Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-03-24
General Pershing Personally
Leads Cavalry Force in Pur-
suit of ViIlai Progress Is
AStonishingIy Swift,
EXPEDITION CROSSES
DESERT IN QUICK TIME
Caranza Men Encountered
Are Friendly Bandit Leader
Loses Nearly Half His Men
After Columbus Raid.

INV MORNING IouEsAL SPECIAL lsAssp wiagl
El Paso Texas. March 23-The
following dispatch from an Asso-
riatcd Press correspondent at the
front in Mexico is the first complete
story of the crossing of the border
Of the punitive expedition sent 10
lvenge the Columbus massacre.
Headquarters United states Punl-
tive Expedition. Colonia Dublan, Chi
huahua. Mexico, March % (By wagon
train To Columbus. ~ NJ, March 23.)
Reaching here by forced march
that demonstrated the endurance OF
the American soldier and obviously
greatly amazed the Mexicans, several
thousand United States troops.
cavalry, infantry and artillery, were
scattered today between this point
and the northern boundary OF the
state of Guerrero. intent on the task
of capturing or killing Francisco Villa
in the shortest possible time and ex-
terminating the bandit band with
which he raided Columbus, New Mex
leo, and slaughtered nine civilians on
March 3. Troop movements and dis
positions. however, are shrouded In
the strictest secrecy, oy order of the
war department.
SIocum First Across.
The entry into Mexico occurred at
1907 p. M March 18th. AT the
moment the American colors, with
the standard of the Thirteenth cav
airy, 200 men of which beat off Villas
raiders despite the surprise move
ment Of the Mexican brlgands, were
carried over the boundary by the
color guard Col. Herbert j. Slocum,
commanding the Thirteenth, was the
first commissioned officer to cross
He was followed by Major James "A.
Ryan. acting chief of staff TO General
John j Pershing. who commands the
punitive expedition.
This WAS column Number one, con-
sisting of infantry, artillery and cav
airy and burdened with heavy wagon
trains 1t moved rather slowly and
camped the first night at Palomas.
q filthy village OF adobe huts and
"eo-downs" seven miles below tho
boundary. south OF Columbus.
Pcrshing Leads Cavalry.
Column Number two entered Mex
leo from Culherson's ranch. fifty Zone
miles south Of Hachta. New Mexico.
General Pershing, who had accom-
panied the first column part of the
way 70 Palomas, returned to Column
bus the same afternoon. raced to Cul-
bersons in an automobile and taking
command of the second or Flying
column" drove 1t more than ITO miles
over the desert Of Chihuahua III
, twenty-five hours ac,uai marching
time. Official records show that
| spies dotted the route of the first
column. but the men of the second
had forged their way fifty miles into
the country before a single native
( was seen. and to the patent surprise
of the Mexicans reached here Fri
day night exactly forty-two hours
after crossing the border at 3:lf
Thursday morning.
In this column. every man was
mounted and the numbering wagon
trains were supplanted by army mules
which made the entire distance under
heavy packs with the loss of only
three Of their number
Field Battery Keeps Up.
Battery b Of the sixth field artii-
( lery. commanded by captain Edgar
/ H. Yue and Lieutenant Charles L.
George. formed unit of the flying
column. While the cavalry traversed
trails through the NAL pals or bau
country. of the Sierra Madre noun
tains. six to eight thousand feet high.
the battery. encountered by hospital
iambulances and the field wireless
equipment, travelled the valley roads,
! longer by eighteen miles. Neverthe-
/ less. it reached camp only an hour
and half behind the cavalry with
out the loss of ii mule or horse ana
mot a sore back among any OF the
sls4r
Iploit would long stand as record
of speed and endurance.
Thirteenth Has First Honor.
Tho Thirteenth cavalry. because OF
its achievement in driving Villas
greatly superior numbers out of Co
lumbus after brief engagement. was
riven first place in the first column.
! Muster rolls of the Villa command
found here after he passed through
going southwark eight days ago
showed that he made the raid on Co
mmbus with 5S3 men. Raving in
anger after his defeat, deserters re-
ported that the bandit chieftain Kill
ed five of his officers and men as
towards Thre was 293 in his com
mand when he retreated through
/ Colonia Dublan. The Thirteenth ac-
/ counted for the rest.
Major Frank Tompkins, who took
ffty-nine men of his squadron ana
drove the bandits fifteen miles into
Mexico after they had crossed the
border. commanded the advance
guard. The rest of the cavalry under
Major Elmer Lindsey followed. Then
came the mountain and field guns,
next the dough hoys,' or the infantry
regiments, and last the wagon trains.
field hospital and sanitary equipment
and the field wireless. The orders
were for every man to travel light"
Officers Garry Few Luxuries.
i, Officers and men were not per-
mitted to carry much more than the
Iclothing and equipment worn upon