Connecticut western news., 1916-03-16
|. $, AND MEXICO
 IN hnpEraEEMT
Cdrranza Forces Likely to Co.,
 operate Against Villa.
SIXTEEN KILLED IN RAID.
Cross Border and Enter Columbus.
 N. M, anu Apply Torch to Town. Fifty to a Hundred Mexicans Wer {, kiIIed-Washington to Act Promptly.


 Fifty to a Hundred Mexicans Wer,
 kiIIed-Washinetont to Act Promptly.
 An agreement with the CarranZa de facto government on which the United States is acting at once by diSpatching troops into Mexico was announced by Secretary of State Lansing
 The note of this government, which has been handed to Ambassador Are dondo and telegraphed to Consul Silli- man at Guadalajara., says that the United States readily grants permis- sion for Carranza forces to cross the border "in pursuit of lawless bands of armed men who have entered Mexico from the United States, committed out rages on Mexican soil and fled into the United States
 The permission is granted on the un- derstanding that the de facto govern ment grants the United States the right to send military forces across the boundary into Mexico in pursuit of "lawless bands of armed men who have entered the United States from Mexico, committed outrages on Ameri- can soil and fled into Mexico.'
 According to information reaching the war department at Washington from General Funston, Villa, with q force of 5000 men, was located short distance south of the Mexican border.
 Admiral Fletcher of the Atlantic fleet was officially advised of the new turn in Mexican affairs and is expected to get his forces :n shape to act in the event that an emergency develops that may require demonstration in Mexi- can waters.
 President Wilson ordered approxi- mately 5000 troops into Mexico on punitive expedition 70 'tdisperse or cap- ture" the Villa forces which attacked the town of Columbus, N. M
 Secretary of State Lansing served notice on General Carranza that Amer. ican forces have been sent into Mex ico for the purpose of crushing Gen. eral Francisco Villa.
 Secretary Lansing served his notice to Carranza through Elisco Arredondo. the Mexican ambassador designate to the United States. The secretary in formed the ambassador that the United for the unprecedented act of invading American territory and attacking an Ame1ican town.
 Invading the United States at the head of about 500 followers. it is d. legged, Francisco Villa entered Colum- bus, guarded by small force of Amer ican soldiers, applied the torch and killed seven United States troopers and nine American civilians during two hours fighting. Fifty to a hundred Mexicans were killed.
 Americans Outnumbered.
 Only the desperate bravery of the outnumbered American soldiers pre- vented a massacre greater than the slaughter of eighteen helpless Ameri- cans at Santa Ysabel, Mexico, on Jan 10. Pablo Lopez, who led the Villistas in the Ysabel massacre, is reported to have been with Villa in the attack.
 Entering Columbus under cover of darkness, the Villistas dashed into the heart of the town. Squads. apparently detailed for the purpose, threw oil on several buildings and applied torches Snipers picked off civilians as they left their homes.
 The Commercial hotel. wooden building, was destroyed by fire after its proprietor, A. l.. Ritchie, and W. R Walker, a guest. were killed.
 James Dean. a merchant; J. J. Moore a rancher, and Mir. and Mrs. Milton James are among the other civilians known to have been killed.
 The Mexicans, confident in their numbers, separated into squads and fought the soldiers defiantly. After nearly two hours fighting, in which they lost heavily. the Villistas slowly withdrew from the town and fled to the border.
 Colonel Slocum of the Thirteenth cavalry had his revolver shot out of hi~ hand as he emerged from his quarters making it useless.
 The fire became general as soon as the American soldiers could gather for the attack. Houses were riddled with bullets. Families in the midst of a leaden hail escaped injury by hugginy the floors of their homes.
 c. c. Miller, druggist. was killed seeking safety in the Hoover hotel. whose adobe walls protected number of guests. including some women and children.
 Lieutenant Clyde Ely. with twenty men of the New Mexican national guard. arrived from Deming and joine the federal troops.