South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-03-24


the first complete story Of the cross
ing OF the border by the punitive ex-
petition sent 10 avenge the Column
bus massacre.
HEADQUARTERS OF UNITED
STATES PUNITIVE EXPEDITION,
near COlonla Dubian. chihuahua.
Mexico. March % Cby wagon train
10 Columbus. y. NJ. March 22).-
Reaching here By forced march
that demonstrated the endurance Of
the American soldier and obviously
amazed the Mexicans several thou
sand United States troOps-cavalry.
infantry and artillery-were scatter
ed TO-DAY between this point and the
northern boundary OF the district Of
Guerrero, intent on the task OF cap
turing or killing Francisco villa in
the shortest possible time and ex-
terminating the bandit band with
which he raided Columbus. y NJ,
and slaughtered nine civilians. on
March 2. Troop movements and dis
positions. however, it was said. were
shrouded in the strictest secrecy by
order OF the war department
over the Boundary.
The entry into Mexico occurred
at 12sO7 p. m. March 10. At that
moment the American colors with
the standard OF the 18th cavalry
200 men Of which beat off Villas
raiders. despite the surprise move
ment OF me Mexican brigands. were
carried over the boundary by the
color guard. Col. Herbert J. Slocum
commanding the 18th. was the first
commanding officer to cross.
This was column No ] consist
ing OF infantry. artillery and cavalry
and burdened with heavy wagon
trains.
Column No. ? entered Mexico from
Culberson's ranch, 81 miles south Of
Hachita. y. NJ. Gen Pershing. who
had accompanied the first column
part Of the way. returned to Colum-
bus the same afternoon, raced to
Culberson's in an automobile and
taking command Of the second or
flying column" drove it more than
10 miles over the DESERT OF Chihua-
hua in % hours actual marching
time Official records show that
spies dotted the route Of the first
column. but the men OF the second
had forged their way 30 miles into
the country before a single native
was seen; and to the patent surprise
OF the Mexicans, reached here Fri
day night exactly AZ hours after
crcssing the border. at 3:17 Thurs
dry morning
officers declared this exploit would
long stand as a record of speed and
endurance.
The 18th cavalry, because of its
accomplishment in driving Villas
greatly superior numbers out of Co
lumbus after a brief engagement.
was given first place i'm the first
column. Muster rolls Of the Villa
command found here. after he pass
ed through going southwark eight
DAYS ago. showed that ne made the
raid on Columbus with 5S3 men.
Raving In anger after his defeat. de-
serters reported that the bandit
chieftain killed FIVE Of his officers
and men as towards There were
2S3 in his command when he re-
treated through Colonia Dublan The
18th accounted for the rest.
Maj. Frank Tompkins, who took
80 men of his squadron and drove
the bandits 10 miles into Mexico
after they had crossed the border.
commanded the advance guard The
rest of the cavalry under Bal. Elmer
I.indley followed. Then came the
artillery. next the infantry. and last
Is the wagon trains. field hospital and
sanitary equipment and the field
wireless officers and men were not
permitted to carry much more than
the clothing equipment worn upon
their persons. The trains, neverthe-
less. were long and heavy. Vast
quantities OF ammunition for all
types OF arms accounted for most
Of the weight. Rations We're carried
for only five days They were bacon,
bareback and coffee.
Column tR Miles Long.
The column stretched out length
az a mile and half. From Column
bus. three miles north of the bound
airy line. only a vast cloud of dust.
whipped TO a great height by a high
wind. could be seen, and two hours
later. when the troops began making
camp. the men were thickly powder
ed from head to foot by grayish
white coatings OF pulverized lava.
The sense OF smell detected PaIomas.
the town where the first stop was
made. long before. its collection of
brown sun-burned huts OF mud and
Cobble stones came into view The
odors were those OF stock Yards. alb
batores and tannery com bined.
closer there was added that Of UNI
washed humanity and soiled raj
ment ragged remnants OF which lay
strewn about with the remains OF
slaughtered cattle that had furnish
ed feasts for villa and mis- men dur
ing their brief stop and rations for
the Carranza troops. who were both
before and after the bandits brief
soiourn in the village.
40 MeNicans were AT the border
gate and none were seen ON the
march 10 Palomas. Only two bodies
~ armed men were encountered 10y
either or the columns on the march
here. At Ascension. the mayor.
Ramon H Gomez. had 100 Car