Western Hemisphere 193
MID#1595
Started in August 1862. See the narrative in the 135 Peru/230 Spain dyad dispute
list.
MID#1563
Started in April 1864. See the narrative in the 135 Peru/230 Spain dyad dispute
list.
MID#1482
Dispute Number: 1482
Date(s): February 5, 1865 to May 9, 1866
Participants: 230 Spain/130 Ecuador, 135 Peru, 145 Bolivia, 155 Chile
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: >999 deaths
Narrative: The Chincha Islands War, alternatively known as the Guano War of
1865–1866, was fought for the then highly coveted resource prevalent in the South
American continent. Its origins were multifaceted but stemmed principally from long-
standing grievances Spain had against Peru following Peru’s independence, which
Spain did not recognize. Post-independence debt obligations to Spain were not met
by the Peruvian government, prompting Spain to send a naval fleet that occupied the
mineral-rich Chincha Islands.
Chile joined Peru in fighting Spain over Spain’s ostensibly imperialist ambitions,
Ecuador and Bolivia followed in an alliance against Spain, though did not engage
in military combat. Peru and Chile withstood Spanish attacks and, before too long,
Spain was unable to continue to fight in spite of the heavy damages their naval fleet
had inflicted on the Peruvians and Chileans. Spain stopped fighting on May 9, 1866.
Spain’s “scientific expeditions” ended in 1868 and various negotiations between
Spain and the combatants followed from 1879 to 1885, ultimately leading to the Span-
ish recognition of an independent Peru.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from February 1865.
155 Chile/255 Germany
MID#3875
Dispute Number: 3875
Date(s): March 13, 1942
Participants: 255 Germany/155 Chile
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: A German U-boat sank a Chilean freighter called the Tolten.