The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-02-11

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eral Blandon died as he held In his
hand General Luis Mena's order tc
stand and tight. A mislnterpretatior
Of this order by another Is held By
the PROFESSIONALS to be responsible fol
the retreat of their troops following
their repulse by tho government
forces at Santa Clara. The insur
gents do not admit defeat, and dc
clare that the way TO Managua is oper
Ca them.
II is explained that General Mena
had not expected 10 defeat the enemy
with his small force. but planned 10
keep the government forces engaged
with the Idea that the enemy would
draw relnforcements from Acoyapa
only ten miles distant, and so be
unable 10 send an augmented army
against General Chamorro In the prov
incc OF Matagalpa. This purpose was
effected. but the plan did not work
out as expected. There was conSid-
cradle confusion among the insurSent
officers and the advantage OF the sub
sequcnt situation was In doubt II
was explained. however. that the pro-
NisionalS took the heavier FIRE of the
cnomy with courage and acquitted
themselves we'll. so far as personal
bravery was concerned
\ review OF the details shows tha,
the campaign was we'll planned While
General Chamorro was operating In
the province of Matanapia. where he
has since occupied the capital of the
province. General McDa, With only one
hundred and fifty men md no field
guns. attacked the enemy, 600 strong,
and entrencbed on hill commanding
Las Garotas. Deceived regarding the
strength of the PROFESSIONALS, the enc
my fell back, taking a stand at Santa
Clara.
General McDa pursued. Fighting
continued on Feb. AT long range
and with no great damage done. At
o'clock on the following morning
tho PROFESSIONALS made desperate at
tack upon the fortified position of the
enemy, being reinforced by the timely
arrival Of General Blandon with 100
men and ono Maxim gun.
The enemy's position was in the
form Of a Semi-circle. The govern
ment troops mad been reinforced over
night by 900 men and two Maxim and
TWO Botchklss guns. These guns were
well placed. and, using smokeless pow
der. could not be located definitely by
General Mena. General Mena's right
wing. including Gordon's American
sharpshooters. took an exposed posi-
tion within the enemy's semi-circlo,
while his left wing was sent to the
rear OF the enemy Mt the high point
of the steep hill. During the forenoon
the fighting was chiefly between
Ncna's left and the epemy's right. the
latter reDulsing every attack. General
Conrad OF the PROFESSIONALS command
cd the Maxim gun. which was posted
IN an exposed position, 500 yards from
one of the enemy's Maxims and 200
yards from the other. Back OF the
Insurgents guns was little group
composed OF General Blandon, the
members OF his stan and the half
dozen men OF Conrad's gun crew.
The enemy's nearest Maxim and
one of the Hotchkiss guns had a per
feet range on this little party and
moved down the heavy barriers in
which the PROFESSIONALS were partially
concealed. IL Is considered remark
able that Col Gabriel Conrad escaped
Injury so long as he did.
AT = o'clock in the afternoon he re-
ceiycd bullet through the brain.
Fall Of General eIandon.
The fall of Blandon was great mis-.
fortune TO the PROFESSIONALS Ho had
Just received and read orders from
General Mena when the enemy's near
ost Maxim, having been moved, began
yr1si
General Blandon's body WAS accom-.
panied to the rear by Col. Roche, who
declared that Mena had ordered Blan.
don 10 abandon the right wing and
reinforce the left wing. which had
been unable to make any progress
against the governments position.
Col Conrad dismouDted the gun and
the column began to move for n new
position In plain sight of the enemy.
which quickly took advantage of the
situation. General Mena saw the mis-
take and. gnlloping 10 the front OF
the moving column. ordered IL back to
It's original position. which 1t was in
tended to hold at any cost
But the time lost was fatal Those
VINO reached their former position
found the enemy with two Maxim
guns At distance of 80 and 100 yards,
under cover. and pouring a murderoua
fire upon the position which the pro-
tisio1als were attempting to rcas-
rune
Col Conrad directed his Maxim
upon the nearest enemy. meanwhile
receiving the cross-flre OF the govern
ments three MaXims. Conrad's chief
assistant was shot through the arm
and his ammunition tenders were
wounded Conrad was himself COM
pelled TO place cooling water on the
gnn jacket and TO adjust the ammuni-
lion belts unaided.
His Nicaraguans behaved brayely.
irt were unable TO reach the gun po-
eition In the face Of the hall Of bull
lets
Conrads chief assistant, thoush
wounded, did not move from the side
oi his chief. and only showed his in
jury when Conrad angrlly demanded
hls assistance. A moment later a bull
let tore through Conrad's abdomen,
but pursued Il downward course. cut
iiDs the flesh only
General Mena. recognizing the cost
of mis- mistaken order. ordered re-
IA