Mr. Buck to Mr. Bayard.
Lima, Peru, November 14, 1885. (Received December 4.)
Sir: The Government troops which left here under General Echenique, as I advised you in my No. 50, October 31, landed without opposition at Pisco, and occupied lea without resistance on November 5. From that point, latest advices state, a force was sent in pursuit of Dr. Leon.
General Echenique returned here on the 12th instant, as is announced, to confer with the Government, and it is stated will start back to lea to-day. There is a report that Ibarra has passed Ayacucho, the point where it was thought Echenique expected to intercept him on his way to join Cáceres, and that he had with him a large supply of ammunition for the latter; General Echenique’s return here might seem to give color to this, which, if true, is important. But I have just learned that it has been decided General Echenique shall move his force on Arequipa, which presumably will be done by way of steamer as far as Mollendo. The Government forces in the interior seem to be advancing, and are reported as having passed the bridge at Oroya, 30 miles or more beyond Chicla, the terminus of the Oroya Railroad, and beyond the crest of the Cordilleras.
At Oroya there was a light combat with the montoneros, and it is reported they were dispersed.
The subprefect of Cañete (some 30 miles southward of here) reports under date of November 2 that on October 25 he attacked and defeated the montoneros of Lunahuana, eighty or one hundred strong, and that five revolutionists were killed and seven wounded. From different standpoints very different views are taken of the situation. On one hand the determination and the ability to push Cáceres to the wall and crush the revolution is ascribed to the Government; while on the other the opinion is expressed that the position of Cáceres is better than it has been in six months. Very recent news from private sources reaches me to the effect that notwithstanding the ostensible attitude of the Government [Page 627] of Bolivia towards the Government of General Iglesias, the people are generally in sympathy with Cáceres, which would seem must make it easy for the revolutionists to obtain through Bolivian territory all the arms and ammunition they can pay for.
I have, &c.,