The Washington times., 1915-07-02
YANKEE AIR SCOUT
BRAVES VILLA GUNS
w. l. Bonney Tells Of Thrilling
Work Daily as Carranza's
Chief Aviator.

Those who think that the various Mexi-
can armies are mere rabble. unframed
soldiers and poor warksmen will receive
painful awakening IL Uncle Sam again
strikes across the border in warlike at
ttude. was the opinion expressed yes
terday by w. Leonard Bonney, a New
Yorker. who had been leading birdman
TOR the Carranza forces for several
months Bonney is paying a short visit
to New York between campaigns. While
In Mexico Bonney pays short visits to
the Villaista forces, leaving his card be-
hind In the shape of bombs.
Bonney was present at the operations
around Tampico when the villa ,orces
tried to wrest that important port from
General Pablo Gonzales. Carranzas
right-hand commander. The aviator
tells of the prolonged fighting, which,
In strange comparison to usual accounts
OF Mexican battles. sounds like a bit OF
European campaigning.
when Villas southern forces marched
toward Tampico early in March General
Gonzales division was ready for them,
said Bomey. "Our division numbered
about 6,Oo0 men, rather small in terms
of an American army division, but p
considerable force in Mexico. The VII
laistas had similar strength, although
only an approximation Of the numbers
was possible.
Intrenched Against Enemy.
For weeks General Gonzales had pre-
pared for their coming. An elaborate
system of trenches had been construct
ed near the outskirts of the city. Most
Of them had been made bombproof with
large sheets Of boiler iron half an inch
thick.
When reports were received that the
Vnlistas were moving to invest Tam
pico General Gonzales hurried his forces
out the single line Of railroad and be-
gan intrenching at Ebano. thirty-nino
miler from, Tampico. 1t was there the
Right here 1 want to correct the i'm
preston most Americans have about
the shooting qualities of the Mexican
soldiers. They hit what they shoot at.
The trench hshtins developed sharp
shooting, Of course, but the men took to
II with a vim hardly conceivable for the
often described engagements OF Mexi-
can troops.
Make Good ArtilIerymen.
They make good artillerymen. too.
Both sides at Ebano had modern field
pieces; In fact. the famous seventy-five
contimeter guns OF French manufac-
tCre. We had about four batteries of
five guns each. and the other side had
two batteries. I will say one thing for
the villa artillerymen-they certainly
could conceal their guns we'll"
Later. after considerable persuasion.
Bonney told how he silenced the two
batteries OF the investing troops. He
made his headquarters at Tampico,
where there were facilities for repairs
Almost every day he climbed in one OF
the two Moran-Saulnier monoplanes,
owned by the constitutionalists. and
sped away toward the firing line. Forty
miles across country. then a nerve-rak-
ing few minutes as he hovered over the
enemy's lines. headquarters or gun posi-
tions. fired at by hundreds Of troops as
he dropped explosives, and a forty mile
return flight. This was Bonney's days
work.
He generally carried six bombs fas-
tened below the fusilage Of his machine.
Each was cast-iron shell eight inches
In diameter. filled with 90 per cent dyna-
mite mite and weighing thirty-four pounds:
When the shells exploded the shattered
iron would form countless bullets. scat
tering among the frightened soldiers OF
the enemy.
The first time few over the battle
lines ! carried no bombs, but had with
me a large quantity Of circulars, hastily
printed in Tampico, telling OF an Inn
portant constitutionalist victory near
Mexico City. and warning the enemy to
get on tho right side of the fence.
saw the troop in the rear Of the
trenches run after the circulars as they
hoated down.
That afternoon about $50 men de-
serted and Joined our forces. They
In a company. under a white flag.
was surprised they were not shot by
those staying with the villa coiors.
The next time flew to Ebano I
explosion caused great CONSERVATION.
Then they began to shoot at me Ev-
cry now and then a bullet would push
Its way up through the wings Of my
bother me- remained about 1900 feet
In the air. however.
'"One day. when the enemy's 7bs had
been particularly Troublesome. was
ordered to search them out and silence
finding them. Those men had con-
cealed their guns under quantities Of
underbrush. B.! saw the men around and
inquired si,o out what had been done. I let
right in among the guns. After the
smoke cleared away I did not see any
one moving about. The guns did not
trouble us any more that day. oS for
many days"
Makes Accurate Map.
Benney at another time was instructed
by General Gonzales to map the enemy's
position. The diagram he turned in,
II Is learned from others who arrived in
New York with the young aviator, was
so accurate the Carranza gunners were
able to shell the positions of the other
side with telling effect. The yillaistas
soon gave up the siege and hurried their
forces inland.
The constitutionalist flying forces are
small but are destined to be much
larger. Major Alberto Salinas, nephew
of General Carranza, Is at the head of
the aviation corps. Although only
twenty-three years old, he is an i'm
portant man in the constitutionalist
army. The constitutionalists have an
other flyer besides Bonney at present,
He is Major George Pufiea, a German,
who learned to fly at Hampstead. There
are five flying student aviators, sons of
important Mexicans, in the corps.
Major Salinas is now in New York
arranging for the shipment Of ten new
military aeroplanes to the constitution
altsts. He also Is seeking the services
Of several expect American aviators.
General Carranza also contemplates in
stalling an aeroplane factory in con-
nection with his munition bases.
Hail Storm Cuts Wash
To Pieces in Goshen