New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-25
THE SIEGE OF VALENCIA.

THE SIEGE OF VALENCIA.
NOTICE OF COMMANDMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT
TRooPs-CoNTEsT ACCEPTED BY TIE VoLUN
TEERs-THREE DAYS ENGAGEMENT.
[FRoM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSEI
VALENCIA, Aug. 3.-At an early hour on the
morning OF July 81 peasant woman came In from
village outside and delivered dispatch to the Italian
Consul addressed TO the consular CORPS and giving inc
Copsus notice that Valencia woud be bombarded at
p. M, Aug. /, a. M, Aug. O. The notice was I'M
necessary for with the exception OF myself
another correspondent, ana few amaEons
and adventurous gamins, not soul was
to be seen in the houses or streets OF
Valencia. Having been informed by volunteer that
the volunteers were gong attack the troops pro-
ceeded the Mgueete the top OF the Cathe-
dral tower from which knew should have an excel
lent view of battlefield. had not been at my post
half an when a sudden cloud OF woody smoke puhed
out from the village Of Msata, situated southwest OF
Valencia and to the right Of the river at the distance OF
about 1000 yards the towers of Cuare, on which
the volunteers had placed two guns This was immed
atey,sfoIowed by a similar puff from another village
equally close the left of the river Ii was evil
dent that Martinez Campos had occupied these two vii
lagos and intended bombarding the town from THERE
1t was many minutes before one of the towers OF
Cuarte replied, and for about two hours the artillery
duel continued without inermission. Suddenly there
was a PAUSE on the Valencia sde and the yolun-
teers, about 1000 in number, deployed very roughly
| over the fields Immediately IN front OF the
ond-named village and opened fire from behind every
tree every wall. and every mound. The fusiade now
became loud and continuous, while the artillery again
began superior The shells from the towers
dropped in the villages with admirable precision, and
from my commanding position could see that the
effect murderous; already and horses lay scat
tered dead and wounded in front OF the houses and
Mislata was on fire in several places. Camposs shells
were also well directed, but for reason or other
they did not reach as far those from the towers
nearly all dropped the houses in that part OF the
town which interviewed. Several OF these houses were
nearly destroyed, but none Ise on fire. Some OF the
shells killed and wounded 10 10 and children
! and few other nOncombatants. Once walked down
the street leading the gate OF Cuare. when shell
dropped distance ahead OF me and carried away
the hand Of a little baby whom the mother was nursing
| in her
! The volunteers and militia fought we'll, and drove the
soldiers from the barbados they had constructed In
the villages but squadron OF volunteer cavalry fell
into an ambuscade by the Civil Guards and were COM
pletely dispersed. A 1ed-pece they protecting
fell into the hands vctor but it retaken. Dur
inc the struggle wounded Of the Civil Guards and
Cara5ineros brought to the hospital, and before
night the killed and wounded both sides amounted
nearly 300 the close OF day the volunteers fell back,
and the troops abandoned the two villages and retired
TO another, where they concentrated yesterday
ing Thus the first days action had been entirely favor
able 10 the Vaencans and for the the fear OF
an immediate bombardment was dispelled. In justice
to these volunteers and mitamen must say that their
conduct was excellent in every respect. Not
drunken man did see nor did hear Of a single
of robbery OF any other crime. In the Plaza del Mer
cado q pair OF green spectaeles hanging from
nail q door, and bit OF paper underneath warning
pedestrians not to touch what did not belong to Them
This in any other country would be foolish and dan
gerous joke at such time. Not so in Valencia. Every
one as yet seems pride himself his honesty, and
treats the Joke with serious veneraton. Up day
| OF bombardnent there had been divisions among the
in1ransioenle volunteers and the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
which appeared to be leading to q rupture It'll
very probable that Martinez Campos had waited two
or three days longer he could have entered Valencia
without losing single OF his men, As it was he
suffered heavily had to retreat and bis retreat reunited
the enemy, who in a high state Of enthusiasm
! and threaten to do great things.
During the whole OF the OF August an artillery
duel vas kept up, without doing much harm either
| side A rumor WIS current that Republican named
Ieaguerlno, q native OF O neighbOuring town, was
marching to the relief Of Valencia with 1900 men, and
the events OF todaT to have corroboraed the
rcctuess OF this r4nOr. At an early hour yesterday
morning. again assembled TO the Mlguelete found
that Martinez Csmpos had again occupied the village OF
Mslata, this time with his let the center being
open field, echelons with the left, ana the right
cupyng distant village called Chi1vella, about 1000
yards from Valencia, and also In echeons with tho
The action began his morning with artillery fire. but
10 be Immediately senced, although the village was
! evacuated This unfortunate place again
set on fire to-day by the shells from Valencia.
At first the right and center kept steady artillery
fro this town. and shell burst in square situated
. l q central position. not 30 yards distant from the
cathedral Other shells burst in the air the houses
and several buildings near the towers destroyed
or much damaged Soon after the action began, no.
teed that the OF Mariners forces had changed
the direction OF its fire. and aiming its own
left rear whero immense cloud of dust WAS TO be
seen advancing rapidly along the road. told that
tAis was LenguerDo coming up. How yesterdays action
has ended cannot ascertain yet, but the bobsrdment
has not been renewed 1t "a positively asserted that
body Of GOV soldiers has entered Valencia having de-
serted from their General and that 800 civil guards
been taken prisoners. This however. appears 10 to
he an exsggeratlon. Up TO IL o'clock the night OF
Aug. o very heavy firing bas been heard outside. bdi
| not directed at OF by Valencia.
lam writing now in the early morning Of Aug 3, and
one OF the Hotel servants has just shown piece OF
sbeu still covered with blood aud bits Of human flesh
FMS splinter was extracted from poor young girl who
xas ng from Valencia when shell burst Ia the air,
two feet from the ground and she struck by spn-
Ter ON the chest She les AT the hospital now In pre-
eauous eond lion Another touching incident occurred
| 4, the aeds outside. volunteer was fring and I'D
yapcjns az The civil guards retreaed when he beard