NEWS OF THE WEEK.
PRESIDENT BALMACEDA has fallen prone, the im- pression of his success current last week having been due solely to enormous lying. The Parliamentary army of 10,000 carefully drilled men, commanded by General del Canto, after landing at Quintero, and fighting daring August 24th, 25th, and 26th a series of indecisive battles near Valparaiso, on August 30th cut the railway between Valparaiso and Santiago, at a place called Santo. Here Balmaceda attacked them with his whole army, but his troops were unable to face the terrible fire of the Mannlicher rifles. His best officers were killed, his men became demoralised, and at last regiments
• of them are said to have joined the Parliamentarians. The rout was complete, and the defeated army dissolved. Balmaceda fled to an ironclad in the harbour ; Valparaiso was surrendered to the German Admiral, who restored it to the Congressional General ; and on the following day Santiago submitted at discretion. The whole country will, it is believed, follow its example. There are rumours that Coquimbo holds out, and there have been savage riots in Santiago, Valparaiso, and Coronel, nominally directed against the Balmacedists, but really inspired by the hope among the populace and the defeated soldiery of plunder and license. The energy of the victors, who shoot plunderers wholesale, has, however, restored order ; and as Balmaceda had few partisans except those he paid, the Government will speedily be reorganised.
