Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-03-17
villa Dead Or Alive.

Francisco Villa, outlawed Mexican ban
dit, raided United States territory. With
500 men he attacked Columbus. New Mexi-
CO, killed at least 16 Americans-soldiers
and civilians-and fired many buildings
before he was driven back across the in
temational border. The raid was made
on Thursday Of last week.
Not less than $50 troopers of the Thir
teenth United States Cavalry followed the
Villa band into Mexico. Reports to Col
H. j. Slocum, commanding United States
troops. stated that Villa had made stand
is miles south Of the border, where spir-
tied fighting ensued. In this engagement
an unnamed private was killed and Capt
George Williams. adjutant Of the Thir-
teenth Cavalry, was wounded.
The raid on American territory proved
costly to the bandit chieftain. The bodies
Of IS bandits, including Pablo Lopez, sec
ond in command, had been gathered and
burned before noon and troopers reported
an undetermined number of dead still
lying in the brush.
Led to the attack under the slogan -
Death to the Americans |" Villas follow
ers fought with desperation. Just before
dawn they crept along bitches skirting the
United States Cavalry camp and rushed
the sleeping town. firing heavily.
The first voley brought American troop
ers into almost instant action. While a
portion of the raiders engaged the cavalry
men. others began applying the torch and
shooting civilians who ventured from the
buildings. Lights in homes and public
buildings Immediately became targets for
snipers posted in Villas direction. Other
bandits creeping close to American homes,
enticed a number of civilians into the
open with Enslish-spoken invitations. A
number of fatalities are attributed to this
ruse.
American troops were ordered across the
Mexican border by President Wilson to
take Francisco Villa and his bandits, dead
or alive.
After conference with President VIII
son. Secretary of War Baker issued the
following statement:
There is nointention of entering Mexico
In force. A sufficient body Of mobile troops
will be sent in to locate and disperse or
capture the band of bandits that attacked
Columbus. So soon as the forces Of the
de facto government can take control of
the situation any forces of the United
States then remaining in Mexico will, Of
course, be withdrawn. The forces Of the
United States now on the border will be
Immediately recruited, but only for the
purpose of safeguarding the territory of
the United States from further raid"
President Wilson declared that the move
ment was entirely in aid Of the Carranza
government and without thought Of agrees
sion. This statement, prepared by the
President himself. was given out at the
White House
IAN adequate force will be sent at once
in pursuit of Villa with the single object
Of capturing him and putting a stop to his
forays.
This can be done. and will be done, in
entirely friendly aid Of the constituted au-
thorities in Mexico and with scrupulous
respect for the sovereignty Of that repub-
lie"
II is understood that Attorney General
Gregory favors an arrangement between
this Government and Mexico whereby a
neutral zone may be established along the
entire border, embracing a territory of &c
miles inland on each side, from one enc
Of the border to the other.
Over this zone the troops Of both Gov.
ernments may be allowed to pass at any
time in pursuit of bandits without enter
Ing into formalities.
A reciprocal arrangement between the
two Governments has been reached, in.
Guiding the points above advocated by the
Attorney General.
II is estimated that there are between
FL Paso and Nogales. Ariz., more than 49,
900 American soldiers on the frontier
With them are heavy field artillery bat.
ieries. mountain guns and machine guns.
Brig. Gen. John J. Pershing, with more
than 1000 troops. began the pursuit o.
Francisco Villa in Mexico on Wednesday
last.