Omaha daily bee., 1916-04-01
OUTLAWS
CARRY WOUNDED
CHIEFTAIN AWAY
Dodd's Cavalry Sweeps Down Con-
tinental Divide on Bandit Clan,
Scattering It Like Chaff
Before the Blast.
VILLA IN TENT NURSES HURTS
Thirty.0ne Mexioans Slain While
American Force Suffers but
Four Injured,
SENDS THRILL ALONG BORDER

SENDS THRILL ALONG BORDER
Ell PAso. Tex. March 31.--Four
hundred American cavalrymen,
under the command OF Colonel
George A. Dodd. whirling down from
the granite slopes OF the great conti-
mental divide. have fallen like a
on the main body OF
Francisco Villas bandits at the San
ranch, scattering them like
chaff in the wind and driving the
bandit chief, wounded and crippled,
TO seek hiding place in the noun
tains over which he has ruled for so
many years. villa was hurried from
danger in carriage.
The battle opened at o'clock in
the evening Of March 20.
Thrin Along Border.
The news Of the brilliant exploit Of the
American troopers was flashed over the
Mexican wires into Juere5 today and
sent thrill along the border. For seven
Atfn nNNNH ANt NtAfIhn AaOApntl ANuu ana
his picked riders Of the Seventh and
Tenth cavalry drove down the valley OF
the Santa Maria river.
At the end of fifty-five mile ride
they burst upon the unsuspecting villista
camp. where 500 bandits were celebrating
the massacre OF l72 Carranzistas two
days previously at Guerrero. villa, shot
through the leg and with one hip shat
htte tai he ha Wal
in time TO eescape the onslaught OF the
soldiers OF the north.
The bandits made q brief but hopeless
stand before the fierce charge Of Colonel
Dodd and his troopers. Then they broke
and fled, leaving thirty-one dead on the
field, including their commander. Cen
erai Eiiaeo Hernandez Two machine
guns. a nur,ker OF horses. rifles. sshailit
milton and equipment fell into the hands
Of the vlctors.
Four Americans Hurt.
Among the known wounded 10 Pablo
Lopez, Villas lieutenant in the Columbus
raid. The American casualties were four
privAtes wounded.
The American soldiers did not lineer
on the field OF victory. For five hours
they drove tho enemy before them into
tho wilderness OF mountain peak. desert
and canyon, where roads or even trails
are unknown and where a misstep means
death to horse and rider. They halted
only after the chase had led them ten
miles from the battlefield and the
fugftlves were scattered far and wide in
little bands OF half dozen men each.
Villas career has ended. Hts power has
been broken. His death or caputre is only
question OF days. perhaps only hours,
such Is the inevitable conclusion reached
here. as little by little tho details OF
''Dodd's ride" seep across the border. 1t
seems impossible that the crippled. de-
feated bandit can long remain hidden.
even in the mountainous wastes in which
he has sought refuge.
scene of victory.
The scene of Colonel Dodd's victory ID
broad valley lying at the head OF the
Rio Santa Maria on the west xise the
barren foot hills OF the continental divide
and TO the east Is trail. made famous
by'Villa. which leads through the Laguna
De Castillo district TO the Inflated Santa
Ysabel. II was at the latter place that
Villa killed eighteen American mining
men, a crime which sent a thrill OF
horror throughout the United States and
marked the beginning of what many be-
lieve 10 be the end Of his blood stained
career. II was toward Santa Ysabel thai
he was believed TO be heading when the
troopers OF the United States swept down
from the north upon his camp.
From the meager details which have
reached here frcm Mexican and AmericaI
nil tary sources ColcnsI Dodds men made
- .,
deep guches, which split the foot hills
in all directions. and were almost In tbs
camp before the alarm was given.
villa Ia HIs Tent.
villa is reported TO have Teen In a smal
tent nursing his injuries when the erasi
OF tie american yoleys awoke the bandit
10 panic stricken action.
The extraordinary hold the bandit chic
has over his followers Is shown by th'
fact that their first thought was to saw,
him. Unable TO walk or ride he wa
hurr.edly placed in light wagon ant
driven over the rough trails 10 som'
secret lair.
While thIity-one OF the bandits al.
known to have been killed. II is said, tina
the number may have been considerably
larger Nothing Is yet known as 10 tn'
number Of wounded, although It Is pre-
sumably in proportion to the dead.
Thirty Kined.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., March 81
General Pershing through General Fun
ston. reported today to the War depart
ment that he had found General via
with 900 troops near Guerrero.
General Pershings report said thirt
Mexicans were killed and four Amer
ican privates injured, but none seriously
Two machine guns. many cavalry horses
and much ammunition was captured b,
: the Americans. The attack was a sur
prise on the villa forces and culminatet
] Ia a running fight. In which they wer'
. driven ten miles into the mountain
northeast OF the railway, where the,
7 separated into small bands.
2 General Funston's dispatch from For