Year: 1874

! mss trenches, and then rushed up the hin side in
vastly superior numbers. Everything was in their
! favor Ali that required 10 carry the Carlist
position was little steadlness and determination
| And vet they were repulsed, beaten back three
| times, and at last utterly routed and discounted
| With small force OF cavalry and artillery Don
! Carlos might then ana there have marched to
Madrid. And be 1t remembered that this.
defeat was not because Of Concha's death,
1t Was only during the third assault, when he saw
his troops for the third time begin to break and
run, when the battle was already lost, that he
rushed forward in the hope OF animating by his
presence his men to one more final desperate ef-
fort, and it was just at this moment that the Car
lists leapt out or their trenches and poured down
the hillside, sweeping everything before them ike
an avalanche. The battle was already lost when
Concha was killed


A CLEAR QUESTION OF COURAGE,
This is all the more significant that there was
little room for the display OF tactics either side.
1t was fair stand-up fight, hurting superior
against an Inferior force, in hopes crushing the
weaker-a mere trial OF brute strength The in
ference Is only too evident. is that the Carlists
are better soldiers, better men that they will
stand up longer and be shot at than their oppo-
nents and that they can whip them while laborng
under the greatest disadvantages an army can
labor under-ineriOrity OF force and lnferority Of
arms


1t is now said that Concha's army had been with
out rations for two days. and that the soldiers
went into the battle starving


Some such reason can be offered to account for
the loss OF every battle that has ever been fought.
1t might Just as well be urged that the troops went
into battle without cartridges.


WHAT THE REPUBLICANS FORGOT.


1t was announced on all hands that this battle
to be the final blow to Carlism In Spain. Every
preparation had been made for it; everythi had
been working up to 1t for months, and now we nnd
that, after all these months OF preparation, the
troops had no ratiOns.


If so important thing to the success OF an army
rations may be neglected or forgotten, will they
not next time forget to give the troops cartridges
or may they not even forget their artillery, and
thus account for the loss OF the next battle9


The truth is, Concha's army ought, with its ad-
vantages TO have completely crushed and anni-
hilated tue Carnsts, and It was completely routed
instead. l have dwelt at some length on this bat
tie because think it is q sign, an indication, an
omen Of the approaching downfall OF the Madrid
government. Indeed, 1t may well be asked, If the
Carlists, without cavalry and without artillery,
can whip three times their number Of republicans
and Alfonsists, what Will they do with artillery


Since the last battle they have received from
different sources iorty-seven pieces OF cannon OF
the best models, OF calibres varying from four to
twenty pounds and they will go into the next bat
tie with fifty pieces OF artillery, all throwing shells.


But this is all. Since the last victory soldiers
are docking to his standard from all over Spain.
Catalonia. Arragon, CASTLE, all are rising 1t is
my opinion that within three months Don Carlos,
instead of 80 900, will have 100 900 at his dis
posa, we'll armed, If not Wen dressed l DO not
say 100, 900 soldiers, remember for soldiers cannot
be made in three months; but neither have his op-
ponenrs SOLDIERS


Does 1t not look as though Don Carlos star were
in the ascendant?


WHY is lTg


It may well be asked why this state Of things
should eXist-why it is that an nsurrectiOn com.
menced with twenty-seven men should have so
prospered and assu med, in SO short a time, such
formidable proportions-why this little corner OF
Spain, which is In reality not Spanish
should succeed in imposing its ideas thus on
the rest OF the country? The answer is easy
and may be found in the one fact that the Carlists
have nag that Is a faith, belief, and their op-
ponents have not. Call 1t religion, fanaticism,
oigotry, ignorance, what you will; the TACT re-
mains the same, that men with positive IDEAS
men who know just what they want and are
ready to fight for it, usually get 1t and carry the
day.


Besides this the Carlst soldiers are better men
than the Southern Spaniarus They are the hardy
Basque mountaineers OF the Northwest provinces,
a people who have never yet been subjugated
They were never conquered by the Romans and
they maintained their independence throughout
the whole time OF the Moorish domination, uu-
tanned ard unsuDdued, ana have kept their sturdy
independence OF character down to the present
time. They nave a belief IN their King. q
confidence IN their officers, sturdy faith
in their own prOwess and trust in each other
which makes them act together as one man and
gives them unity and an esprit an corps only to
be seen in the best disciplined armies. And they
know just what they want.


Now look at their adversaries. In the first
place they have no nag. They do not know what
government they are lighting Tor. Before the last
battle II whispered abOut that C0ncha had de-
cided 70, declare tor Don Alfonso in lie
should prove victorious. Is IL any wonder that
republican soldiers should not fight well under
such circumstances But as 1t was by no means
sure that Don Alfonso would come to the throne
nor certain that the Republic might not, alter ALL
be established, could 1t he expected that the
Alionsists should sacrifice everything TO obtain
victory which might turn to the benefit OF
the republicans Inc result Is that neither
fought WELL. Instead Of the bold, united front
presented by the Carlists, tney are split up into
factions which are more engaged in watching
each other than the common enemy. Every pub
lc man in Madrid has his party, his faction. his
adherenJs, his followers, who are too necessarily
engaged IN thwarting the designs OF each other,
and who hate each other too thoroughly to unite
and oppose serious resistance to the tide that is
pouring down upon them from the Basque noun
Jains.


NOT PARTICULAR ABOUT A STANDARD.


The result OF all THIS Is that the army has no
nag. Is does not know what it Is fighting for
White may be black tomorrow and black again
white the day following. Wny FIGHT for white, H.
Is the provisional that is killing Spain as it is the
provisional that Is killing France. The worst gov
eminent that Spain ever had would be better than
the n.if good hall bad provisional government OF
Marshal Serrano, just rs the Empire in its rotten
est days was infinitely superior TO the government
OF Marshal MacMahon.


Marshal Serrano Is waiting until he puts down