The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-03-10
Rebel Army Attacks
Columbus, N. M.
DOZEN AMERIC DEAD
ldesICans Forced TO Retreat
After TwO-HOuT Battle.

Columbus, N NJ, March 1O-A
band Of Mexican bandits, numbering
from 500 to 1,000 supposedly under
the personal command Of Francisco
Villa, raided United States territory
They attacked Columbus, killed Amer
lean civilians who exposed them
selves, and set fire to several build
ings For nearly two hours fighting
continued in the streets. Colonel II.
j. Slocum speedily brought the Thir-
teenth cavalry into action and drove
the raiders across the border
Nine civilians and six United States
troopers are known to be dead.
Personal papers Of Francisco villa
were contained in portmanteau
found by a United States trooper just
west of the American camp
Information that Fancisco Villa and
his chief lieutenant, Pablo Lopez, were
in personal command of the raid, was
given Colonel Slocum by a Mexican
rancher captured by the bandits last
Sunday and who escaped during the
fighting. Lopez was killed in the at
tack.
Swears to XIII Every American.
The Mexican told Colonel Slocum
that Villa left the Bosques Grandes
ranch Tuesday, made a leisurely jour
ney north and Wednesday left a
point on the Boca Grande and start.
ed for the border
Travelling north they crossed the
boundary west OF Columbus" said the
Mexican, and entered town by a
ditch running past the cavalry camp
Villa was in personal charge and de.
clared he was going to kill every
American because the American gov
ernment did not treat him right. Villa
said Carranza could not make peace
in Mexico With Villa were Pablo
Lopez, Martin Lopez, Colonel Candida
rio Seyantes, Colonel Cruz Chevez,
General Jose Gernandez and General
3eltran."
The Mexican, who begged that his
name be not used, confirmed a report
previously given out by Carranza of
fcials that before leaving the Santa
Ana district in Western Chihuahua
Villa had freely stated that he intend
ed to force Intervention by the United
States by raiding American territory
and killing everybody in sight
Entered Town Through Ditch.
Villa came over the line three miles
south of Columbus. Deploying his
men in open order he sent them up a
steep ditch running up from the bor-
der and paralleling the road skirting
the United States army camp, the
customs house and the railroad sta
ton The fight began here
Lieutenant Casteman, officer of the
day, turned out all the men remaining
in the camp. Shrieking battle yells,
the Mexicans in Overwhelming num-
bers rushed sayagely into the town
north of the railroad tracks and shot
down everybody in sight
Villa is said to have been seen by
several Americans, urging on his men.
He cut the telegraph wires east to Ell
Paso to prevent any call for American
troops stationed there. The telephones
also went out Of commission.
While part of his forces fought the
hastily rallied American troops villa
is said to have sent out snipers and
house burners. Houses throughout
the town were riddled with bullets.
Troop G, Thirteenth cavalry, sta
toned at the border gate south of
here caught the retreating Mexicans
on the flank and killed eighteen.
Corporal Harry WiseweIl of the same
troop was killed, shot through the
right eye.