Omaha daily bee., 1916-09-18
NEAR TWO HUNDRED
VILLA MEN KILLED
Battle at Chihuahua Surprise
Attack and Is Nearly
Successful.
SOME PRISONERS FREED

Ell Paso, Tex, Sept. l7.-From an
official dispatch received by General
Gonzales in Juraez today, l53 Villa
followers were killed in the attack
yesterday on Chihuahua and 81 cap
tured, who were Immediately exc
cuted as bandits.
Army motor truck drivers arriving
at the, border today say that an
American cavalry squadron operat-
ing fifteen miles south of Namiquipa,
surrounded and captured band OF
sixteen bandits last Monday alter
noon. One of the prisoners, accord
ing to the report, revealed the hiding
place of quantity of arms and am
munition. Prisoners and munitions
are said to have been brought to
Colona Dublan in motor trucks.
This report follows one current
here a few days ago to the effect,
that General Pershing on information
that small party of armed Mexicans
was operating below Namiquipa, had
despatched battalion of the Twenty
fourth infantry by motor trucks to
reinforce the American garrison at
that point.
Although the military authorities
here say they have heard nothing of
the capture, the truckmen assert that
the prisoners are now in the stockade
at Dublan.
Report OF Battle.
Chihuahua City, Mex, Sept. H.
delayed by cut wires.)-Villa's own
troops executed surprise attack on
chihuahua in the dark of this morn
ing, which although successfully in
itiated, ended in a complete victory
for the de facto government forces
under General Jacinto Trevino, who
received a flesh wound in the left
forearm, under the fire.
At $50 o'clock during heavy rain,
and while the people were hard asleep
after the festivities of two nights in
honor of the Mexican independence
day, the Villa forces entered the town
in two columns. One made straight
for the penitentiary, where Jose Ynez
Salazar, the amnestied rebel on trial
for plotting against the government,
and political prisoners were released.
Guard Driven Out.
The other rushed for the govern
ment buildings and the federal pal
ace, driving out the small Carranza
guard. '.. ,
General Trevino rushed his troops
to vantage points and covered the
government buildings with rifles and
machine guns. He then, took per-
sonal command Of the artillery at
Santa Rosa, and by a; few will-directed
shots made the buildings untenable.
The bandits, caught under the double
fire, fed out of the city to the north
west, leaving more than a hundred
dead. behind.
The fleeing Villa followers at
Nombre De Dios ran into the forces
of General Matias Ramos, which Gen.
eral Trevino had placed there to cut
off the retreat. Ramos continued the
pursuit, with heavy loss to the BAN
dts. 1..
Villa Kept Out. s
Although in command of the at
tack, Villa did not enter the city with,
his TROOPS.
The streets around the government
buildings are strewn with dead men
and horses, while wounded bandits
continue to be brought in.
A large number Of former adher-
ents of Villa and Orozco are among
the dead, Marcelo Caraveo, once a
general under Orozco, was taken
prisoner which proves the completely
of other factions with Villa.
Trevino's Wound.
General , Trevino received his
wound, which is not serious, while di-
recting the fire of the field guns. He
remained with his men, however,
throughout the fight 1t is reported
that not a single government soldier
deserted his post during the fight
The battle lasted six hours, ending
at 9;30 o'clock in the morning.