Summary of La Guerra del Pacífico - Ep. 5: La Campaña de Tarapacá (1/2)

00:00:00 - 00:15:00

The video discusses the final stages of the naval war in the Pacific, culminating with a Chilean victory over the Peruvian fleet. The Peruvian army was initially successful in expanding their territory, but they were eventually defeated by the combined forces of Peru and Bolivia. The Chilean army had managed to rapidly increase their numbers thanks to a nationwide mobilization campaign. The victory in Tarapacá paved the way for the Chilean Army to take control of the rest of Peru.

• 00:00:00 The video covers the final stages of the naval war in the Pacific, culminating with a Chilean victory over the Peruvian fleet. The Peruvian army was largely composed of line infantry, while the Chilean army relied more heavily on cavalry and artillery. The Peruvian army was initially successful in expanding their territory, but they were eventually defeated by the combined forces of Peru and Bolivia. The Chilean army had managed to rapidly increase their numbers thanks to a nationwide mobilization campaign. The infantry was mostly armed with Belgian rifles and carbines, while the cavalry was equipped with Winchester rifles. The main logistical difficulty for the Chilean army was providing ammunition and replacing casualties in the field. The Bolivian army was similarly equipped, but their artillery was more diverse, including 100 cannons and 4 artillery pieces.
• 00:05:00 In this video, the Chilean Army's victory in the Tarapacá War is explained. Chilean forces attempted to take control of a Peruvian port in order to stop the Salitre Company from extracting salt. The battle lasted for weeks and was very bloody, with both sides losing a lot of men. Ultimately, the Chilean forces managed to take the port, and after that, the focus shifted to defeating the Peruvian Army. The Chilean Army invaded Peru by land and sea, landing on the coast near Pisagua. They quickly took control of the area and began fighting the Peruvian Army. The Peruvian forces were able to mount a resistance, but they were eventually defeated. The victory in Tarapacá paved the way for the Chilean Army to take control of the rest of Peru.
• 00:10:00 The video discusses the Battle of Tarapacá, during which the Chilean army successfully advances into Peruvian territory, occupying the port town of Tarapacá. The Chilean army then moves on to take the strategic town of Pisagua. The Peruvian army, led by General Juan Buendía, counterattacks and manages to push the Chileans back, but is eventually forced to retreat. The Bolivian army, which had been marching parallel to the Chilean one, arrives and joins the fight, forcing the Peruvian army to retreat once more. The Chilean army then marches to the Bolivian army's north, and begins a strategic advance into Tarapacá. However, this advance is met with heavy resistance from the Peruvian army, which is backed by the combined forces of Peru and Bolivia. The Battle of Tarapacá ends in a Chilean victory, and the Chilean army enters Peruvian territory, establishing a "corner" between the armies of Tacna and Tarapacá.
• 00:15:00 The video discusses the controversial 16 November 1914 el Daza telegram, in which he reported that the Peruvian Army was refusing to advance, receiving the president's reply in which he approved the return of the Bolivian contingent that was supposed to reinforce the forces of General Buen Día. Daza presented himself to his troops and convinced them to return to defend Arica. He and a small group of horsemen advanced as far as where they would inform the Chilean cavalry under Colonel Vergara of the plan of attack by the Allied forces. They sighted each other and there was no trace of the forces of General Buen Día. Daza decided to retreat, and the movement was quickly informed by Vergara knowing now that the enemy would arrive only from the south. Colonel Sotomayor ordered the immediate retreat of the forces that had been sent to the plains, positioning the troops in the hills of Dolores in anticipation of the Allied counterattack. There are numerous interpretations of the reasons behind Daza's decision to retreat, among them being a visit to the risk that he posed to his army and in particular to his personal guard, the Battalion of the Colorados, weakening its ability to hold power however it was, with the retreat of Bu