Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-12-06
VILLA GETS 4 FOOTHOLD
In City Of Cbifluahua-Itefuge
Reach American Soil.


foreign refugee to leave Chihuahua
City since the siege began arrived
here to-day. He reported that villa
and Julio Acosta were In control Of
part Of the city when he made his
escape by automobile at 2 O'Clock this
morning. Owing to the fact that he
had been in hiding he explained that
he had no means Of knowing first
hand just what had happened or even
the whereabouts of Gen. TrcviEc.
Carranza forces were holding hard
to their part OF the city, according to
the refugee. who added that he un-
dcrstood that foreigners were safe.
Want Pcrslling to Remain.
Juarez, Mexico, Nov. 29.--MeXican
merchants who reached here Mon
day night from San Buens Ventura
and Namiquipa reported to-day that
petitions were being circulated in the
towns and settlements in the vicinity
OF the American expcditionary forces
headquarters and outposts asking the
United States government not TO
withdraw the American troops now.
They claim villa has made Il threat
Guerrero. San I'uena Ventura. Casas
Grandcs, Colonia Dublan. Colonia
JuareZ and the other towns in West
crn Chihuahua, saying he would kill
49, tf>I Il l,tt,,
their homes because they had aided
the Americans.
\ report is in circulation here that
Il bridge had been burned between
Santa Sofia and GuZman. on the Mex
leo Northwestern Railroad. If this is
true Gen. PcrShing will he prevented
from receiving supplies for his col
umn by railroad.
"VilIa in Charge"
Juarcz, Nov. 30.--The remnants Of
Carranza army that fled from Chi
huahua after battle with Villa
troops are in camp tonight on the
plains south of Juarez. They brought
with them the story Of the evacua-
ton of the city alter four days aud
nights Of fightinS. The dead were
piled high in the streets when they
left and had been covered with oil
and burned, they said.
Soon after l a. m. to-day the first
troop train brought the ragged sur
vivors of the de facto force which had
escaped to the north. Accompanying
this train was sanitary section car
rying more than 100 wounded SOL
d!ers Of ,he Cararnza command. The
hospitals here are filed with wound
ed. The troop trains that brought
Chihuahua City at 1890 Monday
morning. The troops brought back
many OF their field pieces. These are
parked in the customs house Yards.
Women camp followers shared in the
retreat.
Dead Cover Streets.
Refugees said that between the
cemetery and Santa Rosa Hill the
dead covered the streets Along
XarcO avenue the fighting had been
ncrccst and many civilians had been
killed there and in other parts OF
the city by shell fire and rifle balls.
Many houses were damaged.
All OF the refugees agreed that
CarranZa troops were winning dur
ing the first four days Of the fighting.
bui either because OF shortage OF
ammunition or lack OF morale they
abandoned the city early on the fifth
morning OF the battle, seeking safety
in flight in all directions. The taking
Of Santa Rosa Hin, which always has
been known as the key to Chihua-
hua." was said by one foreign refu-
gee to have started the retirement of
the CarranZa forces. which. he said.
rcsemblcd a rout before the last train
left
Responsible for City'S Fall.
One civilian refugee claimed that
Cen. Gonzales Cullar was responsible
for the taking Of Santa Rosa Hill,
w GRE he was in command, as he al
lowed the infantry line to be weak
cnod. When the artillery was turned
on the city. the refugee added. the
moral effect was almost immediately
noticeable and the CarranZa soldiers
who had been anxious for battle Sat
urday night dropped their rifles and
fed.
One Mexican civilian refugee de-
clarcd to-day he had seen villa in the