 Four cruisers from Argentina , San Martin , Buenos Ayres , 9 De Julio , and Pueyrredon , all under the command of Admiral Hipolito Oliva , sailed 300 nmi ( 350 mi ; 560 km ) to salute the American ships on their way to Chile . The fleet arrived at Punta Arenas on 1 February and spent five days in the town of 14 @,@ 000 . Heading north , they followed the coastline of Chile , passing in review of Chilean President Pedro Montt on 14 February outside Valparaíso , and they were escorted to Callao in Peru by the cruiser Coronel Bolognesi on 19 and 20 February . Peru 's president , José Pardo , came aboard Connecticut during this time , as Rear Admiral Evans was quite ill and could not go ashore . After taking on coal , the ships steamed for Mexico on 29 February , passing in review of the cruiser Almirante Grau , which had Pardo embarked , before leaving . 
