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THE CIVIL WAR OF 1891 353 kept under cover. The impression produced for the government cause was favorable ; the demoralizing effect upon the revolutionary fleet amounted almost to a panic. Henceforth, the Iquique warships were kept well out of the harbors at night, being afraid of another descent of the torpedo-catchers, and the harbor of that place was protected by chains and sunken torpedoes. This expedition, having in the main proven success- ful. President Balmaceda determined to send his little fleet north again, hoping that a few more warships might be sunk. It appeared that the revolutionists were being supplied by foreign vessels, weighing anchor at the southern ports and clearing nominally for Callao, or other points, but calling at Iquique and northern places with coal, provisions and supplies. This must be checked if possible; before that could be done effec- tually, the enemy's fleet must be destroyed. With the few vessels at his disposal the president could not hope to maintain an effective blockade of the northern ports, but he must make some show of doing so to rationallj' insist upon his right to search vessels for contraband goods and re-exact duties on nitrate cargoes. There- fore, on the loth of May, the "Imperial" and "Condell" were sent north again, the "Lynch," not having under- gone sufficient repairs, being left behind at Valparaiso. The first pface touched at was Coquimbo, where about thirteen hundred troops were landed. At this time Coquimbo and La Serena were held by a force of 11,000 government troops commanded by Colonels Carvalho and Errazuriz. On May 14th, the "Condell" ran into Iquique harbor in the night, but finding only a few sailing vessels there withdrew. On the night of the i6th, another reconnoitre was made, but resulted in nothing further than firing a torpedo at a disabled supply ship. The