The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-10-17
THE WAR IN SPAIN.
Actions Between the Carlist and
Republican Forces.
Vietories-Cne for the ROyaliSts and One for
MARSHAL Serran0.
EsTELLA UNCOVERED.
A BayOnet Charge and Cries
OF Treason.
PUEsTE La REINA, Sept. "a. 1874.

PUEsTE La REINA, Sept. "a 1874
Long before this letter reaches its destination
news OF two brilliant victories will have been
given to the worid-one for the Carlisss and one
for the troops Of Marshal Serrano.
Unfortunately for the interest attaching TO such
events the two victories were won at the same
place, at the same day and hour. and BY opposing
armies that did not even airly come to DloWs-a
state of things which would render impossible .
victory ior both armies according TO modern
ideas Of warfare any where else but in Spain.
The truth is that there has been no victory for
either side-no battle, no attack and no very
serious lighting. number or movements and
evomt,ons have been executed in which the OPP
posing generals partially Jailed and partially sue
ceeded in obtaining the objects they had In view;
in which each pretty efiectualiy thwarted the
other without being able TO do much more-ano a
very little fguiing, in which the Carlsts obj aimed
q decided advantage. The affa'r might
be termed the spanish autumn man9u.
/ vres and, considered from this point OF view,
very interesting; first. because the movements
were executed with view to actual lighting, and
second, because they brought out into bold relief
the merits and dement's OF the two armies, and
displayed some OF their more remarkable charac-
/ teristlcs Prominent among these was the won
derfui rapidlty OF movement OF which the Cariists
showed themselves capable-a rapidity which
do not think has ever been equalled, even by the
armies OF Napoleon and wellington. There
was BESIDES manifest on the 0part or the
republicans very decided want OF the
power OF combining ana executing plan, and, it
mus. be avowed. a lack OF generaship on both
Sides winch is surprising, considering the educa-
ton and exsorience OF the Generals engaged.
Mistakes of the gravest, OF the most disastrous
kim, were committed by both Generals, without
! either taking advantage or the other. and the
whole affair rather resembed tnat game OF cards
called ..blindhand," in which the players play
without looking at their cards. than the game OF
chess war is supposed TO resemble.
g. THE CARLIsT TROOPS.
But the mistakes OF the Carlist generals were
wiped out as last as made by the splendid conduct
and wonderful rapidity OF the Carlist troops which
made them appear almost ubiquitous One Is lost
in admiration OF these soldiers and do not think
any general, no matter to what soldiers accus-
! toned, can see these fellows on the march, with
| their long, rapid, swinging stride, and iron
sinews and joyous shout, without q feeling OF
exultation IN them and a desire to lead them inro
battle. They remind me more OF the soldiers
Michigan, wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana sent out
during our own war than any troops have seen
IN Europe. The truth Is, the world does not un-
derstand or appreciate the valor Of these men.
PLUCK AND RESOLUTION.
Because they were obliged to retreat from Bill
bao Is supposed they cannot fight regular troops
| IN regular warfare 1t Is not known that for days
| and weeks, and even months, they stood under an
artillery IRE at Somorrostfo almost rs terrible
that borne by the Russians at SeDastopol without
being able TO reply BY single shot. and 1t Is not
remembered that they have hitherto defed the
armies Of spain and conquered their present post
ton without the aid of single piece OF artillery.
If Don Carries does succeed IL Wild be the fault
OF his generals and not OF his soldiers. To return
to the present affair. the game commenced IN this
wise:-
PROGRESS OF EVENTS
| During some time past the Carlsts have put
Pampeluna upon somewhat strict rsgtme, allow
ing neither WINE nor oil nor meat nor grain to
enter the city, and the result was that the people
OF Pampeluna complained loudly and demanded
( to be relieved. They, Ut course, were not yet re-
duced 10 their last loaf Of bread, nor had they
sorted to any sucn extremes as eating their dogs
and cats; but they were out OF wine and oil, no
provisions Of any kind were coming In
and prices were rapidly going up
/ to the starvation point. Under such
! circumstances it became necessary TO relieve
the place, and General Moriones. IN command OF
the right wing of Serranos army at Tafalla under.
took the task. In to understand the position
OF the two armies and the movements which took
place It win be necessary to glance occasionally at
the map. ~
THE POSITION OF THE ARNqo4
The centre OF the Carlist army waxShd is stfll at
Estela its right La Guardia, the Ebro its left
ct Puente la Relna, extending to Burrun, on
the road and railroad connecting Pampeuna
and Tafalla, about midway between the two
places. Its front formed kind OF semicircle.
extending from La Guardia through Los ARGOS,
Dicasiiilo Al0 and Artagona to Biurrun, dis
lance OF over sixty miles, line defended by
about thirty thousand men. The republican army
formed another irregular half circle running clear
around the whole length o. lime dne oarst ae tue
their forces are somewhere near MY Thousand
The object OF the movements to be undertaken
! was to send convoy into Pampelnna by way OF
| T'afalla. But Biurrun, the point held by the ex-
treme Carllst lett, is very strong position, and is
really q pass through Q low chain OF mountains.
which interposes here between Pampeiuna and
either by force or stratagem and the plan agreed
upon between Moriones and Laserno seems TO
Biurrun as possible without, however, attacking.
Then Luserno was to make ieipt on Estena from
ca Car lists from their Strong POD Non at Biurrun to
aeiend treir capital and thus let Morones pass 10
ecuted when revlctualng vittoria, and is kind Of
strategy which may succeed very well the first
time, but which Is scarcely profound enough to be
attempted often with any chance Of success That
IL partially succeeded here was rather owing to o
happy chance than to any merit the plan itself
portunity OF marching into Estella almost without
firing shot, Ns
THE PLAN ts
was worked ont as follows - ori0nes took up his
march toward Pampeluna on the 10th, with about
1900 men, and escorting convoy Of about 1000
carts, s
ioreseen, gradually withdrew his troops nom
them at Blurrun TO meet him. In this way
he completely uncovered Estella on the side
OF Los ARGOS; but he, at the same time sent
orders to General .Alvares. commanding at La
Guardla to extend his line TO Los ARGOS. Ia order
to I'LL up the gap. The 17th 18th aud 10th there
was q little skirmishing between Moriones' troops
and the Carlists, which was, however, without i'm.
to attack. suddenly, on the night OF the 10th. or
rather morning OF the goth, General Dorregsray
received the astounding news that Laserna
was marching on Estella. Los ArcOs