Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-01

ton, and a greater one. for It was he
who acted as Gen. Chamorros messen-
ger to Gen. Mena, whom he admitted
every where to have turned impending de-
feat into victory for the PROFESSIONALS.
AS has been claimed. and as it now con-
DiaS, Matuty and others. the lighting OF
December 20 and p had been undecisive.
The Zelayans had been driven into their
main intrenchments at Recreo. on the
was of a desperation scarcely justified
by their cause. as viewed on the east
coast. However. they were battling in
self-defense. which probably explains that
Mena. known otherwise as Montana
had been sent from a point down the
Rama river to cut off retreat to the west.
AS planned on the first day he captured
Tatumbla Hill and the telegraph station
there On the next and final day of the
battle, however. he encountered roads, or
the lack OF them, which had not been
counted on. His arrival in the rear of
Recreo, therefore. was delayed and the
other generals. outnumbered, were merely
able to hold their own.
American Saved the Day.
Find Mena and tell him we are beaten
unless he can get here within two hours.
He can't be more than a mile or two in
Conrad.
In some way Conrad forced his way
through the jungle, with its tough inter-
laced vines and trees. His message
threw Mena and his men into frenzy OF
energy. Brush. which it had been
deemed necessary for the macheteros to
cut, were ignored-the men simply skim
med over them. Not even waist-deep bog
halted them. They were nearly exhaust
an
the sight OF Rocero lent them fresh en-
ergy and enthusiasm.
They gave vent to their cry, Viva Es-
trada," and swept up the hills, and from
the, other company. This assault quickly
brought the battle to close. Finding
themselves surrounded Gonzales and his
men surrendered.
Chamorro left the boat at Bluefields to-
day with his arm about Conrad's broad
shoulders and later told the story.
Challenged by a Spaniard.
Surgeon Pugh of the Des Moines was
also in the limelight for a short period
yesterday, having been challenged to a
duel by local Spanish physician. The
Spaniard. who had been celebrating the
victory rather freely, passed the guard
on duty al the hospital and began con-
versing With patients whom DR.. Pugh de-
sired to remain undisturbed. Pugh did
not know the visitors identity and re-
ouested him to keep quiet. but as neither
understood the others language the in
truder continued talking. whereupon DIR.
Pugh gently but firmly elected him from
the hospital. Later Pugh WAS waited on
by the Spaniard's seconds. who formally
proposed duel. Pugh, still ignorant of
the mans identity. declared that he was
busy operating at the time, but that
when he had concluded he would take
great pleasure in knocking the Spaniards
head off,
Today the matter was cleared up by the
Spaniard apologizing. Surgeon Pugh's
ted to have been exemplary, he having
shown self-restraint. and the gentleness
with which he elected the intruder prob
ably prevented the death of several pa
tients. which excitement might have
brought on.
Nicaraguans Good Soldiers.
Without exception the Americans men,
toned in this dispatch declare that the
Nicaraguan natives have In them the
making of soldiers the peer Of any. They
can live on almost nothing. and they can
carry the burdens Of a Chinese cooie
through a country which would put the
average coolie, hardy though he Is, out
at land-to-hand combat. Greater disc;-
pine in concerted movements and rifle
practice are all that Is needed. As 1t is.
they arc prone to over-excitement and
bad shooting.
To the fact that most Of the firing was
done at close range, when they ran into
each other In the brush, Is due the large
number Of casualties now reported-6tn|
dead and an equal number wounded on
both sides.