Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-22
V|LLALEADS RAID
ON CHIHUAHUA CITY
Joined by Thousand or More Men
of CarranZa Garrison Dur
ing Recent Attack.
MAKES SPEECH TO PEOPLE
Most Detailed Report of Fighting
Comes From General Bell to
War Department.

WASHINGTON. September .l.--Thc
most detailed report yet received OF
the hting at Chihuahua city last
Sntt when VILLA celebrated the
MeXic,m fndcpcndeuc- pay by sue
cessful assault, on the Carrauza garri-
son. reached the War Department to-
day from Erigadier-tiencrai George
Eell. commanding the IL raso military
district It. asserts that Villa person
ally led the attacking forccs: that lie
took and held numerous Important
buildings in tho city for several hours;
that he was Joined 10y thousand or
moro men OF the CarrauZa garrison. and
retired promising TO return soon. and
taking with him large quantity OF
ca"tured arms. ammunition and ar
tilery.
General I:cll's dispatch does not show
the source of his information. and inany
officials believe his account OF tie
incident was founded on ru,nors reach .
ing III. border, as were various stories
which have been transmitted bv state
Department advisers. They were in
clucd TO believe for that reason that
the full truth Of what t~ar spired is
no, yet known. Reports so far re-
SHOW n fight did occur on September
ls. and that the Villa followers tool;
the penitertiary and some other build
!ngs. They all conflict as to the part
Villa played not even agreeing that
he was present.
GENERAL. BELLS REPORT
OF SUCCESSFUL Alta CK
General Bells report follows:
- I'm.
Villa was completely successful IN his
attack Saturday upon Chihuahua, and
accomplished all and more than I've said
he would do There is diversity o.:
opinion and statements as to the mum
ber of men with which he entered Chi
hulhua. Sine reports state lie only mad
about 800. while others give him LOO.
hut all agree that he was able TO So
cure possession Of the penitentiary. the
Governors palace. and the Federal
buildings and hold them for several
hours and all this with a Carranza gar
rison at chihuahua. which some place
at not less than 5000 He liberated
over 2oC prisoners, secured ana car
ricd away more than sixteen automo-
bile loads OF arms and ammunition un-
der an escort Of DESERVING: CarranEa
troops. He left chihuahua with from
tered with
villa retired lcisurely aud prac-
tically without moicstation. The hr-
ing by Trevino's artillery occurred af-
ter Villa troops had withdrawn.
ION september II. Trcvino received
a letter from Villa Stain" that he
/ tNilia) would he in chihuahua to shake
hands with TreNino on tn, 10th. and he
hoped that he would have n suitable
reception for HIM. that he might be
hungry and would like to have some.
thing TO eat.
ENTERS IN DISGUISE
no RECONSOTTER CITY
'Uu the 18th OF September il was re.
! ported that Villa personally entered
| Chihuahua. was seen by many oil his
| friends there and reconnoi,crcd the city.
| OF course. he Was in disguise. On the
| Night OF the 18th. the Nillisias ap-
! preached chihuahua from a camp
| which he had maintained for two days
| within twcnty-two miles Of that city.
! After villa columns had secured poa-
! session OF the pcnitoutiary, the Gov
! cTmo :: palace aud Federal buildings
! Wilt himself went TO the Governors
| palace into the main balcony, displayed
| his face, and made Il short speech which
I IN substance was as tollCws:
Via Mexico. You do not have your
! liberty Viii give YOU your liberty.
/ for ! ann your brotner. | am going
! TO return in few days.
1T appears that there had been n
| banquet attended by most Of Trevino's
! officers. ana that about > o'clock this
| banquet was huishcd. and most OF the
| officers OF tho CarranIa garrison We're
| aSlccI, As soon aS Trcvino heard of
/ the trouble. he started toward the Gov
| cruor's palace, hut his personal cs-
! cori deserted him and went over to
! Viii.
The party that attacked the Federal
/ building rode into the building on
| horseback. and the guard there de-
| serted To them 1t is rcporte ed that
| many II the CarranZa troops who were
! killed were killed by other Carranza
tr"oI. probably as q result OF artii-
lcry irimg from Santa Rosa Hill"
REPORTS BEING FORWARDED
70 JOINT COMMISSION
All reports received are being for
! warded TO New London for The infor.
| nation Of The Mexican. American COM
! mission II is regarded as probable
! hat an official version Will be for
war,cd there soon by General Car
| rama
Many army officers still believe that
| Villa is either dead or his powers so
| thoroughly broken that he could not
| hope to rc-cstablish himself
! General rershing expressed the lat :
ter opinion in report To the War
| Department several weeks ago and
| General Fuus;on'S rccommr n,ia ion
| that the american troops bc withdrawn
| is believed 10 nave been founded on
| that view. II General Hclls report
| proves accurate. howcvcr and villa
did appear in person at chihuahua. IL
| is expected that tho fact will he es-
| tablishcd definitely by witnesses whose
| evidence could be accepted without
| question.
| Ii is lhnncht unlilSclN Ihai I:nncrnl