The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1915-11-03
VILLA SAYS HE
CAN WHIP UNCLE SAM
DiSguested With Permission Allowed
Cnrranzn to use American Soil.

Douglas, Ariz., Oct. 31.-Villa
troops invading Sonora arrived today
within striking distance of Aqua
.Prieta, opposite here. and the ex-
pected attack against the Carranza
garrison apparently is a matter Of
hours. Advance cavalry Of the in.
vaders halted late today three and
half miles east Of Aqua Prieto.
Gen. villa, who arrived at the in
ternational border several piles far
ther east few hours earlier, talked
with Americans across the boundary
and announced that he intended to at
tack the Mexican town regardless of
any action United States troops
might take.
If necessary fight the United
States army assembled along the bor-
der" he said.
Gen. Villa earned for the first
time this afternoon that permission
had been given Gen. Carranza by the
United States government to move
troops through American territory
to reinofrce the Aqua Peta garrison.
Villa Is personally supervising the
placing Of his troops for attack on
the town.
Four Carranza troop trains jour
ncying through the United States ar
rived tonight bringing the fighting
strength of the Carranza garrison to
approximately 5000
Villa, according to reliable csti-
mates, has 10000 soldiers. lie claims
to have $4,000. 1t was expected here
that Villa would open the engage
ment as quickly as possible because of
the condition Of the men, thousands
Of whom were thirsty tonight and in
positions far from water and With
scant supplies Of food. This was learn
cd from Villa himself and from three
Mexican ranchmcn who arrived here
tonight stripped Of all they possessed.
1t is believed Villa contcmpates NOV
ing his main body into position some
time during the night following one
of his favorite plans"
The main body OF Villa soldiers
formed juncture with their advance
troops at the Gallardo ranch, IS miles
southeast Of Aqua Pcta. The at
tacking army then started forward
for the final advance on the Carranza
defenscs.
Col. FlOrencio DaZ., commanding
approximately 800 cavalry, preceded
the invaders at the Gallardo ranch
and halted his forces just beyond the
range Of the guns Of Gen. p. Elias
Gales, Carranza commander at Aqua
Peta.
Brig. Gen. Thomas f. Davis, COM
manding United States troops en-
trcnchcd near the Mexican line. made
a careful inspection of his men. lie
also kept a close watch Of the Mcxi
can military movements, plainly to
be seen from the American side of
the border.
Thousands Of spectators witnessed
during the afternoon the first firing
incident to the expected attack. A
horseman, believed to have been a
Carranza spy, suddenly broke away
from the Villa column and raced for
his life from a shower OF bullets for
the beleaguered Mexica town.
Several Of the Villa soldiers went
in pursuit. firing as they rode, but
the man reach Aqua Prieta. appar-
emily uninjured.
Three thousand Villa troops.
mounted and afoot, and driving pack
animals, apparently loaded with ma
chine guns or unmountcd cannon,
we're at point four miles east OF
Douglas and about the same distance
south Of the international boundary.
Camp fires were visible tonight both
from Douglas and from The east
trenches OF the Gales stronghold,
which were filled with riiilcmcn, ma
chine gun operators and gunners man
ming field pieces.
villa With Cavalry.
Villa himself was with the cavalry
which arrived along the border to-
day to take position just out of range
OF the garrison. II was during this
march that he learned CarranZa re-
inforcemcnts had been Transported
over American territory
aqua Pieta will be mine" he as
serted. Americans or no Americans.
Pointing his finger towards the
town he added: