Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-07-30
The Battle at Ciudad Bolivar
RACES Desperately for
Many Hours
THE REBELS LAST STAND
FigN with Desperation but
Falling Back
GOVERNMENT TROOPS IN
NON COMBATANTS SUFFER TER
RleLY BUT BeSieGlNG FORCE is
ORDERED TO BE MERClFUL

Snlodad, Venezuela, July 3 10 a
m.-Since the last dispa CHI VAS sent
to the associated press at 3 O'Clock
yesterday Afternoon, the hattie be-
tween the revolutionary forces at
Ciudad Bolivar and the Venezuelan
government army commanded by
General Gomez, has ragged madly.
Block after block was disputed, the
Igovernment troops entering the city
slowly. All the houses had been BAT
rlcaded and the revolutionists had
been forced from f2r roofs called
lGzotoas. When the revoluionisls H.
ually abandoned the houses, after
having taken all that could be used
| for BARI cadcs, or otherwise 10 stop
| the advance of the govern ment troops
they were Immediately occupied 10y
the government soldiers, who bored
biz holes in them 50 as to- commuui-
cate with the next house.
The city appears to have been
struck by cyclone. At O'Clock in
the evening the government forces
arrived near the center of Ciudad
bolivar. For two hours previously
firing mad diminished, but it was re-
Inewed with more Vieor at 10 O'Clock
at night and Illuminated the sky.
At 3 O'Clock in the morning when
1.-THE inhabitants of the commercial
AMI foreign parts of the city, near
IAlameda saw the advance Of the
Igovernmant troops, they abandoned
their homes and sought refuge In
other parts of the city, CLOSING the
streets amidst hail Of bullets and
shells, the women carrying their
children, the strong helping the
weak. Men, in trying to protect the
women, fell struck by bullets.
In the middle of the streets what
with the firing, the yell Of the
wounded and the crying OF the wom-
In and children, terrible scene was
witnessed. bad enough to disgust
anybody forever with civil war.
The government troops, howeve1.
acted with humanity, especially the
forces Of General Rivas, who, fight
ing bravely, was the first to order
the attacking party to he merciful.
At eight O'Clock this morning the
governor general, having effected a
junction of their forces, north and
south, and having received further
supplies Of ammunition, decided to
push the attack on the center Of the
, sity. At 10 O'Clock the govern
ment troops had captured the north
side Of the Alameda, the public park
Of Ciudad Bolivet, which had been
defended by double row Of barri-
eades. Behind one Of these were
found more than thirty dead soldiers
lying on top of each other, while
wounded men were seen on all sides.
At 10 O'Clock the government COM
mande,s, seeing that only the artil-
IleIy could make breach in the bar
ficades of the Alameda, ordered
IUWPlNt guns W OuCli hlO w uiShi
and at the same time the Venezuelan
feet, which had changed its anchor
age 50 as to bring its guns to beal
elIectually on the city. opened fire.
The ldiers on both sl,les have
had no food for two days, no ambu'
lances are being used and yet th'
fghtiug continues.
Monday p. M, the advance o.
the government troops reached TIT
market place. The old customs house
aud the water works have been tax
EN-. The Dalton block, the propert!
of the United States consul, where
all the leading German and French
, firms reside, Is now being attacked
The Jail is in the center OF terrible
resis ance. All the defeated Teyolu
J tionists have concentrated there. l
, Is estimated that more than 20) mel
l have been killed in that vicinity.
The artillery Of the revoIutionist
Is fercely replying to the attack G
the fl ct.
The capitol is still In possession c
= the reVoldtiouisIs, but the complet
success OF the government forces
assured.