eized by
the Bolivian government. As an answer to these demands, and in order to
protect the property of Chilean subjects, the Chilean fleet was sent to
blockade the ports of Antofagasta, Cobija and Tocapilla. On the 14th
February 1879 the Chilean colonel Sotomayor occupied Antofagasta, and on
1st March, a fortnight later, the Bolivian government declared war.

An offer on the part of Peru to act as mediator met with no favour from
Chile. The existence of the secret treaty, well known to the Chilean
government, rendered the intervention of Peru more than questionable,
and the law passed by the latter in 1875, which practically created a
monopoly of the Tarapaca nitrate beds to the serious prejudice of
Chilean enterprise, offered no guarantee of her good faith. Chile
replied by curtly demanding the annulment of the secret treaty and an
assurance of Peruvian neutrality. Both demands being refused, she
declared war upon Peru.

The superiority of the Chileans at sea, though checked for some time by
the heroic gallantry of the Peruvians, soon enabled them to land a
sufficient number of troops to meet the allied forces which had
concentrated at Arica and other points in the south. The Bolivian ports
were already in Chilean hands, and a sea attack upon Pisagua surprised
and routed the troops under the Peruvian general Buendia and opened the
way into the southern territory of Peru. General Daza, who should have
cooperated with Buendia, turned back, on receiving news of the Peruvian
defeat, and led the Bolivian troops to Tacna in a hasty and somewhat
disorderly retreat. The fall of San Francisco followed, and Iquique,
which was evacuated by the allies without a struggle, was occupied.
Severe fighting took place before Tarapaca surrendered, but the end of
1879 saw the Chileans in complete possession of the province.

Meanwhile a double revolution took place in Peru and Bolivia. In the
former country General Prado was deposed and Colonel Pierola proclaimed
dictator. The Bolivians followed the example of their allies. The troops
at Tacna, indignant at the inglorious part they had been condemned to
play by the incompetence or cowardice of their president, deprived him
of their command and elected Colonel Camacho to lead them. At the same
time a revolution in La Paz proclaimed General Narciso Campero
president, and he was elected to that post in the following June by the
ordinary procedure of the constitution. During 1880 the war w