The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-13

possibly IL would have beer advisable
to 90 after Villa Thursday when his
raiders fled southwark. They were then
demoralzed and were dropping loot and
war material before attacks of 50 men
under Maj. Frank Tompkins. Requests
of Col. Herbert Sloeum, commanding the
18th cavalry here, and of Major Tomp.
kins 10 be allowed to renew the pursuit
Friday with larger force, were denied
pending the organization of the largo
punitive expedition.
| Yesterday it was stated that this expe.
dition, owing to inadequate railroad ia.
ciities and the widely scattered posi-.
tion of the troops necessary 10 constitute
it, who have been on patrol duty, might
require several days preparation before
il could enter Mexico, at least from this
point.
Meanwhile, reports from Mexican
sources that Villa apparently was carry
ing out plan TO elude pursuit by break
ing up his forces into small bands and
hiding among the mountains. Some of
his forces were reported to be approach.
ing the Sonora state border. Others were
said to be making this way southwark
and southeastward toward the mountains
of San Geronimo district, from which
the bandit chieftain started March |,
with the announced intention of invading
the United States.
Colonel Slocum said he had been ad-
vised that the first squadron of the 18th
cavalry had been ordered to rejoin the
regiment. The 18th, on account of its
exploit Thursday in beating off an over,
whelming number OF Mexicans after a
stiff fight in which they inflicted possibly |
Is times the number of their own casual |
ties, is said TO have been assigned to the !
duty of taking Villas direct trail. But
owing to the exigencies of the patrol |
duty to which the army has been as
signed ever since the outbreak of the |
Aladero revolution In 1910, the regiment |
has had on duty here only two-thirds |
Of its strength. The FIRST squadron, un-
der Lieut.-Col I. River, has been sta
toned at Maria, Texas, more than 250
miles east of here, and assigned to patrol |
a stretch OF territory So miles in extent.
II might be several days before this
squadron will be assembled here.
II appears to be the opinion of mill
tary men here that when Villa is found
and pushed on both sides he will not
stand apd fight.
Although Villas strength in the battle
here was estimated from 800 TO $500
men, Capt. Rudolph smyser and Caxt.
5eorge Williams, who participated in the
pursuit, described his retreat as precip
tate. Prisoners captured declared that
he bandits were stricken by fear, al
hough when they discovered the meager 4
orce of 50 with which Tompkins entered
iexico Thursday, they made stand ]
With 900 men. K
4. B. Stone, special agent of the de- I
'artment Of justice, was advised yes
erday that. the six wounded Villa sol
iers held as prisoners would be turned
yer by the military authorities to the !
tate courts of New Mexico for trial on
harges of having murdered the nine civ
ians slain here Thursday. II had been
tones intention TO file charges OF mur- i
er against the bandits in the United I
tates court or the district of New Mex v
%. a
II was suggested that the state au- q
lorities would also indiet Villa on I
iarges OF murder and formally de. a
land his extradition. Id
Although the Villa trail is getting cold +
every day, army officers expressed con- d
ience in their ability finally to appre-
md him. 3,
Francisco Miranda, one of the Mexican "
'isoners, was sent to Fort Bliss yes n
rday for the amputation of a gangrened 81
z. Officers of the medical corps here n
e making strenuous efforts to save
,sus Rayes, the l2-year old boy who h,
as wounded among the Villa raiders 81
ring the fight. His left hip was shat n,
red.
1t was announced that the two squad 5C
ms, numbering about 900 men, of the a,
th cavalry, under Capt il. G. Sickel, OF
ho were ordered from TT. Robinson,
eb. yesterday, viii take the place Of h,
e 18th cavalry in posts here. One o1
uadron of the 18th is at Panama. ha