The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-14
LAST EDITION
4:I5 O'CLOCK.
BIG BATTLE.
lnSurgentSROuted
in Nicaragua.
Government Troops Won
a Great Victory.
Twelve Hundred Men Were
Killed and Wounded.
Conflict Took Place Near the Small
Town of Pital.
Twelve Hundred Men Were
Killed and Wounded.
Conflict Took Place Near the Small
Town of Pital.
Church Bells Kept Continually Ringing
Over the Government Triumph.

copyrighted, 1896, by The Associated Press)
MANAoUA, Nicaragua, March 1s.--(via
Galveston, Tex. 1.-The Nicaraguan gov
ernment troops have won another import
ant victory over the forces OF the rebel
lious Leonists, and there is great rejoicing
here in consequence. The battle took
place at Pital, not far from Monotombo.
Between 1000 and 5000 men were engaged.
The fighting was severe and the troops
from Leon, Chichegalpa and Chinandega,
the three strcngholds of the Leonists,
numb bering about 10, 200 men, were COM
pletely routed with the loss of about zoo
killed and wounded. Only about fifty Of
the government troops, which Numbered
about 1900 men, were killed or wounded
The rebels We're commanded by General
Ortiz, the commander-in-c0tef of the
Leonists, but Baca, the rebel president,
was at Leon, IL is believed, supervising
the work OF putting that citv in as COM
plete a state of defence as possible, pre-
vious to the arrival before it OF the gov
ernment army and the army which the
government of Honduras has sent TO the
support OF the troops of President Zelaya.
The government troops were commanded
by Generals Paiz and Bodan.
Pital is a small town near Managua. OF
the 5000 or SO buildings which compose
of coarse, mud-like bricks, with clay
tiles. But outside the town is high
ridge of ground which. when occupied by
troops, forms a natural defense, as The
soldiers can practically fire upon an ad-
vancing force wjthoust exposing them
selves much in return.
The government troops began the adj
vance from Naggarote on Wednesday,
after the skirmish with the enemy
which resulted in the Leonists being
driven backward with. the loss of 90 killed
and wounded.
The government force approached Pital
yesterday morning. The firing upon the
part of the rebels commenced as soon as
the troops were within range; but the
government forces, acting under orders,
reserved their fire and continued their
advance, taking advantage OF all the In
equalities of the ground in order to
obtain protection from the bullets of the
Leonists, which, as rule, either fell
short or flew high above the heads of the
troops. The result was that President
Zelsya's troops were able to get within
striking distance of Pital, with the loss
of only three men Killed and seven
wounded. The Leonists, however, kept
up the firing throughout the advance.
The government forces moved on Pital
in four columns, each of 500 men.
rhe Leonists defended the place stub
bornly; but the troops pushed on and
eventually entered the town, driving the
Leonists before them at the point of the
bayonet. The enemy afterward scattered
in small bodies, fed toward Leon, after
making a short stand outside Pital and
firing at long range upon the victorious
soldiers.
The government troops also captured
over 500 prisoners In the bouses of Pital,
the rebels in nearly every instance broad
enipg down their arms as soon as the
soldiers broke in the door of the build
ings. There is much rejoicing here to-
day at this further success OF the Presi-
dents soldiers and ne is receiving con-
gratulations on all sides. The church
bells have been kept continually ringing
ever since the glad news was made pub
lie and a battery of artillery in the
small park in front OF the palace has
already fired three Presidential salutes
The blue and white colors of Nicaragua
are floating from every building of any
importance and even the smallest novels
have dipslayed some kind OF decoration
in honor of this victory of Nicaraguan
troops.