Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-05-04
FIRE ON AMERICANS
FROM THREE SIDES
Troopers Go Up Mountain with
Knives in Their Teeth in
Battle of Temochio.
FIFTY BANDITS DEAD OR HURT

FIELD HEADQUARTERS April -
ny Motor Courier to Columbus. n. ~,
May sl-There was man TO man fighting
and some Of the Americans went up the
mountain side with knives In their teeth,
during Colonel George A. Dodds battle
with villistas on April % at Temochic
1T was the devils own play grounds.
This was Colonel Dodd's description OF
the terrian OF this battle In southwestern
Chihuahua among towering mountains
where 80 bandits sought refuge :
For two hours DoddA troops Of the
seventh cavalry, Il, II. and 4, fought
from an immense hollow, with bandits
on three sides, charging deliberately over
marked ground with bullet puffs in the
dust all about their feet. where the Next
cans had their exact range They ac-
counted for at least fifty bandits killed
or wounded against an American loss
Of two dead and three wounded One
Mexican woman was wounded by bandits
Bandits Flee HurriedIy.
Two nights before this fight. the Amer
leans overlook the bandits OF the Yoquivo
mine, where they we're lying about camp
fires. telling the natives stories Of how
the, claimed TO have whipped Los Amer
ieanos," al Columbus and at Guerrero
They showed big Jumps OF gold ana
silver taken from Mexican towns ana
melted down, which they asserted were
spolIs OF war shortly before midnight
an outpost ran in breathIcEs. exclaiming.
"fos Amorioanos are coming IN.
scores Of dark forms leaped through
the fire light. hugles blew and IN ton
minutes the whole bandit command had
Ralloped out Of town, When the cavalry
came in they found two American mining
men. Mr.. seeferth and another who
had paid 1900 ransom 70 the VillistaA,
and whose lives probably had been saved
by The seventies arrival.
These Americans said the bandits we're
led by candeiero Cervantes, Jesus Del
Rios, Cruz Domlnguez and Manuel Baca,
who was killed the following sunday
after the fight by Mexican.
Among them we're followers OF Julio
Aeosta and General Beltran. They we're
remnants OF all the best known villa
eommanders veterans. and all that time
at least the last known band OF yllllsta's
remaining bad men whose nerve had
not been shaken by defeats at Columbus,
Guerrero and Augua calientes.
Saturday afternoon At 400, Dodd's men,
arriving al the southern rim OF the hills
forming the cup in which the town Of
Tenochic lies, saw the rear guard OF
villistas riding out Of town Ahead OF
them they saw the main body OF this
bandits waiting behind rocks TO give bat
tie A machine gun was placed 10 sweep
this ridge while tho Americans rode
down into the cup in pursuit They dis
mounted In town. advancing on foot with
rifles ready, led by Troop Il and accom-
panied BY the two guides.
American Trooper hit.
While stu in town a trooper was hit
and MORALLY wounded. The shot came
from the flank. from a cave in noun
tain overlooking TcmochioS Out Of big
adobe chimney the troops pulled a
sniper. the only one caught in the place.
Beyond the town. Troop l. advanced
10 within range Of the crests above They
crossed the range In short PUSHES, lying
down and firing. then advancing few
Yards. Colonel Dodd with his staff rode
through this zone Of fire, while bullets
fell within a yard or two Of every man
until they reached small knoll beyond
the town. From here Dodd directed the
fight. Another machine gun was brought
up close to play on the force al the
crest in front Of the knoll Out along
the american limo a trooper was lying
on his stomach firing. His eomrade saw
a bullet strike forty feet ahead Of him.
IN moment more third ball struck
him In the head killing him a liouten-
ant lying among his men, directing the
fire. was wounded
Mexicans' Fire Checked.
Meanwhile the Americans had gotten
the range OF the Mcxieana on the crest
and checked their fire. Several freshly
made graves on this crest. found next
day. testified TO the Americans aim. One
Mexican leader on a gray horse rode
into sight on this sky line half dozen
times, but seemed 70 be charm against
bullets. His grey mount was the last
living object the Americans distinguished
before darkness ended the fight This
horse was found wounded next day At
santo Tomas. where Manuel Raca. the
villiata leader was killed By Jeondro
Alvarez. Mexican paclfico, for the price
Of twenty silver pesos, about 81 American
money. The Mexlcans said the horse
was Baca's.
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