(Note: May seem a bit wank-ish)
«The US naval force there, "The South Pacific Station" consists of four unprotected ships(...)the Pensacola can make eight knots ; Alaska, eleven knots; the Lackawanna eight knots; and Adams eleven knots. None of those ships can reach or flee from the Almirante Cochrane or the Blanco Encalada. The whole squadron does not have enough strength to even compete with one of those ironclads, and does not have enough speed to avoid a lost confrontation(...)It is sure that in a conflict with that little nation, the United States would be helpless to resist the first attack (...) and Chile could impose tribute to the city of San Francisco or seal the Golden Gate as an iron wall.» - Benjamin W. Harris, 1882.
Chapter One: Nations in Conflict
Protected Cruiser Esmeralda, April 26, 1885.
"The bombing of Guayaquil will not happen in the presence of the Esmeralda! I have strict orders to not allow this." López had said to the people of Guayaquil when the United States of America had threatened to shell the city after a small incident where an American citizen's property had been destroyed by the Army, added to the condemnation by Ecuador of this aggression towards Colombia. López was smart, or so he thought himself to be. This was a way of putting the people of Ecuador in favour of Chile, after the capture of the Peruvian torpedo boat Alay on Ecuador's waters a few years ago. A few days ago, he had opened the letter with instructions from the Government.
"Do as you please. Santa María." The letter said, leaving the handling of the crisis in Panama to Juan Esteban López Lermanda, commander of the protected cruiser Esmeralda, the strongest warship of the Pacific.
López was, by no means inexperienced. He had served in 1866, against Spain. In 1879, against Peru. The Esmeralda was a fine ship and much better than the Blanco Encalada, ironclad that López had commanded under Admirals Williams Rebolledo and Riveros. He had received the Order of Saint Stanislaus from the Russian Empire after rescuing a Russian gunboat in the South.
His objective? To stop the annexation of the city of Colón, Panama province, Colombia at the hands of the United States.
López knew that there was a risk of war, but he was confident that the Chilean Navy would win. The giant of the north could have the advantage in manpower, but this was no advantage against Chile, half a world away from them.
This was a lesson learnt by Chile in the past war. Manpower means nothing if you don't control the sea. The past war, the barrier between armies was the Atacama desert. Here, other countries and the sea.
López knew little of their Navy, except that it was mostly from their Civil War, twenty years ago. A paltry opponent against the Chilean Navy, fresh off their win against Peru and Bolivia.
The Esmeralda was alone in Panama, but had very powerful backup in Chile. The Cochrane and the Blanco Encalada, the twin ironclads, armed with the superb Palliser shells since 1879 and the Huáscar, once an enemy ship, the nightmare of the Chilean Navy in 1879.
The Esmeralda. An important name. One that had definitely left a mark on Chilean history for eternity on that morning of May 21st. Where a decrepit wooden corvette held off an ironclad for over three hours and sank with its flag at the top. Now, López commanded a new Esmeralda.
That defeat had inflamed the passion of the people. Captain Prat did not surrender against a far superior enemy, fought to the bitter end and gave his life in the name of his fatherland. López's thoughts when they came to that battle were always bitter.
If the mist hadn't hidden the Huáscar and the Independencia while the Chilean Navy sailed towards Callao, leaving behind their two oldest ships, the Esmeralda and the Covadonga. A corvette that had served for twenty three years and a schooner that had been captured by the aforementioned corvette nineteen years ago. If the Navy had seen the Peruvian ironclads, the Peruvian Navy would have been devastated by the loss of Huáscar, Independencia, the transport Oroya and the traveling Peruvian President Prado. The war could have been over in one swift action. Of all the blunders made during those first months of war, that was the worst.
If the Esmeralda wasn't enough to stop the Americans' possible intentions of annexating the isthmus, the Chacabuco, the O'Higgins, the Magallanes, the Abtao, the Amazonas, the Pilcomayo and the Angamos would do. The torpedo boats were also highly dangerous, especially on blockades, like the one at Callao in 1881, but useless in open combat.
If something went poorly, many would wonder of why not sending Latorre, now Rear Admiral. Or Condell, who was commanding the Cochrane. Both highly popular with the people. Latorre proved his worth with the Magallanes in early 1879. He had succesfully held the Peruvian ships Unión and Pilcomayo away. Then, he repeatedly clashed with the Huáscar, a monitor far superior to the Magallanes. Then, commanding the Cochrane, he had captured the ship he had faced off against so many times. Condell, on the other hand, was the victor of Punta Gruesa, where with a small schooner, the Covadonga, he had defeated the mighty ironclad Independencia, the most powerful ship of the Peruvian Navy. Both had distinguished themselves in the face of danger. Latorre and Condell, classmates at the State's Navy School. Comrades, though not friends like Uribe, now Governor of Valparaíso and the late Captain Prat. The fact that Latorre, Condell, Uribe and Prat all came from the same class, from the same generation, said something of that particular group.
