New-York tribune., 1874-05-04
THE pPoRdB1E RELIEF or BILBAO.

him again in the North of Spain. His assump-
ton of power was signalized by the victory OF
his nephew, Gen. Dominique, over the can
tonal insurrection at Cartagena, and the
crushing defeat sustained by Moriones in his
attack upon the Carlists near Bilbao gave an
opportunity for the provisional President to
gain additional prestige by entering personally
into the operations in the North, and, IN all
probability, carrying the campaign forward TO
n successful end. For a while the result was
exceedingly doubtful The Carlist positions on
the hills of San Pedro Atlantic were so strong
as to be almost impregnabe, and the FIRST rat
Ting attempt of Serrano to take them met
with so severe a repulse that 1t seemed pos
sible that this favOTite of fortune was at last
TO be deserted for a younger ana
more dashing sutor The Republican
losses were very heavy. Gen. Primo de
Rivera was seriously wounded, Iona slightly,
and Admiral Topetc, fighting ont of his ele-
ment, was hit. But besides thc material losses
met with, the moral advantage of the first few
days fighting was decidedly with the Carlisls'
They had exhibited discipline and steadi-
ness new in their campaigns. Their lntrcnch-
ments, which were formidable from their mere
position, had been rendered much stronger by
a skillful use of the railway iron they had
seized They had shown great energy and
resource in supplying their lack OF aril'
lery and stores, having for instance, done much
execution by rolling car-whccls in pairs down
the steep hill upon the advancing enemy.
With inferior forces, aud deficient military
st9res, they had repeated upon Serrano the
defeat they had inflicted upon tho unfortunate
MoriOnes. There was manifestly nothing for
the President to do but to stay and light 1t
through. If he had been compelled to retreat,
Don Carlos might have been first in Madrid
and the traditional monarchy i'll operation by
this time.
But the MARSHAL President could afford to
wait for reenforcements, and in this lay his
supcriority TO the Carlists. He ordered up
from Madrid all the available troops, and the
feeling of a common danger had such an in
flucnce in quieting mere factiOnal disorders
that the garrisons could be safely withdrawn
from most of the principal cities. Serrano
soon had an unusually strong force
about him, under the command of
Cabalero de Rodas, and that indestruct-
BILE veteran Gen. Manuel dc la COncha.
The latter was detached with nearly half the
army to get upon the Carlists' rear, while
Serrano, whose principal reliance has always
been upon artillery, opened and continued a
severe cannOnade upon the Carlist works. The
fight soon became an unequal one. SerranO,
with an army of 10000 men and 20 pieces of
artillery, was of course safe from any sortie
of the enemy, and could lombard them at
his leisure. He commanded the coast also,
and at one time captured convoy with three
millions of reals, intended for the depleted
chest of Don Carlos. When at last the Mar
Uuis of Duero appeared with his col
umn upon their rear, 1t would have
been mere madness to remain any longer in
position which had been rendered useless and
was fast becoming dangerous They are there
fore reported, on apparently good authority, to
have abandoned the nights which had served
them so well, and raised the siege of Bilbao,
which they had begun with such brilliant prom
se and by retreating lost all the results Of their
laborious Spring campaign. Only month
ago, their chances appeared so good that the
Pretender organized a regular government
with a cabinet, in which Elio, Yinalet, and
Pinal held the principal portfolios One more
victory, and they might have drawn all
the money they wanted from English sympa-
thizers and speculators. Their bonds would
have been quoted on Change and their flag
would have appeared on the sea. 1t is said
that the Pope had already addressed letter
of congratulation to the Pretender's wife upon
her safe delivery, in which he gave her the
title of "Majesty,"-a courtesy which the Car
lists interpreted as virtual recognition from
the highest authority on earth.
But these bright prospects all fade together
with this apparent disaster. 1t will be hardly
possible for Don Carlos to make another effort
Immediately, equal to the one which has thus
come to naught. His cause is by no means lost
as yet. 1t will not die in Spain as long as
ignorance and loyalty remain as fresh and
vigorous as they still are among the peasants
and the mountaineers of Biscay and Navarro.
The sons of the men who have been
driven from Pedro AbantO may be fighting,
a generation from now, under the Bourbon
flag for new Pretender But all hope of an
Immediate success, after such reverse as is
reported from Madrid, must be dismissed by
every cool and intelligent supporter of Don
Carlos. Serran0 has immeasurably increased
his own strength and position by this cam
palgn. lie can return to Madrid with the GER
talnty that Tor the present he can dispose o f
the supreme power. 1t would be rash 70 pre-
dict what he will do with his opportunity. He
may conclude to retain the personal charge of
affairs, under the present name of President.
or he may imagine 1t more advantageous 70
bring in Don Alfonso, and try once more the
experiment of constitutional monarchy. If
this were his intention he could asl,
no better cOadjutors than the chiyalrous
though bigoted Topete, aud the aged conrtier
and conspirator Concha, who has just cele-