Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-24
First Account of Battle of
Rama Shows Both Sides
Courageous.
SLAUGHTER TERRIBLE
Ze,ayans Made Last Stand on
fortified BIuff-AssaiIed
from Three Sides.

Washington, Dec. PA rumor gain
sdturrency here today that President
Madriz of Nicaragua has resigned. Ef-
fcrts to trace it's source proved un-
avaiiing, although representatives of
Estrada here had word to the same
effect.
Won Mt Great Cost.
Bluef1elds. Nicaragua, Dec. 24-An
army annihilated, but a victory won At
heavy cost, summarizes the recent two
days battle between Zelaya's and Es-
trada's revolutionary army. OF Ze-
laya's army of 5000 but 500 escaped.
The killed and wounded on both sides
1 numbered 600 and 1900 government
ptroops surrendered. Three Hotchkiss
and four Maxims 1900 rifles and l.
000, GOO rounds of ammunition were in
cluded in the booty
Two Generals in Lot.
The prisoners include Generals Con
zales and Castrillo. General Vasquez,
who was returning 10 Rama from Ma
nagua when hostilities began, did not
reach the scene during the fighting.
He was a few miles distant when the
L6ldydnS were EOuI6u 1uu II 10 pOSoi-
BILE 500 men escaped with him.
Gonzales shares Estradas quarters,
the victor and vanquished eating from
the same mess and evidently enjoying
each others company. Six Americans
participated in the battle. operating
rapid fire guns. and all escaped injury
with the exception of one named Bash
ford, who received three bullets in the
leg
Driven to Strong Position
The first days fighting had driven
the Zelayans back to Recreo. which
was protected by trenches and barbed
wire entanglements, making the gov
eminent position UNEXPECTEDLY strong.
The tugs Pioneer and Blanca. upon
which were mounted Hotchkiss guns
half buried in sand. steamed up creek
tributary to the Mico river to Recreo
and for hours they shelled the village,
the gunners maintaining great ac-
curacy
Mske Frequent SOrties.
Zelaya's troops frequently left
the trenches and, advancing through
the jungles, met the insurgents in
hand to hand conflicts with men under
Chamorro, Diaz and Matuty. These
dashes were followed in each instance
bv a retreat to the trenches and for
ward movement by the PROFESSIONALS,
who cut the wires with machetes. In
these brushes many were killed or
wounded
Generals ynIOrOus, of Course.
Chamorro fought with frenzied vigor,
personally using pistol, and invaria-
bly, killing his man outright. Diaz
walked erect amid hail of bullets, di-
recting the fire of his men. Chamorro
was in active command of the battle, |
Estrada having merely laid out the I.
general plan.
Looked Dark for Insurgents.
AS evening approached the enemy
still held the trenches stubbornly re-
sisting repeated assaults. The situ-
alton was unfavoTable to the revo-
lutionists. Chamorro and Diaz had /.
moved on the main Notifications at
Recreo and Tatumble hill, and Mena /
was under orders to cover the lines /
Of retreat from Recreo. Mena had /
moved up Rama river but his 900 /
men, weak from a long, hard march, /
failed to effect the expected juction .
with the insurgent armies when the |
assault began.
Sends for Reinforcements.
Though the enemy fell on every |
side Chamorro discerned that at best !
ne was but holding his own. and sent |
a messenger to Mena urging haste |
with reinforcements. Chamorro had |
- Ii
men were well nigh exhausted. Over
field telephone Estrada was inform
I'D that the situation was desperate. /
When Hour Was Darkest.
Meantime Mena had 'cceived
Chamorro's message and rushed his
men through swamp and jungle.
When the hour was darkest for the