The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-12
DETAILED ACCOUNT
OF RECENT FIGHTING

rBLUEFfElDS. Nicaragua. Feb. ] l.
General Blandon died as he held in his
hand General Luis Mcna's order TO
stand and fight \ misintcrpret1tion
of this order by another is held by the
Professionals To be responsible for the
retreat of their troops following their
rcpulse by the government forces at
Santa Clara The insurgents do not adj
nit defeat and declare that the way TO
Managua is open 10 them.
1t is explained that General Mena
had not expected to defeat The enemy
with his small force, but planned TO
keep the government forces engaged,
with the idea that the. enemy would
draw reinforc" mcuts from Acoyapa,
only ten miles distant, and so be I'M
uhle 20 send au augmented army against
General Chamorro, in The province OF
Matagalpa, This purpose was effected.
but the plan did not work as expected
There was considerable confusion among
the insurgent officers aud the udvau
tage of the subsequent situation WAS
in doubt, II was explained. however,
that the Professionals took the heavier
fire of the enemy with courage and ac
quilted themselves well. so far as per
Soual bravery was concerned.
\ review of tho details shows that
the campaign was we'll planned and en-
crgctically furthcred While General
Chamorro was operating in the prov
ince of MataC3lpa. where hc has since
occupied the capital, General Mena, with
only 100 men and no field guns. at.
tucked the enemy, 600 strong and en-
lreuchod at a hill commanding Las Ga
ritas. Uncertain of the strength of
the Professionals. the enemy fell back
tlking a stand nj Santa Glars, Gen.
eral Mcna pursued. Fighting continued
on February AT long range and with
no great damage done, Al 0 clock
on the following morning the Proy.
sionals made q desperate attack upon
the fortified position of the enemy, be.
ing reinforced by the timely arrival
of General Blandou with 200 men and
ono Maxim gun
The cnemFs position was in The form
OF a semi circle. The government troops
had hecp reinforced over night by zoo
men and two Maxim and two Hotchkiss
guns. These GUNS were well placed and,
located definitely by General Mena. Cen
eral Mena's. right wing. including Cor
don's American sbarpshootcrs, took an
exposed position within The onemy,s
to the rear of the enemy 1T the height
OF the steep hill During the forenoon
the fighting was chiefly between Menas
left and tho cnemy's right. tho latter re-
pulsinS every attack, General Conrad OF
The PROFESSIONALS commanded tho Maxim
gun, Which was posted In an exposed po-
=
MaXims and 200 yards from ihe other
Sack OF tho Insurgents guns was little
group. composed OF General Blandon
the members OF his staff and the half
dozcu men Of Conrad'S gun crew.
Good Work by Gunners.
The encmy's nearest Maxim and one
Of tho IlotchkiSs guns had a perfect
range on this little party and moved
down the heavy vegetation by which the
PROFESSIONALS were partially concealed. IL
is considered marvellous that Colonel Ga
bricl Conrad escaped injury 50 loug as
he did. Two of his mon were wounded
carly In tho fight. one being shot In the
leg and the other In tho arm. General
Elaudon constantly exposed himself as he
searched tho position of the enemy with
his binocular In an effort 10 locate their
guns At = o'clock in the afternoon he
received a bullet through the brain
The fall of Blandon was great mis-
fortune 10 the PROFESSIONALS lie had Just
received and read orders from General
Mona when tho cncmy'S nearest Maxim,
having been moved further TO the left,
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