The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-21
AMERICANS TAKE
 AN ACTIVE PART
Figure Prominently in Battle
 in Nicaragua
ONE IS BADLY WOUNDED
Fighting Between Madriz Forces and Insurgents Has Been in Progress IntermittantIy for Several days.
 General Vasquez Defeated

Bluefields, Nicaragua, February 20.- Americans took very active part in the battle between the insurgents and the Madriz forces at St. Vincento and one of them at least was badly wounded. They were under Captain Victor Gordon, with General Mena, the contingent being known as the American scouts. The wounded man Is William Wilkins, who joined the provisionals from Panama. A steel bullet struck the cartridge clip swung across his shoulder, near the and leg.
 Another scout, T. G. BIshby, was bruised when stone from behind which he was firing was shattered by cannon- ball. Bushby was thrown 20 feet, but he came back to the fight.
 In dispatch which he has sent here, Captain Gordon states that the battle on the 18th when, after 10 hours of desperate attacks and counter-attaclSs, the enemy under GeneralVasquez retired to a secondary position from where this morning they opened desultory artillery fire which ceased entirely at 10 o'clock.
 According to Captain Gordon, Vasquez was beaten, although his 600 men out numbered the provisional forces two to one. Vasquez can receive no reinforce ments, and when all Matuty's men ar rive, and they are expected hourly, Gen. eral Mena will assume the aggressive and will attempt to drive Vasquez to- wards the lake.
 Early in the morning of the 18th the enemys guns demolished Mena's left trenches, drawing out his force, includ- ing the Americans. Mena reformed and recaptured the place. The enemy then opened in front of low hill but Mena executed a flanking movement, causing the government troops to retire in great confusion. They abandoned many rifles Vasquez's personal effects were taken and the general himself got away only by close margin.
 The fierceness of the battle is indicated by the fact that two of Mena's guns were disabled. Another was twice dismounted but each time replanted, doing effective execution. Mena's loss was P wounded Gordon Is of the opinion that the enemys loss was heavy as their assaults were de- livered across open spaces in the face of artillery fire.
 When the enemy withdrew, Frank Key nolds at the head of five other Ameri- cans, hotly pursued them, coming within
 0 yards of capturing a Maxim when they were compelled to desist. At times the bullets, shells and shrapnel came so thick that it was difficult to see because of the dust kicked up. One of the enemy S Maxims was captured by assault. this being the operation in which Wilkins was wounded. He was borne to the rear by comrades in the midst of d hail of bull lets.
 Once the Americans ran out of am intuition and before new supply came were compelled to defend themselves in a hand to hand fight. Five additional Americans under General Seledon were placed in command of 70 Nicaraguans with whom they turned the enemys left flank in a movement which terminated in the enemy's complete rout
 Upon the enemy's retirement, Mena' S cavalry gave chase but were unable to come up before Vasquez had taken shel- ter on a high hill. It was from this new position that Vasquez bombarded today Apparently further fighting is inevitable, although prisoners taken by the provi- sional forces report that Vasquez's men are deserting in squads.