The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-21

triangle formed BY the Sierra dc Urbass the Sierra
dc Andla and the Monies OF Amescoas. That
which may be termed the western wall Of the
Amescoas, seen rom the direction OF Logroia,
presents perpendicular wall Of rock four or fvo
hundred feet high, over which nothing but . bird
can pass, and through which no opening no gate
way can be perceived. The gateway exists, never
theless-the gorge OF the Amescoas, hundred
feet wide. already described. As one approaches
Estella however, 1t can be perceived, bounded on
either side by towering walls OF rock and cliff five
or six hundred feet hlgh-a very Titan's gate
way-snd right in 'front.' a the distance OF three
miles, stands Monte Turra, like q giant sentinel,
keeping watch before 1t. Between the gateway
on one side and this sentinel on the other, down
deep in the valley OF the Ega lies Estella.
THE CITY OF TEE STAR"
Its name signifies ''star," and the legend which
ascrbes its foundation to the express commands
OF the Blessed Virgin relates that she manifested
her desire by appearing in the heavens and drop
ping q star on the spot where the town was to
be built, and that she promised 1t should become
bulwark OF the Holy Catholic Religion. The legend
Is preserved ana confirmed by an Old stone cross
on the hillside overlooking tho town, on which
Is rudely cut human hand pointing upwards to
q star. strangely enough the prophecy has been
fulfilled, II Don Carlos Is to be considered cham
pon OF the Fai,h for Estela has hitherto been the
principal battle ground OF Carsm. At any rate
whoever chose the site OF Estella must have had
good military eye, for, apart from It's wonderful
strategic advantages, 1t il most admirably Sit
uated for defence.
Projecting from the rocky wall OF the Amescoa
and sweeping around Esteila on the east, past
Aburzuza, Zaballs and villatuerta, is
A sEMICIRoULAR RIDGE
which reaches almost around to Monte Turra. On
the west is a range OF hills, which, uniting with
Monte Turra on one side and the Amescoas ellis
on the other, complete the circle OF defence. Tnis
circle Is broken in two places only, where the Ega
flows In aud where it flows out But, as may be
easily imagined, the valley OF this little stream is
narrow crooked dell, in some places scarcely
wide enough for road and river, and everywhere
doInin mated by 0verhanging buns, which must be
carried before an army can get In. The valley Is
80 deep and narrow that the town, which is built
partly IN 1t, partly on the hillside cannot be seen
on either Of the roads entering II, until one Ia
within . hundred yards Of Its towers. 1t can
never be sombarded, because no artillery can
reach 1t as long as the surrounding hills are held
by its defenders, and when they are lost 1t must
fall Without bombardment.
POINTS OF ENTRANCE.
There are eight roads leading into 1t. The first
commencing on the north is the one to Alsasua
Sierra de Andia through . tunnel, and which is,
OF course In possession OF the Carlists The second
is the one to Pampeluna direct and the third that
to Puenta la Reina. both OF which are, since the
battle Of Aburzuza, In possession OF the Carlists
The fourth is the one from OteZa, which, uniting
with that from Puenta - Rena. near Villatuerta,
enters the town by the valley OF the Ega. II was
by this road the lil-srarred Concha advanced at
the battle OF Aburzuza The fifth is the ono from
Dicastlo, which, passing around the southern
slope Of Monte Turra and winding about among
the foot hills Of that mountain, Thu oueh deep cut
tingz, ana alterward passing beneath q cliff
called the Pels del Aoco, last outside
the town, Is as easily defended as the
one MP the valley OF the Ega. 1t was
here the battle OF Dcastillo was fought
where the republicans were defeated In a
determined attack on the gallant little town. The
sixth Is the one from Logrono through Los ARGOS.
1t passes around the north SIDE OF Monte Turra,
through little plain quarter OF a mile Wide,
which lies between Monte Turra and the mount
called MonJardn Here was fought the battle Of
Monte Turra, whore the Carlists were victorious
as they have been In every battle before Ks' eIla
The seventh is the road from vitt0ria, which en-
ters the town by the gorge or dell where the Ega
nows in, and this is the only road by which at
tack has not been tried. THIS road, up to the very
walls Of vittoria Is in possession OF the Carlisrs
The eighth, which, until made practicable for artll-
lery lately by the Carlists was only mule path.
leads up into the valley OF tas Amescoos and
thence over the Sierra de Urbasa TO Alsasua.
THIS is o; course In the bands OF the Carlists and
the way by which they would retreat In case Es-
tella were taken.
cAaLIsr ADVANTAGES.
OF the eight roads. therefore. that lead into Es-
tella, Eve are in the hands OF the CarIis ~
and no advance can be made by even the ones
from Pampeluna, Puenta Ia Reina ana vittoria,
without preliminary battle to get possession OF
these roads, In the present positions OF the two
armies an attack upon Estells direct can only be
made by three roads-the one from Los ARGOS,
that fre-n Dicastilo and the one from Oteiza. All
the positions on The roads, In addition to the de-
fences nature has bestowed on them. have been
fortified by the Carlists and made well nigh in-
pregnaple, although the style OF forti1ca,ion
leaves, in my opinion, great deal to be desired.
o. which, however, more anon.
FORMIDABLE HOLD.
II will DO seen from this description that the
position occupied BY Don Carlos is o most formid.
able one. Leaning back against the mighty wall
OF the Amescoos like giant, with his face to the
Ehro and holding IN his hand an army as
trae az steel AID as ready to do his bid.
ding as ever was ola1o IN tho hands oil
knight OF Old, he Is no moan foe, and Is well
worthy the steel OF the best army and the best
general OF Europe. But even were Este,la taken
Don CARLOS would not be crushed. Secure In hts
mountain wedge, he could still set the might OF
Don Alfonso at defiance for another seven years.
did his grandfather before MIN. This vas so we'll
understood by Concha that at tho battle OF Abur.
guza he had planned not only to take Estella, but
to capture the whole Carlist army.
TEE BATTLE or ABURzuzk.
It may not be amiss to say something about this
battle here, the more especially as IT il probable
that It will Rave to be fought over again before
Fstella Is taken. II was after the battle that
Concna had kept his plan such . secret that 1t
died wlth him, and nobody knew how 10 carry 1t
out. The truth 10 that It was 10 Thoroughly devel-
oped by the battle thar every o1lcer In both
armies must have known 1t as well as
Conona himsolI Tie advanced by way OF
oteiza as far as villatuerta. made mem