Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1916-04-07
THIRTY V|LL|STAs
SLAIN IN BATTLE
WITH j. s. TROOPS
Four Americans Slightly Wounded
in Fight.
VILLA FLEES IN CARRIAGE
Leader Crippled in Raid on Guerrero
General Fernandez Slain and
Lopez Wounded-Outlaws
Flee Into Mountains.

troops of United States cavalry have
met, routed, soundly thrashed, pur-
sued and disorganized the REINFORCED
main body of Pancho Villas army. 500
strong, killing 80 men and Gen. Eliseo
Fernandez, wounding Gen. Pablo Lo-
PEE, capturing two machine guns, many
horses, rifles and cavalry equipment.
The victors lost not man, but four
men of the Twelfth cavalry were
slightly wounded.
Tho story is told in official mes
sages from General Pershing to Cen
eral Funston.
Villa FIees in Carriage.
Villa fed on the eve of the battle in
a carriage and is now making his way
southeast from Guerrero. He sus-
tanned a broken leg or hip in the Guer-
zero raid and is said to be permanent
ly disabled.
His troops, chased in running bat
tie that extended more than ten miles,
disbanded into flying clusters of
frightened horsemen in the noun
tains, where organized pursuit was
no longer practicable. They probably
will gather in a remnant of their
former strength at the headquarters
down the Santa Maria river.
Fighting Blood Tells.
American endurance, courage and
splendid glory than in this first and
decisive engagement of the punitive
war against Villa, the murderous
raider
Lieutenant Dargue. an army avia-
tor. defying the treacherous cross
currents of air, sighted the Villistas
at San Geronimo ranch and brought
word to Colonel Dodd, fifty-fve miles
10 the north Boots and saddles
sounded and the distance was Gov
cred at gruelling speed in less than
seventeen hours.
Bandits Caught Mapping.
The signals of the Villa guards
caught the 500 bandits unprepared.
They were celebrating their victory
over the garrison at Guerrero the
day before, when Villa had massacred
many Carranza sympathizers and i'm
prsoned a number. of Carranza SOL
diers.
Panic seized the Villa camp. The
leader himself, shouting to his men
TO stand and fight, was carried into
a carriage and whirled off southeast
ward as his men hastily mounted and
prepared to hold off the attack to
cover his fight.
Mexicans Caught Mapping.
Both Villa machine guns opened
fire, but with poor aim. The American
cavalry swept down into range Of
carbine fire. The Mexicans broke,
turned and ran.
Then began the frenzied flight and
the dramatic chase. There were more
horsed, and between $50 and 800 Amer
lean cavalrymen of the Seventh and
Twelfth regiments.
Battle for Ten Miles.
For ten miles the running fight held.
Thirty of the Mexicans were toppled
from their saddles. Gen. Eliseo Fer
nandez, with rare courage, led tenn
porary stand, and was shot through
the heart.
Lopez jumped into the command.
This is the Villa chief who led the
raid which brought about the present
activities. He was reported killed at
Columbus, n. NJ. but he was there in
the flesh. alive and shouting to his
men to hold until a bullet crashed
through his side and he was lifted on
a horse and carried along in the re-
curing rout.
The Mexicans were making for the
mountains.
Scatter i'm Mountains.
or in the distance through ap-
preaching nightfall doomed the low
range of hills, with many cuts and
passes, where concerted pursuit must
end. The Villistas, as well mounted
as the Americans, reached their OBJ
jective sanctuary and what was left
of them took to the hills and woods.
scattering like frightened chickens be
fore the solid columns OF the advanc-
ing United States troopers.
At the foot of the hills Colonel
Dodd halted the chase. Further prog
ress was deemed useless.
Free Carranza Captives.
Returning to the deserted camp q
number of Carranza prisoners were
found. They were released and freed.
They reported that they were to have
been massacred at the climax of the
feast of celebration which was just
beginning when the American troops
arrived.
From them valuable and authentic
Information was procured regarding
Villas condition. That he fed alone
is certain, being accompanied only by
his driver and a personal attache.
That he Is disabled Is now verified,