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

battle. Estrada having merely laid out
the general plan.
AS the evening approached and the
enemy still resisted after repeated as
saults. the insurgents wavered from
physical exhaustion but their courage
never failed.
A TIMELY ARRIVAL
For the timely arrival OF Gen. Mena it
is quite possible that the outcome OF
the battle would have been wholly diff
fcrent. Indeed. at one time, the POSI-
tion of the insurgents was desperate
Chamorroro and Diaz had moved on
the main fortificatlons at Rccreo and
Tatumbla hill. And Mena wns under
orders to cover the lines OF retreat from
Recreo Mena had moved UP the Rama
river, but his men were weak from
their march and failed to effect the ex-
pccted juncture with the other armies
of the insurgents when the assault be-
gan.
They encountered roads knee deep
with red clay and overgrown with trop-
ical plants. through which they cut A
way with their machetes. but their
progress was slow.
Chamorroro became uneasy and des-
patched a messenger with the follow
Ing urgent command, Come quickly
or the day goes against us?" and the
day was going against the PROFESSIONALS
The enemy followed on every side
but ChamorTor diScerned that at best
he was holding his line.
After despatching the messenger to
Mena he adopted the plan of repulsing
the enemy when they left their
thenches but without attempting a
further advance. tA
Mena realized The situation and Ia
stead of satisfying himself by cutting
<~fr a k-afr -
troops pushed forward for an assault.
How he and his 600 men got through
the intervening two miles of brush the
general has been unable to since ex-
plain. They seem to have rushed 20
desperately that they failed to realize
the obstacles before them.
FOUGHT TO A STANDSTILL
Gen. Chamorroro had been fought to
a standstill and his men were well nigh
exhausted. over the field telephone
Commander-in-Chief Estrada was in
formed that the situation was desper-
ate. and that while his army was not
defeated. victory was not in sight.
When tho hour was darkest for tho
insurgents cheers were heard and pres
emily Gen. Mena and his scattered and
bleeding men emerged from the jungle
into half cleared plantation where the
battle was being waged.
w WlluOul ttOPpltlB lOT OlOtTS anu ytll"
Ing at the top of their voices. the re-
.nforcements swept across the clearing
to the rear of the enemy and charged
tho hill at a point where no machine
guns had been placed.
The movement of Mcna served as
signal for a general advance by the
three marches OF the insurgents. At
n critical moment the insurgents swept
up the hin In the face of n furious fire
Mona was the first to reach the sum-
NIT At his heels were his determined
soldiers.
The defenders. depending on their
rifles only. we're unable to repulse the
attackers. Suddenly abandoning their
trenches, the government troops fell
back before Menas men and charged
the advancing army under Chamorroro
and Diaz. Mena pushed his attack oil
GonZalcs's rear
ALL OVER
In 10 minutes it was all over but
in that 10 minutes heavy execution was
done. Scores were killed outright and
the wounded covered the summit of the
hill Hundreds of the enemy threw
down their arms and begged for quar-
ter Gen. Gonzales. to save a needless
slaughter. sIgnaled that he surren-
dered Nineteen hundred prisoners
were taken.