Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-24

fields
Bluenelds, Mic. Dec. 24.-The details
OF the battle of Rama are now known.
The victory of the insurgents was as
complete as has been claimed by. them.
After two days OF fighting the fierc-
est that Central America has seen.
Gen. Estrada on Tuesday wiped out the
enemy. or Zelayas army of 5000 men
but 500 escaped. The killed and wound
ed on both sides. as before reported.
numbered 600, and 1900 of the govern
ment troops surrendered after des-
perate resistance. Three Hotchlliss and
four Maxim guns, 1000 rifles and l,oO0,-
600 rounds of ammunition were includ-
ed in the booty. Cen Estrada pro-
fesses to believe his march to Managua
will be unopposed.
BIuenelds and the neighboring coun-
try are delirious with joy. The victory
is said to have been won on the very
day scheduled for the inauguration ct
DR. Madriz as president OF Nicaragua
In succession to Zelaya-
Gen. Luis Mcna is again here. HIS
troops arrived on the scene of battle
when victory was in the balance ana
turned the tide in favor of the In
surgents
AT the request of the United States
Consul Moffat. Commander Shipley OF
the United States cruiser Des MONIES
sent his hospital squad ashore, estap-
fishing an Independent hospital wnere
40 of the wounded are receiving care.
The American medical mon have been
able to give their services to all who
were In need of them,
AMERICANS IN BATTLE.
Six Americans participated in the bat
tie, operating rapid fire guns. They
escaped Injury with the exception OF
one named Bnshford, who received
three bullets in a leg.
The prisoners include Gen. Gonzales
and Cen. Castrillo. Gen. Vasquez, who
was returning to Rama from Managua
when hostilities began, did not reach
the scene during the fighting. He was
a few miles distant when the govern
ment troops were routed and 1t Is pos
sible that some 500 men escaped with
him.
After Zelaya's trenches had been
shelled they were taken by assault. In
the trenches were several women who
preferred risking their lives In the con-
en- were armed with rifles and fought
courageously One of them was wound
ed and later brought to the hospital
here. A largo proportion of the pris-
oners were found to be boys under 16
years of age. They accepted defeat as
though II were very welcome.
Gen. Gonzales. the vanqulshed leader
of the government troops, today shares
the quarters of Gen. Estrada, and is
tnc laf
relish and smoking insurgents tobacco
as though he enjoyed 1t.
SECOND DAYS FIGHTING.
The second days fighting began at
o'clock In the morning. The first days
conflict had driven the enemy back
to the main Notifications. in the village
of Rccrcc. where for three weeks they
have been stringing wires and digging
trenches.
The country in that vicinity had been
partially cleared of undcrbrush, but
1t remains more like a jungle than
otherwise. The position OF the gov
crnmcnt troops behind their embank-
ments and barbed wire entanglements
proved unexpectedly strong.
However, the PROFESSIONALS who be-
lleved they faced the oppressive rule
OF MadrlZ. or. as the only alternative
Of intervention by the United States,
bore themselves with Z snow or valor
that should ever relieve them from the
charge of being comic opera soldiers.
The hunded dead and the $50 wounded
gave the surviving insurgents some
thing TO think about
Today widows and orphans may be
seen wandering about the streets
weeping Yet no expression of regret
Is heard The PROFESSIONALS admit their
heavy losses and estimate those OF the
enemy at about an equal amount.
Gen. Chamorroro Gen. Diaz and Gen.
Matuty first faced the enemy The
tugs Pioneer and Blanca. upon which
were mounted Hotchklss guns half
buried In sand, steamed up a creek
tributary to the Mico river. upon which
the village of Recreo is situated.
SMELLING THE VILLAGE.
the gunners maintaining great ac-
curacy. Zelaya's troops frequently EFT
the trenches and. advancing through
the junglcs. met the insurgents In
hand hand conflicts These clashes
were followed in each instance by a
retreat To the trenches and forward
movement by the PROFESSIONALS who cut
the wire entanslements with their
machetes- In these brushes many were
killed or wounded.
Gen Chamorroro. who looks like a
typical North American regular trooper.
fought with frenzied vigor Gen. Diaz
disdained. az did Gen Chamorroro, to
take TO cover. Diaz walked erect amid
hall of bullets. directing the nre
OF his men. who. however, he insisted.
should keep under cover whenever pos
sible. When one soldier, enthused by
the example OF his commanderer,
fought on his feet. Dinz turned his
pistol upon tho man and commanded
him TO get behind a stump.
Chamorroro. who has been fishtfng
for 20 years. is idolized by his men.
He swore cheerfully when his troopers
exposed themselves and good naturedly
pushed them behind the cover OF