Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-02-12

located by General Mena. General
Menas right wing, including GordOns
American sharpshooters, took an eX-
posed position within the enemy's
semi-circle, while his left wing was
sent to the rear of the enemy at the
right of the steep hill. During the
forenoon the fighting was chiefly be-
tween Mena's left and the enemy's
right. the latter repulsing every at
! tack. Colonel Conrad of the provi-
| sionals commanded the Maxim gun,
which was posted in an exposed posi-
| ton, 500 yards from one of the en-
cmy's Maxims and 2000 yards from the
| other. Back of the insurgent guns was
little group composed of General
Blandon. the members of his staff and
the half dozen men of Conrad'S gun
crew. The enemy's force nearest the
Maxim and one of the Hotchkss guns
had perfect range on this little par
ty and moved down the heavy vege-
tation by which the PROFESSIONALS were
concealed. 1t is considered marvellous
that General Conrad escaped injury 50
long as he did Two of his men were
wounded carly in the fight General
Blandon exposed himself as he search
ed the position of the enemy with his
binoculars in an effort to locate their
guns At O'Clock in the afternoon
he received a bullet through the brain.
The fall of Glandon was great mis-
fortune to the PROFESSIONALS, as he had
just received orders from General
Mena to hoid mis- position Following
his death the orders We're misinterpret-
Ell, resulting in q retreat to Moogan
General Blandons body was taken to
the rear by Colonel Roche, who de-
clared that Mena had ordered Rlandon
to abardor the right wing ana rein
force the left wing. which had been
unable to make any progress against
the governments position. Colonel
Conrad diSmountcd the gun and the
collrn began to move for a new posi-
tior in plain sight of the enemy. which |
quickly took advantage of the situa-
tion. General Mana saw the mistake
and gallopng to the front of the NOV
ing column ordered it back to it's orig
inal unsition. which it was instructed
to Lcld at any cost. But the time lost
WAS fatal. Those who reached their
former position found the enemy with
tW" Maxim guns at distances of 50 and
murderouS fire upon the position which
the PROFESSIONALS were attempting to
rcaesume
Colonel Conrad directed his Maxim
upon the nearest enemy, meanwhile
receiving the cross fire of the govern
ment'S three Maxim guns. Conrad's
chief assistant was shot through the
arm and his ammunition tenders were
wounded Conrad was compelled him
self to place cooling water upon the
gun and to adjust the ammunition
belts unaided. His Nicaraguans acted
braNely, but were simply unable to
reach the gun position in the face of
the bullets. Conrad's chief assistant.
though wounded. did not move from
the side Of his chief and only showed
his injury when Conrad demanded his
assistance. 4 moment later a bullet
tore through Conrad's abdomen, but
pursued Il downward course. cutting
tie flesh only.
General Mena. recognizing the cost of
his mistaken order. ordered a retreat
Four Nicaraguan insurgents performed a
brilliant feat in saving Conrad's gun from
the very jaws of the enemy after their
commander had staggered to the rear.
The retreat to Moogan, 10 miles distant.
was conducted in perfect order. the enc
my pursuing. The loss to the government
troops is not known here, but it cannot
be denied that it was considerable. Four
of Gordon's Americans were the last to
leave the position of attack. Had Gener-
al Zeledon with his four guns and 200
men arrived. Mena undoubtedly would
have taken the aggressive. but Zeledon
being a day late. Mena attempted only to
hold the enemys attention. deceiving
them as long as possible as to the size or
his force and thus weakening the resist
ance to General ~hamorro.
The capture of Matagalpa is of great
advantage to the PROFESSIONALS. who have
thus been afforded a splendid base of sup
plies and also reinforcements. as Mata-
galpa and Jinotega are strong conserva-
tive departments. From the vicinity of
Matagalpa General Chamorro can secure
water communication with Cape Gracias
on the Atlantic by way of the river Coco.
The Americans. who own extensive coffee
plantations in these departments, have
built an automobile road to Lake Mana
qua. However. the departments are very
mountainous and their defence is CORE
spondngly easy.
The retreat of General Mena's men af-
forded a weird sight as the long column
trailed through the dusk. Twelve of the
wounded, wrapped in blankets, were car
ried in hammocks slung from poles which
rested upon the shoulders of their com-