaking a foreign war, but the probabilities of eventual success would rest with the Argentines.
The suggestion that the boundary dispute with Chile be settled by arbitration would, under ordinary circumstances, appeal to the pacific administration of Argentina. But the administration is now subjected to criticism because of the settlement of the Misiones boundary dispute in favor of Brazil. President Cleveland so decided the question, after it had been a matter of hot dispute for years, and there can be no appeal from the just decision. But Argentina's loss has not been popular, and it has made arbitration a distasteful word for a time.
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