The Detroit times., 1914-05-09
Story of Remarkable Career of Villa Bandit and General

| Again the churchman would have
refused, but young "Pancho's" re-
volver made him obey. Selling the
priests leather bound book and tear
ing the fiyieaf from ii, villa coolly
wrote the words that spelled death
for his sisters abductor At the
point OF his pistol he made the priest
sign the paper.
Villas Daring Life As a Bandit
A moment later shot rang out
| The offending magistrate, a new hus-
band fell dead.
| Villa ordered the priest TO take his
sister home He galloped of into the
darkness. His career as bandit be-
gan.
For IA years after that nights hor.
! ror Villa was hunted man. He
roamed the mountains and desert,
/ pursued by Diaz's relentless rurales.
| He had many narrow escapes. He
fought them back fiercely and was
often wounded, but he always got
away.
! Even then he was a hero among
the poems. They gave him shelter
and food when they could
| When II was too dangerous To live
under a roof, he made his home in
the mountain caves. When he dared
not appear where food was plentiful,
he stole IL. When he needed money.
he held up people who had it. When
he needed meat, he ran OFF steer.
And so the years passed until the
Nadero rebellion began villa want
ed 10 be rebel, and he did take
some part in the first revolution.
Once he was captured and was in Jail
for q time while Madero was presi-
dent. Somehow he escaped
But his fame as leader and gen
eral has all come within the past
year lie was In FL Paso when
Huerta became dictator, and he de.
termined to take the field az guer-
rilla chieftain against the usurping
president
With six companions he crossed
into Mexico In a week he had 100
men under him TN a month ne had
800. Then the dispatches in Ameri-
can papers began to tell about him
about his raid In northern Mexico
and his defeat OF detachments OF
federal troops.
Presently. rallying about him a
great number OF rebels in addition TO
his troop OF raiders he began series
OF open and concerted attacks. he
was uniformly successful. Since his
interjection OF himself in Mexican
affairs. he has come 10 be known as
a great general-not a trained fighter.
Il seems, bur a natural one, and one
who gains the loyalty OF his men
His first conspicuous success was
q
spicuous because Juarez is across the
river from ri Paso. Texas
Quickly arranging the orderly adj.
mlnistration OF Juarez as rebel city
he gathered his soldiers together and
fell like a thunderbolt on superior
force OF federals vino were leisurely
coming up to Juarez 60 hang him and
utterly routed them at la Mesa.
Before they could rally he marched
straight for Chihuahua. in their rear
and took this most important city
and state capital OF northern Mexico
lie was quick as cat. and his
rapid movements dismayed the slow
going federals They retrpated
across a desert 20 the city OF DIN.
aga. ON the Rio Grande VILLA sent
! subordinate to beat them The sub.
ordinate fought the fcderals for
week. but failed VILLA hurried 10 the
spot and defeated them In an after
noon and an evening utterly dispers-
/ ing an army Of 5000, commanded by
FIVE OF HHertas leading generals.
After Ojinaga came Torreon. and
now
VIII villa tackle the Americans
next