The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-11-02
VILLA RELUCTANTLY
TAKES ON" UNCLE SAM
Has No Doubt of Whipping
CarranZa, But Admits
Wilson's Big Job.
TO TAKE Aqua PRIETA.
This is His First Step; Meanwhile
He's Plumb Through With Amer
leans Of All Kinds.

Louglas, Ariz., Oct. 31.-Villa
troops invading Sonora arrived with
in striking distance of Aqua Prieta,
opposite here and the expected at
tack against the Carranza garrison
apparently is a matter Of hours. Ad-
vance cavalry of the invaders halt
ed late today three and a half miles
east Of Aqua Prieta.
Gen. Francisco Villa. who arrived
{ at the international border several
miles further east few hours ear
-lier. talked with Americans across
the boundary and announced that he
intended to attack the Mexican town,
regardless OF any action United
States troops might take.
"If necessary 1 will fight the Unit
ed States army assembled along the
border" he said.
General villa learned for the first
time today that permission had been
given by the United States govern
ment for Carranza to move troops
through American territory to rein
force the Aqua. Prieta garrison.
Four Carranza troop trains jour
neying through United States terri
tory arrived tonight bringing the
fighting strength Of the Carranza gar
rison to 5000 men. villa according
to reliable advices. has 10000 sol
diers.
1t was expected here that villa
would open the engagement as quick
ly as possible because of the condi-
tion Of his men, thousands Of whom
were thirsty tonight in positions far
from water and with scant supplies OF
food. 1t Is believed Villa contem-
plates moving his main body into po-
sition sometime during the night
folio wing one of his favorite plans.
The main body Of Villa soldiers
formed a juncture with their advance
troops at the Gallardo ranch, about
1S miles southeast Of Aqua Prieta.
The attacking army then started for
ward for the final advance on the
CarranZa defenses.
Col. Florencio Diaz. with 1,500
cavalry, preceded the invaders and
halted his forces just beyond range
of the guns of Gen. p. Elias Gales.
the Carranza commander at Aqua
Prieta.
Brig. Gen. Thomas F. Davis, COM
manding the United States troops en-
trenched just north OF the Mexican
line, inspected his men and their
positions. He also kept a close watch
Of the Mexican military movements,
plainly to be seen from the American
side Of the border.
Thousands of spectators witnessed
today the first firing incident to the
expected attack. A horseman, be-
iieved to have been q Carranza spy,
suddenly broke away from the villa
column and raced for his life from a
shower OF bullets.
Villa soldiers went in pursuit. fir
Ing as they rode. but the man reach
ed Aqua Prieta, apparently unin-
jured.
Three thousand Villa troops,
mounted and atoot, and driving pack
animals apparently loaded with ma
chine guns or unmounted canno IN.
were tonight at point four miles
cast of Douglas and about the same
distance south the in. Hti al
boundary.
Camp fires were visible both from
Douglas and from the east trenches
OF the Gales stronghold. which we're
filed with rifemen. machine gun
operators and gunners manning field
pieces. u! ga'
VILLA wrTH cAvAtRY.N:.
villa himself was with hls cavalry.
which passed along the Border today
to-tske position just out OF range NJ
the garrison. It was during this
march that he learned that Carranza
reinforcements had been transported
over American territory.
"Agua Prieta will be L L.ine." he as
serted, Americans or no Americans.
We may have to fight the whole
American army IL necessary, but no
matter, 1t will be ours"
"Wlien?" he was asked.
II know" was the reply.
Suddenly villa asked again If 1t
we're true that the United States gov