If it came to war, how could any side win without controlling the sea? With so many neutral countries, it would be a miracle if the United States made it past Mexico.
López dismissed these thoughts, the important matter was fulfilling his duty.
Protected Cruiser Esmeralda, Panama City, April 28, 1885.
"Commander! We are arriving!" A young ensign warned López of the impending arrival on Panama.
"Thank you, Ensign." López said, heading towards deck.
The ships there were: Three French ships, one carrying the insignia of the French Admiral on the Pacific, an English ship and two ships from the United States.
López called his second, Captain Antonio Marazzi. The reason an officer of Marazzi's rank was López's second was simple. Marazzi spoke the English tongue and quite well, actually. When added to his knowledge of laws and diplomacy, it made him a key asset.
"Mr. Marazzi, your thoughts?" López asked.
"We should learn what's the situation here, Commander." Marazzi replied.
"Of course." López said, ordering to go towards port to dock the ship.
The Esmeralda had been docked in Panama. Inmediately, they were greeted by a Frenchman. The Frenchman, according to the translator, was the French Admiral, Jules Duplaquel.
"Commander López, what brings a Chilean seaman all the way to Panama?" The Admiral said in French, then the translator spoke it in Spanish.
"I have been notified of a situation regarding the United States." López said.
"I see. Are you aware of the presence of the American troops in Colón?" Duplaquel asked López.
"I have heard rumors." López said.
"Then what are your orders, Commander López?" The Admiral asked López another question.
The Chilean sailors disembarked.
"Like the Americans took Colón, I do the same with Panama City, to keep order in Panama City, in the name of Chile, and in the name of Latin American union, I take possession of the city of Panama." He said.
"Commander, you should be careful, the Americans could attack you and your ship!" Duplaquel warned him.
"It would take me an hour to send them to the bottom of the sea!" López said. "While the Yankees don't leave Colón, neither shall I leave Panama City." He added.
A mere hour later, the Chilean flag flew beside the flag of Colombia.
«The US naval force there, "The South Pacific Station" consists of four unprotected ships(...)the Pensacola can make eight knots ; Alaska, eleven knots; the Lackawanna eight knots; and Adams eleven knots. None of those ships can reach or flee from the Almirante Cochrane or the Blanco Encalada. The whole squadron does not have enough strength to even compete with one of those ironclads, and does not have enough speed to avoid a lost confrontation(...)It is sure that in a conflict with that little nation, the United States would be helpless to resist the first attack (...) and Chile could impose tribute to the city of San Francisco or seal the Golden Gate as an iron wall.» - Benjamin W. Harris, 1882.
Chapter One: Nations in Conflict
Protected Cruiser Esmeralda, April 26, 1885.
"The bombing of Guayaquil will not happen in the presence of the Esmeralda! I have strict orders to not allow this." López had said to the people of Guayaquil when the United States of America had threatened to shell the city after a small incident where an American citizen's property had been destroyed by the Army, added to the condemnation by Ecuador of this aggression towards Colombia. López was smart, or so he thought himself to be. This was a way of putting the people of Ecuador in favour of Chile, after the capture of the Peruvian torpedo boat Alay on Ecuador's waters a few years ago. A few days ago, he had opened the letter with instructions from the Government.
"Do as you please. Santa María." The letter said, leaving the handling of the crisis in Panama to Juan Esteban López Lermanda, commander of the protected cruiser Esmeralda, the strongest warship of the Pacific.
López was, by no means inexperienced. He had served in 1866, against Spain. In 1879, against Peru. The Esmeralda was a fine ship and much better than the Blanco Encalada, ironclad that López had commanded under Admirals Williams Rebolledo and Riveros. He had received the Order of Saint Stanislaus from the Russian Empire after rescuing a Russian gunboat in the South.
His objective? To stop the annexation of the city of Colón, Panama province, Colombia at the hands of the United States.
López knew that there was a risk of war, but he was confident that the Chilean Navy would win. The giant of the north could have the advantage in manpower, but this was no advantage against Chile, half a world away from them.
This was a lesson learnt by Chile in the past war. Manpower means nothing if you don't control the sea. The past war, the barrier between armies was the Atacama desert. Here, other countries and the sea.
