The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-07-25

Rebels Driven From Cuidad BOliycr
By Government Forces.
MADE 4 FIERCE RESISTANCE

Fighting Ragged wadly for Two Days
and the City Is Almost M Ruins.
Women and Children Fled for
Safety.
soledad. Venezuela July - THE
battle between the revolutionary forces
at Ciudad Bolivar and the Venezuelan
government army commanded by
Genera Gomez. has ragged mad'v for
the last TWO days Block after block
was disputed. lne government troops
entering the city slowly. All the
houses had been barricaded and the
revOluiiOnisfs had been firing from fiat
roofs called azoloas When the revo-
lutionists finally abandoned the
houses. after having taken an that
could be used for barricados or 10
otherwise stop the advance OF The gov
eminent troops. they were immedi-
ately occupied by the government
soldiers. who bored holes in them so
as to communicate with the next house.
The city appears TO have been struck
by a cyclone.
Early in the morning when tho In
habltants OF the commercial and for
eign parts Of the city. near the Ala
media. saw the advance OF the govern
ment troops. they all abandoned their
homes and sought refuge in other
parts OF the city. crossing the streets
amidst hail Of bullets and shells,
the women carrying their children. the
strong helping the weak. Many men
in trying TO protect the women fell,
struck by bullets IN the middle OF the
streets. What with the firing the yeils
OF the wounded and the crying OF the
women and children a terrible scene
was witnessed bad enough 10 disgust
anybody forever with civil war
The government generals. having
effected a junction Of their forces
north and south and having received
further supplies OF ammunition. de-
cided TO push the attack on the centre
OF the city They captured the north
side OF the Alameda. the public park
OF Ciudad Bolivar which has been de-
tended by a double row OF barbados.
Behind one OF these were found more
than 80 dead soldiers lying on top OF
each other while wounded men were
seen on all sides
The soldiers on both sides have had
no food for two days. no amhulances
are being used and yet the lighting con-
tinues.
The advance OF the government
troops then reached the market place.
The old customs house and the water
works were taken. The Dalton block,
the property of the United States con-
sui. whore all tie leading German and
French firms reside, was then attacked.
The jail was the centre OF n terrible
resistance All the defeated reyolu-
tionists concentrated there. j. IS esti-
mated that more than 200 men have
been killed In that vicinity
The artillery Of the revolutionisis
fercely replied to the attack OF the
feet. The fleet shelled La Soledad'
which suffered terribly.
The last stages Of the battle were
horrible. The government forces were
ordered TO make a general attack on
all positions held by the rebels. The
"Zamora." called the Sebastopol OF
Ciudad Bolivar, was stormed and cap
tured Ninety-four dead rebels were
found inside. among them being Gen.
eral Azange, one Of the revolutionary
leaders. whose head had been blown
off by a she'll II is impossible to rem
der an idea OF the carnage which oc-
Cured at this point
At the same time General Riyas,
General Gomez's chief lieutenant with
2200 men succeeded in destroying a
harricade erected around the Miranda
Plaza. the key 10 the capitol where
the survivors Of the revolution we're
concentrated. All the roads and streets
running into the capitol are guarded by
government troops, and ,he escape OF
the revolutionists after the capture
OF the capitol. which is Inevitable
seems impossible They must either
surrender or die. The custom house
was taken after ten-hours' hghL a
press reporter counted 60 kiIiea as d
result OF this fight.
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