The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-03-31
VILLA S BAya!!!!IS
EXCHANGE Shots.
WITH TROOPERS.
Mexican Chief Reported Wounded
in the Leg
VILLA HAD NARROW ESCAPE
Attacked by One of Five Men Being
Tortured for Assisting
Americans.

San Antonio, Tex, March 81
American troops and Villas forces
have exchanged shots. According To
reports received today by Gen. Funs-
ton, Villa and picked band OF bandits
are making their way from Guerrero
along the road to Chihuahua city.
In the clash between the Americans
and the Villistas, the chief is reported
to have been wounded in the leg.
FL Paso, Tex, March 31.-lt has
been learned at field headquarters OF
the American expeditionary forces, IN
Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, that fran
cisco Villa nearly lost his life few
days ago on the CorralitOs ranch, a
short distance from that place, where
he tortured and put to death five MeXi
cans. One of his victims leaped upon
him and was strangling Villa when OF
ficers beat his assailant senseless with
the butts of their guns.
Mucio Polanco was the name OF the
Mexican who almost succeeded in end
ing Villas career. The murder OF five
members of the Polanco family was
said to have been intended to be
warning against other Mexicans
against having dealings with Ameri-
cans. Investigation showed that the
Polanco family was involved with no
political faction in Mexico, but that
they had a record of uniform honesty
and reliability in dealing with the
American managers Of the Corralitos
ranch. where they were born and
reared.
When Villa, retreating from Column
bus, arrived at the ranch. he mad
list of all the Polancos, six men, the
mother and two daughters. He seized
the men and hunted for the daughters,
but the young women had been hid
den so we'll that he never found them
To FIVE of the men, Gregorio and his
two sons, and Mucio and his one son,
Villa said: II am going to kill you
because you are too Amerlcanlzed.
You are gringo lovers"
But instead of killing them outright
Villa had them partly stripped and
then beaten with the fats of heavy
swords. Mucio Polanco broke away
from his captors and got one hand
locked about Villas throat before he
was beaten off. Next Villa ordered
the five stood up beneath a huge
archway where he told them he would
hang them. Ropes were placed about
their necks and they were jerked into
the air, but were not permitted to die.
Just when loss of consciousness ap-
preached they would be lowered to
earth with demands that they reveal
the hiding places of horses said to be
concealed about the ranch. There
were no horses, SO far as investigation
has disclosed. The prisoners also were
offered their lives If they would tell
where money was hidden or point out
valuable documents.
After several mock hangings Villa
ordered the five taken into the garden,
where each one was shot five times.
To the residents of the ranch, all
Mexicans, Villa said "You may bury
them or not, as you please" They
were all buried in one grave after Villa
left.
San Antonio, Tex, March 30.-After
killing every one of the one hundred
and seventy-two men in the garrison
at Guerrero, Francisco Villa moved
northward yesterday and now is some
where near the headwaters of the San
ia Maria river, according to unofficial
reports to General Funston tonight.
At the head of a considerable force,
Villa was reported to be on the San
Geronimo ranch or the Quemada ranch
and troops of both the United States
and Mexico were believed to be clos
ing in on him.
This information was regarded by
General Funston and his staff as prob
ably correct. If correct, it appeared
probable that soon Villa either will
have to face his pursuers in fight or
make another break through the tight
ening line OF troops.
Whether his assault on the garrison
at Guerrero was the same engagement
reported by General Pershing, was not
known, but it was regarded as likely
since the action reported by General
Pershing occurred March 27, some
where in that region. Details of the
engagement were not reported.
General Pershing has been advised
of the report as to Villas location and
it is known that the disposition of his
troops and that of the Mexican gov.
ernment are such that Villa cannot
easily escape without a fight. Ameri
can troops are converging in columns
from the north and it was indicated
that part of them had gone so far
south that they would be able to join
with the Carranza forces in preventing
his escape In that direction.
hon ho he
troops in the field had crossed into
Mexico from FL Paso, for shipment
over the Northwestern railway, NO
news concerning that development OF
the situation was given out tonight.