López knew little of their Navy, except that it was mostly from their Civil War, twenty years ago. A paltry opponent against the Chilean Navy, fresh off their win against Peru and Bolivia.
The Esmeralda was alone in Panama, but had very powerful backup in Chile. The Cochrane and the Blanco Encalada, the twin ironclads, armed with the superb Palliser shells since 1879 and the Huáscar, once an enemy ship, the nightmare of the Chilean Navy in 1879.
The Esmeralda. An important name. One that had definitely left a mark on Chilean history for eternity on that morning of May 21st. Where a decrepit wooden corvette held off an ironclad for over three hours and sank with its flag at the top. Now, López commanded a new Esmeralda.
That defeat had inflamed the passion of the people. Captain Prat did not surrender against a far superior enemy, fought to the bitter end and gave his life in the name of his fatherland. López's thoughts when they came to that battle were always bitter.
If the mist hadn't hidden the Huáscar and the Independencia while the Chilean Navy sailed towards Callao, leaving behind their two oldest ships, the Esmeralda and the Covadonga. A corvette that had served for twenty three years and a schooner that had been captured by the aforementioned corvette nineteen years ago. If the Navy had seen the Peruvian ironclads, the Peruvian Navy would have been devastated by the loss of Huáscar, Independencia, the transport Oroya and the traveling Peruvian President Prado. The war could have been over in one swift action. Of all the blunders made during those first months of war, that was the worst.
If the Esmeralda wasn't enough to stop the Americans' possible intentions of annexating the isthmus, the Chacabuco, the O'Higgins, the Magallanes, the Abtao, the Amazonas, the Pilcomayo and the Angamos would do. The torpedo boats were also highly dangerous, especially on blockades, like the one at Callao in 1881, but useless in open combat.
If something went poorly, many would wonder of why not sending Latorre, now Rear Admiral. Or Condell, who was commanding the Cochrane. Both highly popular with the people. Latorre proved his worth with the Magallanes in early 1879. He had succesfully held the Peruvian ships Unión and Pilcomayo away. Then, he repeatedly clashed with the Huáscar, a monitor far superior to the Magallanes. Then, commanding the Cochrane, he had captured the ship he had faced off against so many times. Condell, on the other hand, was the victor of Punta Gruesa, where with a small schooner, the Covadonga, he had defeated the mighty ironclad Independencia, the most powerful ship of the Peruvian Navy. Both had distinguished themselves in the face of danger. Latorre and Condell, classmates at the State's Navy School. Comrades, though not friends like Uribe, now Governor of Valparaíso and the late Captain Prat. The fact that Latorre, Condell, Uribe and Prat all came from the same class, from the same generation, said something of that particular group.
If it came to war, how could any side win without controlling the sea? With so many neutral countries, it would be a miracle if the United States made it past Mexico.
López dismissed these thoughts, the important matter was fulfilling his duty.
Protected Cruiser Esmeralda, Panama City, April 28, 1885.
"Commander! We are arriving!" A young ensign warned López of the impending arrival on Panama.
"Thank you, Ensign." López said, heading towards deck.
The ships there were: Three French ships, one carrying the insignia of the French Admiral on the Pacific, an English ship and two ships from the United States.
López called his second, Captain Antonio Marazzi. The reason an officer of Marazzi's rank was López's second was simple. Marazzi spoke the English tongue and quite well, actually. When added to his knowledge of laws and diplomacy, it made him a key asset.
"Mr. Marazzi, your thoughts?" López asked.
"We should learn what's the situation here, Commander." Marazzi replied.
"Of course." López said, ordering to go towards port to dock the ship.
The Esmeralda had been docked in Panama. Inmediately, they were greeted by a Frenchman. The Frenchman, according to the translator, was the French Admiral, Jules Duplaquel.
"Commander López, what brings a Chilean seaman all the way to Panama?" The Admiral said in French, then the translator spoke it in Spanish.
"I have been notified of a situation regarding the United States." López said.
"I see. Are you aware of the presence of the American troops in Colón?" Duplaquel asked López.
"I have heard rumors." López said.
"Then what are your orders, Commander López?" The Admiral asked López another question.
The Chilean sailors disembarked.
"Like the Americans took Colón, I do the same with Panama City, to keep order in Panama City, in the name of Chile, and in the name of Latin American union, I take possession of the city of Panama." He said.
"Commander, you should be careful, the Americans could attack you and your ship!" Duplaquel warned him.
"It would take me an hour to send them to the bottom of the sea!" López said. "While the Yankees don't leave Colón, neither shall I leave Panama City." He added.
A mere hour later, the Chilean flag flew beside the flag of Colombia.
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