Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-11-03
Army That Attacked Aqua
Prieta Said to Be Near
Exhaustion.
LEAVES HIS REAR GUARDS
TO HARASS THE GARRISON
United States Soldier Dies of
Wound From Mexican Bullet.
American Troops Reinforced.

Villa, forced by hunger. thirst and a
scanty supply Of ammunition to aban-
don his plan for an immediate assault
on the strongly entrenched village of
Aqua Prieta, began Withdrawing his
army today and shortly after o'clock
most of his force was moving toward
Anavacachi Pass, twelve miles south
west.
1t Is his apparent intention>to reach
water. which Is plentiful farther south
west. and provisions for his hungry
men.
Gen. Mendez. with about 1900 men,
has been holding the pass for several
days and will remain there guarding
the entrance to the valley for the re-
turn of Villa. Meantime it is said
heavy supplies Of ammunition will
reach Villa from the east
Villas retirement was saluted by an
occa s1onal shell from the big guns of
Aqua Prieta. but by $3.50 this fire had
ceased.
A reconnoitering party which ran
into Villa machine gun troop south
east Of the Mexican town early today
was said to have been cut to pieces.
Only Rear Guards Remain.
Dawn today revealed that the main
Villa forces, which for two days have
been attempting to dislodge Gen. Cal
les, had drawn to the southwest, leav-
ing only rear guards with few quick
firers and three-inch guns to worry
the garrison.
-Four Villa soldiers, part of a skirmish
line that lay all day yesterday in the
brush within three-quarters of a mile
OF the wire entanglements guarding
Aqua Prieta. started for Carranza lines
at dawn waving white flags. One of
them n
the boundary line and was promptly
arrested by American soldiers and TAX
en- to headquarters. The three others
crawled into the Carranza trenches.
was made evident Villa machine guns
opened a vigorous fire on them and
hundreds of Carranza soldiers standing
on the trenches. There was a hurried
n ~ King for ~ cover: The firing ceased
guns then took up firing and sent two
or three dozen shrapnel shells toward
the southwest, where heavy bodies of
villa soldiers still are encamped.
Army Suffers From Hunger.
The villa army's desperate need of
provisions was described by deserter
taken prisoner by Americans. For fif-
teen days this is all that many of us
have had to eat he said He dug into
che pocket of his khaki coat and pulled
out handful of raw corn and wheat.
Two or three villa officers who came
to the slaughter house on the interna-
tional line. a short distance east of
Douglas, yesterday to fill their canteens
with water were gnawing at pieces Of
black dried beef.
A large supply of -four and corn is
available for the Villa forces at Naco,
Sonora. Some of this supply Of pro-
visions reached him last night. but not
enough for all of his men now sur
rounding Aqua Prieta.
Villas forces suffered severely in the
march across the desert of northern
Mexico. and were said to have been al
most exhausted after their two-day as
sault of the fortified border town:
Gallardo Pass. heading for Aqua
Prieta.
A brief attack was made early last
night on Gales outer works, but firing
soon ceased
The damage caused by Villas artil-
lery so far has been insignificant, &C.
cording to observers on the American
side, who say 1t Is confined to two half
shattered windows and few demolish-
ed adobe houses and several breaks in
the wire entanglements surrounding
the Carranza garrison.
q. S. Soldier Dies of Wound.
The death from wound late yesterday
Of Harry Jones. private Company c,
18th Infantry, is the first fatality in
the most recent border hostilities in
this section. Louis F. Taylor. who was
wounded in the firing Monday, Is re-
ported to be in critical condition.
Orders issued yesterday by Gen. Fun
ston to keep spectators back nearly
half mile from the international line
were modified this morning. American
refugees ordered from the zone within
mile o. the boundary yesterday
crowded the homes north of 5th street
in this city today. Nobody was allowed
TO occupy his home within the zone
on account of the danger from Mexican
fire.
Three troops of the 18th Cavalry left
Columbus, n Mex, for Douglas to-
day Infantry battalions were shifted
to strengthen the United states Army
Four troops of cavalry ordered from
Naco. Ariz., have arrived.