No. 556.
Mr. Christiancy to Mr. Blaine.
Lima, Peru, May 23, 1881. (Received June 17.)
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 285, in which I stated it as probable that the Chilians had sent an expedition from Pisco at the south and from some point at the north to co-operate with the force sent via Chicla into the department of Junin, so as to cut off the retreat of [Page 912] Piérola from Jauja, I have now the honor to state that from all sources of recent information no such additional expeditions were sent; that the expedition sent via Chicla went to Cerro de Pasco, to Tarma, and to Oroya; that it is not entirely certain that they have even yet taken Jauja, though I think this probable, and it is now intimated in the papers that this force sent via Chicla to Cerro de Pasco is ordered to return.
I have direct information from the secretary general of Piérola that the latter left Jauja for the south on the 28th April, and I infer that he is at this time at or near Arequipa, but he expected, when he left Jauja, to return to Ayacucho by the 6th June, at which time the congress called by him were to meet there.
Referring to my same dispatch, 285, I have further to say that the contemplated Chilian expedition to Arequipa has not yet taken place, so far as we can learn here. The papers lately have been silent on the subject.
Still, unless peace should soon take place, I look upon the expedition as a necessity, and am inclined to believe it would be successful.
I have, &c.,