Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-02-11
Story of Battle Lost b
Nicaraguan Provisiog
ais is Told.
LIKE REAL WABARE
Death of Gen. BIandoJ at Crit
icaI Junction CauSd Mis-
understanding.

Blusfields, Nicaragua Feb. 11--De-
tails OF the recent battle at Santa Clara
in which the revolufionists were de-
feated and General Blandon killed in
dicate the disaster was due to mis-
Interpretation of orders. Mena's plan
was for Blandon to keep the govern
ment forces engaged until he could
send reinforcements from Acoy-
apa to meet division govern
ment troops. Blandon sustained a
heavy raking fire and lost many of his
men. Mena's Instructions to hold the
hin were received about this time.
Had Left Position.
Mena had in the meantime engaged
the enemy and pursued him as far as
Santa Clara Here the error in read
ing the Instructions caused Blandon
to place himself in an exposed position
and was raked by a battery of Maxim
guns. Blandon was shot in the head,
the effect of his death causing the
revolutionists TO waver and eventually
retreat
Campaign Well Planned.
review of the details shows the
campaign was we'll planned and ener-
getically furthered. While General
Chamorro was operating in the prov
ince of Matagalpa, where he has since
occupied the capital, Mena, with
only $50 men and no field guns. at
tackled the enemy, 600 strong and en-
trenched at hill commanding Las
Garitas. Deceived regarding the
strength of the PROFESSIONALS, the enemy
fell back, taking stand at Santa
Clara. Mena pursued Fighting con-
tinued Feb. 8 at long range and with
no great damage done.
Make an Attack.
At 9 o'clock the following morning
the PROFESSIONALS made a desperate at
tack upon the fortified position of the
enemy, being reinforced by the timely
arrival of General Blandon with 200
men and one Maxim gun. The en-
emy's position was in the form of a
semi-circle. The government troops
had been reinforced over night by 200
men and two Maxim and two Hotch-
kiss guns. These guns were we'll plac-
ed and using smokeless powder could
not be located definitely by Mena.
In Exposed Position.
Menas right wing, including Cor
IONS American sharpshooters, took an
exposed position within the enemy's
semi i-circle, while his left wing was
sent to the rear of the enemys at the
right of a steep hill. During the fore
noon the fighting was chiefly between
Mena's left and the enemy's right, the
latter repulsing every attack. Gen
eral Conrad of the PROFESSIONALS COM
manded 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.
Under Heavy Fire.
Back of the insurgents guns was a
group composed of Blandon, members |
Of his staff and half a dozen men of
Conrad's gun crew The enemy'S near
est Maxim and one of the Hotchkiss |
guns had perfect range on this little |
party and moved down the heavy |
vegetation by which the PROFESSIONALS |
were partially concealed. 1t is consid |
cred marvellous Conrad escaped injury |
so long as he did. Two of his men |
were wounded early in the fight. Blan-
don constantly exposed himself as he |
searched the position of the enemy |
with his binoculars IN an effort to To-
cate their guns. At 2 O'Clock in the
afternoon he received a bullet through /
the brain.
Had just Received Orders.
The fall of Blandon was great mis-
fortune to the PROFESSIONALS. He had
Just received and read orders from
Mena instructing him to hold the hills,
when the enemy's nearest Maxim hav
ing been moved farther to the left, be-
gan raking the hitherto half-sheltered
spot. Blandon's body was accompan-
led to the rear by Colonel Roche, who
declared Mena had ordered Blandon to
abandon the right wing and reinforce
the left, which had been unable to
make any progress against the gov
ernment's position.
Gives Enemy Chance.
Conrad dismounted the gun and the
column began to move for the new po
Bition in plain sight Of the enemy,
which took eSvanLage of the situation.
Thena saw the mistake, and galloping
to the front of the moving column, or
dered it back to it's original position,
which it was instructed to hold at any
cost
Loss of Time Fatal.
But the time lost was fatal. and s
those who reached their former posi-