El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-04
]. S. TROOPS BLACKENED, BURNED

rama troops prisoners. Col Dodd, did
not report the number, but said these
prisoners were to have been executed
the next morning. Those OF the Car
rancista prisoners who did not escape
during the battle we're liberated by
the Americans. With a better guide,
Col. Dodd believed he could have boxed
and either captured or annihilated the
entire villa outfit during the Guer-
zero fight
Eliseo Hernandez. Villas chief Lieu
tenant since the loss Of Pablo Lopez,
who was wounded in the Columbus
fight was killed by the Americans az
Guerrero. He was said TO be one OF
Villas most trusted officers.
With what he considered accurate
information that Villa was badly Grip
pied, so that he could neither ride
horseback nor walk. Dodd turned
northeast for pursuit OF the routed
bandits. maintaining also a force at
Guerrero ready to strike in any other
direction II later 1t proved that Villa
might have gone south Of southeast,
in a different direction from his men.
One report had Villa heading for
AIinaca. southeast Of Guerrero.
VIIIistas Fail 20 Fight.
Once during the fight with DOdds
men the Nillistas seemed TO be pre-
paring for q stand outside the town.
UMA LnEI OI0hG NAAHulh a SCI AOAa 40 III
before the rush OF the cavalrymen-
one body OF hard riding Mexicans was
caught on TOP of a ridge by the Amer
leans. who shot down a dozen or them
as they rode sharply defined against
the morning skyline.
In retreafinp- toward the northwest,
the Villistas walked into district
along the northern edges OF which
other columns Of American cavalry
were arriving.
VnIistas Headed for Hills.
Providencia and Santa Ana. from
80 90 90 miles north Of the scene or
the Guerrero fight. mark the upper
borders OF this district. The Nillistas
headed for hills and mountains, rang
ing height from several hundred TO
thinking they would find temporary
refuge. Among some of these nils
the Americans found marks Of carriage
wheels.
Cav Ilry Closes Passes
WAS this Villas carriage or was IL
4 vehicle carrying supplies to the head
Of some trail leading to a mountain
hiding placer
This was the question every officer
asked. This was the news hurried
back to Gen. Pershing, a few hours
after the fight It met him already at
the front for he had passed through
his most advanced base the morning
after the Guerrero fight and had
Robert J.. Howse. Of the 18th cavalry.
This command was ordered Immediate
IS to block one Of the passes through
which Villas men might try TO escape
wild Ride by AUTO.
Word was hurried back 10 Mai.
Frank Tompkins at the advanced base
by automobile. Maj. Tompkins Is
Of the 18th cavalry. the officer who
boundary from Columbus. y. NJ. the
morning Villa raided the American
town. The officer who carried word
back TO Maj. Tompkins asked the auto
mobile mechanic one question: Have
your extra tires%
yes" was the answer Not an
other word did the officer speak, but
he threw the car into high speed. over
rocks. bitches and hills until the escort
riding with him used both hands to
keep from being bounced out OF their
seats. TOmpkins's orders were to close
another Of the passes against Villas
escape. His men, who had been with
out rauons except such as they could
pick up in the countrgy for four days
were favored by the arrival Of an auto
mobile supply train which pulled in
Just before they left on a night ride
These cavalrymen were ordered 10
leave their swords behind and were
told that no matter how much else
they might accomplish. 1t would be Of
little avail until they caught Villa him
self
Troops Depart Nearly NoIseIersly.
The troopers from headquarters camp
made a midnight start for their sta
tion which il was hoped would close
the last door by which Villas men
might escape northward. The men
were awakened from sleep. given cof-
fee. the first some or them had tasted
in several days, and which arrived
opportunity by automobile just before
midnight. and then silently assembled
by troops They worked so quietly
that, so feet away from their camp
fires il was not possible to discern
that an important troop movement was
getting under way.
Melt. Then SILVER.
This morning an airplane came into
headquarters camp, having picked its