The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1915-08-19
GREAT BAT TIE
MEN AR { KILLED
While Mexicans and Their
Wives Fall Dead Beside
Him, He Describes Scene
Until Wounded.

bolical expression. No one seems to
notice her. She runs, screaming the
news: H.
''There they come, the Bribones Car
ranzistas! Viva Villa! You are all my
lovers If you fight bravelyv'
1 have never heard so much noise in
all my life. It seems as though I had
taken peep into hell. -
The fat man is swearing again. He
was hit in the shoulder. He claims
that he killed over ten Carranzistas,
and because of the bullet in his shout
der has promised to annihilate the en-
emy's army-if it attacks again.
am not trembling so much now
because can see that l am compare
lively safe so long as I keep low in
the ditch. No one in our immediate
vicinity was hurt except the fat man.
Terrific firing is going on all over
the prairie. Fifty Of Villas cannon
are trying to dislodge as many of the
enemy's cannon on the hills.
Villa Now Looks Worried.
Thousands of shots are popping to
our right, to our left and on front I
have decided not to peep over the
trench
'"There they come againw Manuel
says.
The fat man, despite his wounded
shoulder, has jumped up and is omi-
nously clicking his rifle. I am sure
that our men will repulse the enemy
again, so 1 am not afraid. I have be-
gun to enjoy it.
The popping has commenced again
all around the trench like so many
tirecrackers. None Of the men seems
to be taking careful aim. They just
fire, click the chamber and fire again.
When the five bullets have gone they
snatch clip from their belts and re-
fill the gun. The fat man is firing
faster than anybody else, granting and
-cursing in the meantime
General Villa dashed up madly a few
moments ago, accompanied by some
officers. For the first time since l have
known him he looks worried and great
~ excited. His teeth are gritted and
his white silk shirt is despatched with
blood.
~ Eight like you have never fought
before, muchach1tos," he roars. ""The
enemy are going to try and break us
at this place. I have sent for re-en-
forcements, but the enemy are hurting
the bulk Of their army here For the
glory of your country, fight! We can
hold them until the re-enforcements
arrive"
He turned to me, but there was no
smile on his face. II am sorry I got
you into this, but since you are here,
lie low in the trench. There is no
chance for you to go to the rear now.
God help your
urging his men further down the
trench. The blood seems to be clogged
in my veins.
Woman Dies Near Him.
I reached for the botija Of water,
but dropped it. Manuers wife-Lord,
but she's brave-holds it for me while
I drink. Everybody is becoming ex-
cited. Manuels hand is trembling
when he reaches for cartridges. The
fat man has stopped cursing:
A fragment Of stone hit Manueps
wife on the cheek. She is bleeding.
Lord, but she's brave! The enemy's
cannon have been turned upon us.
The fat man was killed. He was
shot in the throat and falls besides me,
the blood oozing like red foam from
the hole.
. Manuel has shouted Historically that
an enemy's column Of infantry Is ap-
preaching. He has told his wife to
leave him and run to the rear. A shell
bursts over our heads to the right with
a horrible explosion and the balls of
shrapnel whistle on their mission Of
death. No one seems to be calm.
Everybody Is yelling. Sounds Of men
shouting and women weeping mingle
with groans and curses. Manuel says,
God has gone against u.s."
Some one IS crying for water. Man
ueFs wife is weeping. Manuel's wife
dies. The enemy are within seventy
yards Of us. Manuel has dropped his
rifle and has burst out crying. he
holds his wife's head. Her face is full
Of blood.
=
(Next day. I am lying on a blood
covered cot II box car, five miles
away from the trench. Taylor, an
American machine gun operator,
brought me here. I remember having
heard some one yell: Retreat! Re-
treat!''
The next thing I remember was that
some one dashed Manuels brains out
with butt Of gun. I had tucked
my notebook under my belt. don't
remember what became Of my hat, my
blankets or camera. was running
with the rest. but suddenly felt very
weak.
All the muscles in my right leg seem
ed to refuse to work. knew I wasn't
shot, because I felt no pain. I fell