The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-03-15
PtfaI, n Small Town Near Lake Man
aqua, Captured After a Brief,
but stubborn, Fight.
MANY KILLED AND WOUNDED
TWO HUNDRED REvoLUTIoyIsTs
LEFT on THE BATTLEFIELD
And Fifty OF President Zelaya,x Soil
diers Laid ouf-Prosress of the
Revolution I'm Cuba.

Nicaragua, March 14.-The
Nicaraguan government troops have won
another important victory over the forces
or rebellious Leonists. and there is great re-
Joicing here In consequence. The battle took
place at and about Pital, not far from
Momotombo. Between 1000 and 5000 men
were engaged. The fighting was severe. and
the troops from Leon, Chichegalpa and
C~hinandega. the three ~strongholds of the
L%eonists. numbering about 1900 men, were
routed with the loss of about 200 killed and
wounded. Only about fifty of the govern
ment troops. which numbered about LOO
men, were killed or wounded. The rebels
were commanded by General Ortiz. the
cOmmander-in-chief OF the Leon forces. but
Baca, the rebel President, was at Leon. it
Is believed. supervising the work of putting
that city in as complete a state of defense
as possible, previous to the arrival before
1t OF the government army and the army
which the government Of Honduras has sent
TO the support OF the troops OF President
Zelaya- The government troops were COM
manded by Generals Paiz and Bodan.
Pital is a small town near Lake Managua-
OF the 800 or so buildings which compose
the town many are of wood, and others of
coarse mudlike bricks. with red clay tiles.
But outside the town is a high ridge Of
ground. which forms an admirable point of
vantage against an advancing foe. The
government troops began the advance from
Nagarote on Wednesday after the skirmish
with the enemy, which resulted in the Leon
lists being driven ~ackw with the loss
OF fifty killed and wounded. The government
forces approached PitaI yesterday morning.
The firing on the part OF the rebels COM
menced as soon as the troops were within
range, but the government forces, acting
under explicit orders, reserved their fire and
continued their advance. taking advantage
OF all the inequalities of ground in order to
obtain protection from the bullets of the
Leonlsts, which, as a rule, either fell short
or flew high above the heads of the troops.
The result was that President Zeiaya's
troops were able 10 get within good striking
distance of Pital with the loss of only three
men killed and seven wounded. The Leon
lists. however. kept up the firing throughout
The government forces moved on Pital
IN four columns. each of about three hun
dred men, and took up positions in a half
circle before the W The first and third
columns opened a hot fire on the rebel po-
sitionS. and, under its cover, the second
and fourth pushed forward at the charge
until they reached much better positions,
half sheltered by an inequality in the
ground. From there they opened fire on the
Leonists. enabling Columns 1 and 3 to push
onward During this advance, thanks to
the well-directed fire of the government
troops, the loss of the latter was trihing.
All four columns then concentrated their
FIRE on the ridge occupied by the Leonists,
and then began a series Of short rushes for
ward. and eventually there was a charge
up the ridge, a short bayonet fight when
the sumit was attained, and then the Leon
lists broke and ran for Pital, pursued by
the troops of President Zelaya.
When the .Leonists reached the shelter OF
the town they made a stand, but by this
time the two guns with the government
columns had been brought into action and
the Leonists were cannonaded very clever
~, considering the lack of training of the
government n The rest of the fight
was not a aIkover for the government
soldiers. The LeoniSts defended the place
stubbornly, but the troops pushed on and
eventually entered the town, driving the
Leonists before them at the point OF the
bayones. The enemy afterward scattered,
and in small bodies fled toward Leon, after
making a short stand outside Pital and fr-
ing al long range on the victorious soldiers
OF President Zelaya. A few shots from the
artillery. however, completed the rout OF
the LeOnists, who left about two hundred
killed and u on the field, besides
taking a large number of men who We're
slightly wounded. The government troops
also captured over fifty prisoners in the
houses Of Pital, the rebels in neatly every
instance throwing down their arms as soon
as the soldiers broke in the doors OF the
buildings
There is much rejoicing here to-day at this
further success Of the Presidents soldiers,
and he is receiving congratulations on al
sides. The church bells ave been kept con-
tinually ringing ever since the glad news was
made public and a battery OF artillery in the
small park in front of the palace has already
fired the presidential salutes. The blue and
white cOlors of Nicaragua are floating from
every building of any Importance, ana ever
the smallest mud novels have displayed some
kim of decoration in honor OF the victory OF
the Nicaraguan troops The success or the
government troops at Pital IS all the more
pleasing TO the inhabitants of this city, as
many OF the men engaged were Managuansl
and General Paiz is a great favorite here.
The garrison OF Managua was paraded this
morning in marching order. and the com
handing officers read TO the troops the
Presidents message announcing the victory
The news was enthusiastically received. The
soldiers then marched through the capital,
cheering for the government and president
Zelaya.
The government troops are now being con-
centrated for the advance on Leon, which
Il Is expected. viii in a few days
time. Although no official announcement
has been made on the subject, Ii is under
stood that the troops from Honduras will
soon be - touch with those OF Nicaragua,
and as both republics suffer from the mach
nations Of the clericals, who are the
mainsprings OF the present rebellion, they
will practically be fighting for a common
cause. and tie result should not be long IN
doubt. although IL is understood that Leor
and its neighbcrhood has been very strongly
fortified and well provisioned-