New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-30
DEATH or MARSHAL CONCHA.

DEATH or MARSHAL CONCHA.
Tho career of Marshal Concha has ended
more gloriOusly than could reasonably have
been expected half-dozen years ago. The
last few months have been not only the most
conspcuously honorable of his life, but they
have gained him one of the most brilliant
pages in the history of the century. To him
more than to any one else was due the defeat
of the Carlbts before Bilbao and their dis
placement from the formidable nights of
Somorrostro, where they had shamefully beaten
Gen. MOriones and held President SerranO IN
check. But. not content with that success, he
followed the retreating enemy into Navarro,
and, in spite of bad roads and insufficient mate
rial of war, he gradually and theoretically drew
around him military Gordon which paralyzed
the insurrectiOnary force in Estela. and made
that position virtually untenabe. He appears
to have entirely misled the Carlists as to his
intentions, for while he was menacing them
on the right bank of the river, and driving
them to employ their troops and their strength
in building strong defensive works there, he
crossed the river i'll the same rapid and unex-
pected manner in which he short time ago
made his effective movement on the NcryiOn,
and seized in the midst of terrible storm the
postions of Abarzuza and Zadal, which COM
mand the roads in the rear of the Carlists.
Having thus fanked them, he was ap-
parenty pushing his advantage on Sunday,
and attacking Carlist intrenchment at Muro.
village only about two miles from Estella,
when he received his death wound. He thus
holds place in history altogether unique.
At the age of eighty. alter campaign distin-
guished for energy and dash, he has died in
action, probably the oldest cOmmander-in-chief
who has ever stained his laurels with his own
life blood upon the battlefield.
Six years ago it seemed that Marshal Con-
cha's career was over. He occupied the post
of Prime Minister at the time of the RevOlu
ton, having been called from his retirement
by the Queen in her desperation, who
thought that he might form Ministry
which could cOnjure away the storm
evoked by the Punishment of SerranO,
which led to the prOnunciamiento of Cadiz He
himself thought that something in that direc-
ton might still be done, if the Queen would
return in person to Madrid and without
MarfOri. He asked her in 80 many words to
return sola. She furiously refused, and
crossed the frontier with her faithful friend,
and the Government fell to pieces so sud-
denly that Marshal Concha, hurrying to the
railway station, found he had not infiu-
ence enough to order o special train out of
Madrid, and the dynasty ended, it is to be
hoped forever, while he was waiting for his
locomotive. This was his last appearance in
public, until Serrano few months ago, took
possession of the army, and secured for a
campaign against Don Carlos this venerable
bo boI l1.M al
against another Don Carlos just half cen
fury ago.
The motives of this appointment would be
as difficult to guess as 1T would be to deter
mine the probable results of Marshal COncha's
death. 1t would be easy and complimentary to
SelranO to say that he recognized the veterans
capacity and appointed him for the work he
has done. A much more Spanish explanation
is that SerranO had at that time desDaired of
the Republic, and was considering the subject
of an AlfOnsist restoration. 80 better in
strument could have been founa for this pur
pose than the willy soldier and diplomatist,
who had always retained his influence
with the army, and being devoted to the
exiled family had not been connected
with any party combinations since the
Manuel dc la COncha, Marquis of Havana, has
made good and sOldierly end, and it is well
for his fame that he has had nothing to do
with disposing of the spoils of the victories
he has won. His death may give some mo-
mentary encOuragements to the Carlists, but
they can hardly recover their lost ground.
They have just been defeated at Chelva, near
Valenta, in considerable engagement, in
which the Pretender's brother lost heavily.
Gen. Zabala takes the place of the dead Mar
shall, and the campaign ought to be an easy
one to pursue and bring to an end. We do not
expect the Carlists to be extrpated, but if their
military power is broken their cause will cease
to be present danger. AS if all possible forces
were working for the fair fame of Marshal
Concha, the world will note the fact that
while Don Carlos was satisfying his wrath in
defeat by issuing an order forbidding quarter
to prisoners, the aged Marshal was making
ready his garments Of Immortality by gen.
eral order telling the national troops not to
make reprisals, and declaring that it was their
mission to conquer but not to exterminate.
THE IMPENDING CONFLICT