subsequently refused to hold the office of provisional president to which the assembly had then elected him. The latter office he resigned, November 28th. This left Admiral Montero as vice president in charge of the government. In August of the following year, he proceeded to Arequipa and formed a ministry. Colonel Iglesias still held command in the north and Caceres in the central departments ; Suarez was assigned the command of the troops in the south, stationed at Arequipa. During the year the organizing of new forces went on, the Peruvians obstinately refusing to accede to Chile's demands for the conquered nitrate territory and a war indemnity.
In September, 1882, Montero went to La Paz and there held a conference with President Campero ; it was decided that the allies should hold out for better terms. Predatory raids and insignificant skirmishes were kept up, hardly worthy of mention. In January, 1882, the Chileans occupied the valleys of Tarma and Xauxa and established garrisons in several of the towns. In July following several of these garrisons were attacked by Caceres and some of them cut to pieces. Colonel Canto, the Chilean officer in command in the interior, then retreated from the valleys.
A similar effort to occupy interior points was made in the north. A skirmish took place near Caxamarca in which the Chileans were at first repulsed, but receiving reinforcements, they in turn compelled the enemy to fly the field. After inflicting some damage by depredations the Chileans withdrew to the coasts, in September, 1882. A resolute attack upon the Chilean garrison at San Bartolemé, a place about fifty miles from Lima, was repulsed on the 22nd of July. The Chileans then withdrew nearer to Lima, destroying several villages along the line of their retreat.
