The last interview with Colonel Francisco
Bolognesi
Published on
06-07-2020 Current source: La Crónica Viva Newspaper 2024
Two weeks
before his immolation, on June 7, 1880 in the Battle of Arica, Colonel
Francisco Bolognesi was interviewed by a correspondent from the newspaper
“Rejistro Official” of Ayacucho. Another treasure of the thousands that can be
found in libraries. 140 years later, the colonel does have someone to read it.
The heroism of duty
It was May
23, 1880. The Peruvian-Bolivian Army, gathered in Tacna, had taken its
positions in the “Campo de la Alianza” and was awaiting the attack of the
invader, who could be seen with the help of a telescope. few miles away.
The writer
of this line was sent that day to Arica, on an important commission, aboard the
Monitor Manco-Cápac.
The
extraordinary train left for the neighboring port at 5 pm in order to reach its
destination at night and thus avoid the cannonade of the enemy squadron, which
was positioned in front of the mouth of the Lluta and Chacalluta valleys and
out of the reach of the ground batteries, prevented the convoy from moving.
The few
passengers who were on the express, naturally, looked for the best
accommodation and I headed to the house of D J de M., a notable resident of the
place, a very dignified and respectable person, whose obsequious hospitality I
will never be able to forget.
The Head of
the Plaza had established his residence in the aforementioned house and had the
greatest satisfaction in knowing that I came from the heights of Tacna and that
I could give him reliable news of what was happening in the camp, since it is
notable that despite the short distance that separates it from that city, and
despite the telegraph and railway that connect them, in that city not the
slightest was known regarding the enemy's movements, the number of troops it
had and the greater or lesser probability of victory for the enemy. our parts.
Colonel
Bolognesi, to whom I was introduced, after making the most pleasant memories of
my father, of whom he was a companion and friend, entered into the following
dialogue with me:
-Come on,
you who come from Tacna will be able to give me certain news about our troops,
since what we receive here is either very late or does not satisfy in any way.
-Sir, our
Army occupies the same positions that General Campero took: its state of mind
is satisfactory even for the most demanding patriotism and it has received
greater encouragement, if possible, with the incorporation of the “Tacna
Division”, commanded by the prefect Dr. Solar and which is made up of the
Gendarmeries of the Departments of Tacna and Tarapacá, the Police forces and
the National Guard, which includes people from all social conditions, who have
not hesitated to offer their contingent of blood , in defense of our cause:
everything, then, ensures an upcoming victory and it is believed that the
Chileans, given the resolute attitude of the Allied Army, will not dare to
advance and will change their plan of attack.
-What a
crazy think! Is the number of the enemy's forces known?
-I don't
know, sir, if our bosses are behind this, but I believe that nothing is known
for certain and that the calculations made on the matter are risky.
-So, how do
you want us to succeed? Is it possible, is it rational to trust in victory over
an enemy, whose numerical strength is not known? Why hasn't an espionage
service been organized near him, to communicate to us all the data that
interests us? Why don't we imitate our enemies, who are aware of the least that
happens in our camp and who are not even aware of the number of soldiers we
have in the hospitals?
-It seems to
me, sir, that, if our bosses lack that important information, instead they have
taken their measures to counteract any advantage that the Chileans have over
us, and for the same reason, no one doubts for a moment the victory.
Hey friend!
You, like the majority of our compatriots, see everything rosy; But it is
necessary to convince ourselves that our condition cannot be sadder: a series
of errors in every sense have marked this war from the beginning, and,
therefore, I do not see the outcome as favorable to our cause. When the enemy
Army has decided to attack us in our own positions, it is because it has
measured all the inconveniences that could arise in its path and has found the
means to overcome them; It is because he has complete security of achieving
victory, since this is guaranteed with his greater number of troops, with the
relatively superior power of his three weapons and with the courage that is
consequent to the advantages that have been acquired over the opponent. Why,
before it overtook Sama, had a respectable force not been deployed on the coast
of Tarapacá? With this measure, it is more than likely that his attention would
have been drawn to that side, and that his plan would have changed completely.
-Apart from
the serious risks that would have been presented for such an expedition, I
believe that there were not sufficiently mobile elements to carry it out.
-No, well,
you are wrong. During the time I have been in charge of Arica I have provided
the Allied Army with more than 900 mules, taken from the valleys of Azapa and
Lluta and Chacalluta. Having been given command of the expeditionary force, I
would have sought the necessary mobility and would also have been responsible
for its success. The current condition of this Plaza could not be more
regrettable; Everyone believes it to be impregnable and yet it will not be able
to resist the enemy, in a combined attack of sea and land: the number of its
defenders is so small that they can easily be overwhelmed in a moment.
- Is it
possible, sir, that such is its condition? When we all consider it as a bastion
before which the enemy's efforts will crash, in the event of a disaster, all
the more so since it is the point of retreat rather than the sole reason.
advise.
-What I'm
telling you, friend. If the next battle is unfavorable to us, as I fear most,
Arica is lost and without remedy, because we will be isolated, because the
enemy will bring here all his victorious troops, to attack us in combination
with his squad, because we will have to resign ourselves to our situation.
luck. I know how to tell you that, as a citizen and as Head of this Plaza; I
will prefer to die rather than surrender, even so that our compatriots may be
encouraged by our conduct, even so that History may say in its pages, when
speaking of this war:
“The
defenders of Arica, despite the desperate nature of their condition, fulfilled
their duty, preferring to die in their position rather than implore the mercy
of the victor.”
Pronouncing
such sublime words, which revealed his refined patriotism and the greatness of
his soul, we were interrupted by the arrival of two officers who came to report
on a commission.
I said
goodbye to Colonel Bolognesi so I would never see him again.
Juan Carlos
Flórez Granda, director of SEHCAP (Coronel Arnaldo Panizo Historical Studies
Society), found this gem while conducting research to prepare a historical
profile of Colonel Francisco Bolognesi. The article does not have a signature
and was published on January 7, 1882 in the “Registro Oficial” newspaper of
Ayacucho.
Investigation:
Walter Sosa Vivanco
With
affection,
Ruben
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