The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-01
With Villa Permanently Wounded It Is Thought That He Cannot Long Evade Capture
DEMONSTRATION IN 1 CONGRESS WHEN NEWS BECOMES KNOWN
Both President and Secre- tary of War Congratulate Pershing and Dodd on Defeat of Bandits

Washington, March 31-With Villas main command shattered by Colonel Dodd's cavalry dash, the war department expects that the death or capture of the bandit leader himself and the successful conclusion of the American punitive ex- petition to rid northern Mexico of his raiders will follow more quickly than it had at first been anticipated.
 The five-hour running fight in which Dcods outnumbered troopers killed Villa s with only four of their own number slightly wounded, occurred AS hours before the news reached Washington. Army of ficers are sure that since the fight heavier forces have come up to support the flying columns and another action may have fol- lowed, of which nothing was known here tonight
 CONGRESS CHEERS NEWS Congress stopped business and cheered the news of the dash of the American troopers. President Wilson sent words of congratulation to Secretary Baker and the secretary sent messages of congrat- ulation to Major General Funston to be conveyed to Brigadier Pershing and Colonel Dodd. The first smashing blow at the bandits was what all officials had expected of Pershings seasoned troopers, but few of them had hoped it would come so soon.
 ropera1 I,arri,i,,U,r d;cn,tcI, ,r,;fy, +Lo news of the fight reached the war de- partment late this afternoon, It reported the results in terse sentences, giving few details.
 Desperately wounded, and permanently crippled with 8 broken leg and lame hip, Villa was reported to have left his men before the fight to hide in the nearby mountains His force, broken into small bands, was reported attempting reforma- ton in the Santa Maria valley, pressed on all sides by American and Carranza columns
 Everywhere tonight satisfaction over the exploit of Colonel Dodd and his men was expressed. Secretary Bakers con- gratulations were sent in this messag ge from General Scott. chief of staff to Major General Funston on the border:
 OFFICERS CONGRATULATED
 Secretary War desires you to convey to General Pershing and Colonel Dodd and command his hearty congra tula tions on exploit"
 On behalf of the President, the White House authorized a similar expression In Congress the news caused demon- af ofa House when Speaker Clark interrupted proceedings for reading of General Per- shing's dispatch. Debate on the army in- crease bill was halted in the Senate for the reading of the telegram, sent to the vice presidents desk by Senator War ren of Wyoming, General Pershing S father-in-law.
 Officials anxiously awaited further rews. Army officers believed it probable that in the 4S hours since the fight there had been further skirmishes with the Eard-pressed outlaws and possibly that even Villa himself had been found.
 Delay in receipt of General Pershing' S report was ascribed by war department heads to the great distance from the bor- der and difficulties of communication. The scene of the fight was about 225 miles south of. Juarez. While on the railroad line General Pershing was thought to have forwarded his dispatch by courier to the signal corps telegraph lines.
 Belief was expressed tonight in all quar- ters that the successful end of the Amer ican expedition was in sight Officials believed, too, that Dodd's victory, if fol- lowed promptly by the capture or death of Villa himself would go far toward aid- ing in the restoration of peace in Mex ico. They believed the rout would dis courage outlaws generally and deter fur ther assertions from Carranza's army.
 FEW DETAILS GIVEN
 In his telegram to General Funston. forwarded here by the latter from Fort Sam Houston, Tex, General Pershing in dicated probable results of the America n victory.
 With Villa permanently disabled Lopez wounded and Hernandez dead the blow administered is serious one to Villas band" he said. The Lopez referred to was believed here to be Pablo Lopez leader of the Santa Ysa- bel massacre in which 17 Americans were killed
 Tonight Secretary Baker issued the following statement:
 The success of Colonel Dodd in catching up with the retreating ban dits and dispensing them shows the value and effectiveness of the careful preparation made by General Funston as we'll as the dash and vigor with which Colonel Dodd himself and the members of his command have under taken their task.
 "It is matter of great gratifica- tion to us all that the first encounter lis so decisive and that our own troops have suffered so slightly. The effect on both sides of the border will un- doubtedly be good. II will ailay app
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