The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-22
Declares Villa Took No NUM-
tiOns From Arsenal.
Artillery Drove Bandits Away
in Hasty Flight.
BAKER DUBIOUS ON REPORT
But Funston and Pershing
Back Up General Bell.
TrevinO Blames AgitatOrs
Working Against Carranza.

Chihuahua City, Sept. 22-Com-
menting on the reports in American
newspapers attributed to Gen. George
Bell. jr., at Ell Paso, of the Villa raid
upon this city last Saturday. Gen.
Jacinto Trevino, commanding the Car
rama army of the north, today issued
a statement to the Associated Press in
which he described it as "a tissue of
lies and falsehoods."
II am at loss to know where Gen
eral Bell obtained such bad informa-
tion,' he continued THE Villistas
carried absolutely nothing away with
them except some of the prisoners
from the penitentiary. many of whom
have since returned here. They cap
tured neither ammunition, cannon nor
anything else.
Villa Had 500 Men
-Our artillery drove the Villistas out
of the places which they had taken,
and pursued them in their hasty re-
treat with shells, leaving them no time
to carry anything away as they left
galloping in small groups thru the
narrow streets of the town.
General Trevino asserted that every
unit of his force was co-ordinated; !;
that all prisoners examined by him
agreed that Villas band did not num-
Der more than 500; that there were no
| desertions from the garrison, and that
all. of the automobiles in the city are
accounted for, none being carried
away by the outlaws Government
artillery fire was only ceased, he said,
when the bandits had been repulsed
and there seemed danger of hitting
| the pursuing forces under Generals
| Ramos and Merriero.
| Baker Doubts Bell Report.
! Washington, Sept. Secretary
j Baker let it be known today that the
I war department was not disposed to
raid on Chihuahua City last Saturday,
| transmitted by Brigadier General Bell
yesterday on the strength of informa-
| ton tnat had reached him in Ell Paso.
We have no military information
as to renewed Villista activities" Mr..
| Baker said, indicating that it was as
sumed that General Bells account
was based upon rumors and reports
current IN border towns and not facts
OBTAINED thru army channels in Mex
leo. He declined to discuss in any
way what effect the temperance OF
Villa, if t were confirmed, might
have on the movement of American
troops in Mexico.
Trevino Denies Defeat.
New York, Sept. 22.-In a telegram
sui general in New York, General
Trevino after reiterating his statement
| that his forces defeated the Villa in
vaders at Chihuahua City, says:
This foolish shedding of blood was
with the intention of creating diff
culties for the conferees of the COM
mission at New London and the
Vaccinations of American and Mex
lean political interests. They them
selves are satisfied that they failed.
Funston Indorses Bells Report.
San Antonio, Sept. 22.-General
Funston today said he placed full
credence in the report of Villas at
tack on Chihuahua City, sent to the
war department by Brig. Gen. George
Bell, jr, and given out for publication
yes serday He said he had been in
formed that General Bells informa-
ton was gained from reliable persons
who had come to FL Paso directly
from Chihuahua City, Immediately
after the battle.
A report from General Pershing to-
day confirmed the initial success OF
the bandits, but indicated that they
later were driven out by General Ire
vino's artillery fire from a hill outside
the city.
There are now about 5000 de factt
government troops in Chihuahua City
according to General Pershing. A
large percentage of these are rein
forecments rushed in from the sottf
since the battle, indicating that Ire
yino's force prior to the attack wa'
comma ra tiVelV weak.