South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-01
international News service.

International News Service.
Ell PASO. Texas. April THAT
Francisco Villa. his forces routed by
the Americans in the battle AT san
Geronimo and himself wounded, viii
be unable 10 escape capture or death
for many days was the belief eN-
PRESSED by United States officers at
Fort Bliss and Gen. Gaviera, COM
mander at Juarez Friday. Three
days have passed since Wednesday
conflict. which the Americans won
after travelling . miles in hours
along q difficult road. and 1t is eX-
pected that the news coming from
Gen. Pershing will give more
thrilling details Of the battle
The outstanding fact is that Villas
rover has been smashed.
Defeated by a force numerically
smaller. and fleeing before the grin
goes" for whose lighting power he
had often expressed contempt. il is
believed here that most Of his fol-
lowers will desert and that If he at
tempts TO hide in one Of his noun
tain dens. his betrayal is certain.
Col. DOd0 Hero OF hour.
The border is still ringing with
praise of Col George A. DOdd, who
led the American troops i'm their
dash TO San Geronimo. Though
Pershing directed the plan of cam
paign. il is understood that the
movement which resulted in Villas
defeat was made by Dodd upon his
own initiative. he having been out Of
communication with his superior for
two days.
The famous seventh cavalry, Gus
ter's old command responded in
able fashion TO the coloneIs call for
more speed in the dash TO get Villa,
and their craftsmanship in the
battle that ended the dash resulted
in heavy losses to the Villistas.
OF the Americans in the battle
none was killed outright. Four were
wounded and Gen. Bell the com
mander at Fort Bliss, has received
word that one of them was fatally
injured
Border Fears DfspeIied.
Fears. that have prevailed along
the border since the punitive eXpedi-
ton entered Mexico have been pref
~ effectuaIly dispelled by the victory
won 5y the American troops in their
first clash with the Nillistas Nor
bid ciGzens on the border states that
feared that any reverse for the
Americans would be the signal for "a
general Mexican uprising that would
extend even to the Mexican sections
on the frontier towns This danger
has been completely avoided. accord
inc 10 observers here 10y Col. Dodd'sI
brilliant feat
The daily rumor Of a raid 10y Mex
leans into American territory reach
ed here early today. tt was 10 this
effect that a small band Of bandits
had crossed the border 10 miles east
Of FL Paso and robbed an American
ranch house The report was
brought by an employee Of the inter
urban street car line and detach-
ment Of soldiers was Immediately
sent along the border to investigate.
Gen. Reyes Surprised.
Villa has not only been defeated
by the American troops. His forces
in the Torreon district. led boy Gen
Reyes have also been decisively
beaten i'm a battle with Carranza
troops. Reyes was attempting 20 de
stroy the railroad near TOrreon when
he was surprised by a government
force and suffered heavy losses.
HEAVY rains have set i'm along the
border and FAR south in Mexico. IT..
is believed. however. that the Amer
lean troopers are pursuing villa de-
spite the water pouring down the
gulleys and making the paths in
creasingly difficult 10 follow
Somewhere. just a few hours be
fore them. il was reported that villa
and his scattered men We're MAXIM
on effort 10 reassemble. villa him
self vas carried on a stretcher byI
chosen followers.
Defeat Blow at Amigos"
Villas defeat AT san Geronimo
meant something more than the loss
81 30 men and his ablest general. !
F.lseo fernando. II meant a pow
erful blow AZ his amigos In thel
Guerrero country
Villa had promised that he voul !
whip the American expedition AMI |
send e. diving back 10 the border |
Villa really was confident that
American cavalry could never oper-
ate successfully against his own VIII |
horsemen.
Their horses are too biz no
said They are clumsy. they can /
O or live Do the mountains
IL was just this view that accounts