The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-04-06
General Dodd'S Troops Reported
to Have Been In Battle With
Villa Gang "SomeWhere
In Mexico.
NEW RUMoRS OF REV0LTS
Colonel Cano Is Believed to
Have Joined Villistas-U. s.
Troops Close on Trail
of Outlaws.

va Sub4Ck W.
Washington, d. c., April "a
fight between one of the smaller
groups of Villa and Carranza
forces, the latter under Colonel
Cano on March 20, was reported
to the war department this AFTER
noon by General Funston. Eman-
uel Boco, the Villa leader was
killed.
Camp Of General Pershing at the
front, April 2, (by aeroplane to Colonia'
Dublan, and by radio to Columbus, N.
NJ April 4.-American Cavalrymen
encountered a fleeing force OF Villistas
near early today and sounds
Of firing have been heard from that
direction, but no report has been MADE
to headquarters as to the results.
The mountains of Guerrero are be-
ing combed thoroughly for Francisco
Villa by the American forces, but
nothing has been learned as to his
whereabouts other than that captured
bandits said that Villa had been car
ried farther into the mountains In his
Jolting coach.
Will Use Infantry.
General Pershing announced today
that troops Of the infantry are to be
search for Villa, cooperating with the
cavalrymen who have borne the brunt
Of the five-day pursuit of the broken
bands. The infantrymen have been
going through hardening preparations
in hill climbing marches for about two
weeks and their officers say they are
in excellent physical trim.
The troops were closely behind villa
yesterday, entering the village of -
shortly after he had fed from 1t. 1t
was suspected that he might be hid
den in one Of it's huts and every pre-
caution was taken to effect the cap
ture. Two sQuadrons Of the cavalry
entered the village from opposite sides
simultaneously. Every preparation had
been made for the engagement which
failed to develop.
Some Minor Skirmishes.
There have been a number Of minor
lage two scouts reporting today that
they encountered two Villistas on It's
outskirts yesterday and fought for hVe
minutes without casualties.
!. American air scoutS are now flying
over the entire Villa territory and are
carrying dispatches from the front to
the field base and field headquarters
Motor trucks also have been able to
penetrate the mountain waste almost
as far as the territory occupied by the
cavalry under Col. George A. Dodd.
Ell Paso, Tex. April 4.-Reports from
facto government
Nothing was said in the reports OF
Villas alleged injuries, an omission
which helped to confirm the opinion al
ready freely expressed on the border
that the bandits wounds were an In
Vention of his own. reported with the
intention Of deceiving his pursuers.
The absence of any official news
from the front since the defeat of the
Villistas near Guerrero, by Colonel
Dodd last Wednesday. has considerably
dashed the hopes OF those who saw
in the victory the beginning of the end
of the bandits career.
Mexican sources in the interior re-
ceived here today asserted Francisco
Villa was headed toward Chihuahua
City and that his emmisaries were at
tempting to seduce the garrison Of that
town from their allegiance to the de
Hard Task Ahead.
At the same time it is pointed out
that the American cavalrymen have
formidable task before them in search
ing the barren mountain wastes where
Villa is supposed to have taken refuge.
The fact that no further. fighting has
been reported Is taken as an indication
that the bandits have been effectually
scattered by the American troopers.
AS usual, in the lack Of definite in
formation, the border is again hive
of rumors Of an alarming and sensa-
tional character. The majority of the
rumors are based on stories brought
from the interior by MeXicans and the
few Americans who straggle in here by
ones and twos daily. The most cir
cumstantial of these stories at present
deals with the reported detection Of
TnlAnaI ha dar
at Namiquipa.
No Word From Cano.
Cano is the chief lieutenant Of Gen.
Luis Herrera, who Is supposed to have
declared against General Carranza sew
eral days ago, a report that was Wig
orously denied by the officials Of the
de facto government. The main facts
in support Of Cano's revolt are that he
has not been heard from for more than
a week and that he Is known to have
expressed strong anti American senti-
ments on several occasions. Like Her
rera, Cano has been q bitter enemy of
Villa. and it Is not supposed that, If he
has deserted the standard Of the first
chief, he has Joined the fugitive bandit
but that he has simply declared him
self against any cooperation with the
soldiers Of the United States.
A good deal Of significance is at
tached to the fact that, while General
Gavira and Consul Garcia insist that
they are satisfied of Cano's loyalty, they
admit that they have had no communi-
cation from him or his immediate SUI
perior. General Bertani, for some time
Troops Mass Near Border.
Up to week ago, General Gavira
claimed that he was in receipt of daily
kilograms from both Bertani and Cano
There Is a good deal of mystery at
tached to the movement of Mexican
troops at points close to the border. 1t
Is know that large bodies Of CarranZa
soldiers have moved from camps in the
interior to various Races within %
miles Of the international line, but no
explanation has been given Of their
maneuvers, beyond a general intima-
ton that the de facto government is
anticipating possible action by the fol-
lowers of Felix DiaZ, who is now con
sidered the head of the cientif1co party
Most of the stories brought from the
interior are fatty contradictory. es-
pecially those from Mexican sources.
American refugees generally agree in
describing conditions as alarming, but
thaI. inv Tiah raf In ha ~