The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-07-16
NOTHING FOR VILLA 70
DO. BUT KILL CAPTIVES

nigh, the fusillado ceased as suddenly
as IL had begun.
shoot Jackrabbits came in out Of
breath and reported having seen IA
Colorados Rlinking Off behind the east
erly ridge. This same band fred at
Villas trains the following evening and
tore up small piece OF track before
they were captured and executed, with
IN Few hundred yards Of our car, by
men OF General Robes.
It may seem absurd that villa had
not put out thanking forces to protect
his trains: but the flank movement.
like other simple military tactics, II
almost unknown In exico. Therein IL
the most salient reason why In battles
between large and cumbersome armies
the Mexicans would be easy prey for
the American regulars. Warfare In
Mexico, aside from the guerrilla variety
consists in finding out where the enemy
- and then marching straight UP to
him. Villa was the man to defy the
tradition that only the daytime Is
suitable for lighting. and he has also
ruthlessly upset presidents in "fol-
lowing up his victories instead OF
sitting down and celebrating until the
enemy In ready to come back to take
him unawares; but even villa has only
the crudest knowledge OF accepted
military strategy.
"vIlIa, The Man"
Villa has plenty OF faults, but they
are the faults OF the man OF action. To
those whom he calls friends he shows
traits OF justice, gentleness, and Quizxi-
cal humor, wholly lovable, and belong
Ing TO the part In his repertoire called
Pancho villa, the Man." rather than
TO his more celebrated role, francisco
villa, Conqueror and Man of Destiny"
One torrid afternoon two or three OF
us were seated in Villas private car,
which had stopped at a small lake to
afford men and women chance to
battle. villa came In, dust-covered and
hot from his ride to Pare6on and back
and began stripping for swim His
disrobing was interrupted by o leu
tenant who pushed ahead Of him two
soldiers that had been caught wasting
ammunition on pigeons, an offense
punishable by execution. The culprits
we'll set-up, but stupid, owl-faced fell
lows were visibly trembling In their
boots. @ @
The lieutenant finished his charge,
villa looked sternly at the offenders.
his lips half opened to pronounce sem
tence; then his eyes wandered TO the
milky waters OF the laguna. irrtdescent
In the oblique rays OF the sun.
His mouth lost its cruelty and
screwed into the slanting. good-na-
days; his small. bulging eyes twinkled.
"Oh. pobrecitos (poor little fellow,
pobrecitos! Take them out and give
them a couple Of sword slaps."
He looked at us; the fire in his eyes
went out. he became confidential and
reminiscent
They call Sme many unflattering
names-thief. assassin. and bandit. es-
pecially bandit--but yesterday when I
was a poor 'sandalfoot' In chihuahua.
no one bothered to call me anything;
and tomorrow. when I'm in Mexico City,
they will say: Villa, the hero; Villa,
the liberator.' Pahl their tongues are
as soft as their brains. guess Tn not
quite so bad as I'm painted. Anyway,
e Largo" said he, turning to me and
giving me the nickname that struck
thereafter anyway you needn't fear
me. Your legs are so long could new
er catch you" And, roaring at his own
joke. he wound bath towel around his
middle and slouched out OF the car to
the lake