The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-02-12
Now Awaiting the Arrival of
Fifty American Sharp
shooters.
IN THE RECENT BATTLE GEN.
BLANDON WAS KILLED WHILE
HOLDING IN HIS HAND GENERAL
MENRs ORDER TO STAND AND
FIGHT - MISREPRESENTATION
OF ORDER IT is CLAIMED
CAUSED RETREAT OF THE IN.
SURGENT FORCES.
BY Associated Press.

Bluefelds, Feb. 11.-Upon the ar
rival of Gen. Zeldon at Magoon yester-
day preparations were begun imme-
diately for another forward movement
of Gen. Menass division, the progress
of which was checked by the govern
ment forces in the recent engagement
at Santa Clara.
Walter Gordon's aide has dispatched
to Panama to recruit fifty more Amer
leans who, armed with rifles, are ex-
pected to join Gen. Mena in three
weeks.
This move suggests that there will
be no further actual fighting until the
reinforcements of American sharp
shelters arrive.
Gen. Matauy, with 200 additional
men, is reported moving up the Mtco
river and is expected to form a juno
tion with Gen. Mena at the end of two
weeks.
GEN. BLANDoN KILLED.
Gen. Blandon died as he held in his
hand Gen. Luis Menas's order to stand
and fight. misinterpretation of this
order by another is held by the provis-
ionals to be responsible for the retreat
of the insurgent troops following re-
pulse by the government forces at
Santa Clara The Estrada forces do
not admit defeat.
1t is explained that Gen. Mena heS1
not expected to defeat the enemy with
his small force, but planned to keep
the government forces engagd SO that
the enemy would draw reinforcements
from Acoyapa, only 10 miles distant,
and thus be unable to send an aug
mented army against Gen. Chamorro
in the province of Matagalpa. This
purpose was effected but the plan a.
not work out exactly as had been
hoped. There was considerable con-
fusion among the insurgent officers
and the advantage of the subsequent
situation was in doubt. 1t is plain,
however, that the PROFESSIONALS took the
heavier fire of the enemy with courage,
and acquitted themselves well SO far
as personal bravery was concerned.
CAMPAIGN WELL PLANNED.
A review of the details shows that
the campaign was we'll planned and
energetically furthered. While Gen.
Chamorro was operating in the
province of Matagalpa, where he has
since occupied the capital, Gen. Mena
with only $50 men and no field guns
attacked the enemy, 600 strong, en-
trenched at hill commanding Las
Garitas. Deceived regarding the
strength of the PROFESSIONALS, the enemy
fell back, taking a stand at Santa
Clara. Gen. Mena pursued. Fighting
continued on February at long range
and with no great damage done. AT
o'clock on the following morning the
PROFESSIONALS made a desperate attack
upon the fortified position of the
enemy, being reinforced by the timely
arrival of Gen. Blandon with 200 men
and one Maxim gun.
The enemy's position was in the
form of a semi-circle. The govern
ment troops had been reinforced over
night by 200 men and two Maxim and
two Hotchkiss guns. These guns were
well placed and. Using smokeless
powder. could not be discovered def
nitely by Gen. Mena.
The latter's right wing, including
Gordons American sharpshooters, took
an exposed position within the enemy's
semi-circle while the insurgent left
wing was sent to the rear of the
enemy at the right of the steep hill.
During the forenoon the fighting was
chiefly between Mena's left and the
enemy's right, the latter repuIsing
every attack. Gen. Conrad, of the
PROFESSIONALS, commanded the Maxim
guns, which was posed in an exposed
position 500 yards from one of the
enemy's Maxims and 200 yards from
the other Back of the insurgents gun
was little group composed of Gen.
Blandon, the members of his staff and
the half dozen men of Conrads gun
crew. The enemys nearest 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 partly
Continued on Page Two.)