Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-27
THE NEW BALAKLAVA.
Of an ARMY of 800 Vent zuela Troops
Only 200 ONE Out Alive.
TIE DEATH OF GENERAL 2 ZlLAOGl
illustrates Well aid rlan and Leads to
Terrible Disaster
GOVERNMENT VrRSI0N OF TIE WAR

NEW YORK, Aug. 6.-The steamship
Caracas, which lett La Guayra, Venezuela,
August 20, arrived here to-day and brought
information of considerable fighting in that
country between tine Government forces
and the revolutionists The Venezuelan
consul here received news that General
Crospo, chief of the revolutionists, was in
retreat before the Government soldierA
The last bulletin showed him to be at San
Juan de los Moros, and that the Govern
ment soldiers were pressing him closely.
Many of his followers were deserting him
and his army was made up principally of
cowboys.
AS reported in telegraphic dispatches, q
severe engagement took place just before
the steamship sailed, at Ciudad Bolivar, de-
tails of which are now at hand. The battle
opened outside of the town, when General
Caieras caused charge to be made on the
enemy. The revolutionists stood their
ground firmly and suffered considerable loss
They next met the Government troops with
machetes and fought with great fury.
Govsrnm. mt G neral Killed.
The soldiers of Caieras were repulsed on
this charge and fell back, carrying their
wounded. Alter short rest the troops
were reformed and again attacked the re-
bells The fighting became general Caieras
rode at the head of his men and urged them
on. He was cut off from the main body of
his little army, and with half dozen of his
men, found himself surrounded BY a large
number of the enemy. all eager to kill him.
He fought for his life as stubbornlv as he
could, but he was finally knocked off his
horse and killed. The Government forces
rallied and forced the rebels to retreat.
The ConsnPs advices from the Govern
ment at Caracas contain the news of an i'm
portapt and bloody fight that took place
August 16, near VIllade Cura, in which
!, 800 men are said to have been killed or
wounded. General L. Mendosa was at
Villa de Cura with a large force General
Vallenilla had concentrated 1000 some dis
tance from him.
General Mendosa is considered the brav-
est and ablest to the Venezuelan generals.
He planned to lead the revolutioni It's under
Vallenilla into an ambush and destory
them.
AWelI-Laid Plan Frustratel.
1lFor this purpose he sent force of 300
men from his army, under command of Gen.
eral Zolaoga to march where the rebels
were His instructions to Zolaoga were to
approach the enemy and apparently offer
them battle. When they should commence
to fight the Government troops were not to
fire in return, but were to slowly retreat and
draw the enemy on until the main army ap-
peared, when a general onslaught would be
made and the revolutionary army destroyed.
Zolaoga drew near the force of revolution
lists and was attacked. Their fire told with
great effect, and the Government General
fell dead. Without leader his troops for
got their instructions, and, enraged at the
death of their commander, they returned
the fire of the enemy, and q hot battle
began that ragged with grea. fury.
The force of 800 men found themselves op-
posed to 1000, but fought on. The revolu-
tionists had several field pieces, and these
raked the men. The battle continued tor
several hours with VARYING success. The
modern rifles and better training of the
Government produced great loss on the
other side. The revolutiooists threw their
forces on eitheir side and almost surrounded
the 300 men.
Only 200 of 800 Escaped A i've.
The latter saw after time that the bat
tie was going against them and tried to cut
their way out. Both sides seemed to have
become crazed and fought furiously. The
dead lay on all sides and the wounded were
trampled on as the scene of conflict changed
from place to place.
Late in the afternoon the remnant of the
Government forces succeeded in getting
through the zines of the enemy. They beat
a hasty retreat to distance, where they got
a little needed rest. The revolutionists
were too weakered to pursue lhem. 1t was
then discovered that 500 of the 800 men had
been killed. and the Government estimated
that the revolutionists had lost 1000 men.