The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-04-07
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ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch. ]

Associated Press Dispatch.l
San Antonio, March 31.-General
Funston today awaited news that
fighting between the Americans and
Villa had begun along the railroad
between MADEIRA and Chihuahua. In
formation, which he styled as unof-
fetal, reached headquarters last night
that Villa with a considerable force
was concentrated there and the
| American troops were moving for
ward The Carranza troops also are
said to be preparing to resist Villa.
| The positions of the organizations
were not given.
| Santonio, March 31-Whether Gen.
eral Funston has yet given orders to
General Bell to offer supplies to the
| Mexico Northwestern for shipment
was not disclosed early, today 1t is
believed here that the use of the line
| will begin by tomorrow, provided OBJ
| lection is not made by the Juarez au-
| thorities.
| Story of the Battle.
| limited Press Dispatch.l
! Washington, March 81. = Four
| American soldiers were wounded in
| a battle that took place between
column of Villa men and force OF
America cavalrymen under Colonel
/ George Dodd not far from Guerrero.
| This was at six o'clock Wednesday
morning. The account of the battle
was issued today by the war depart
ment. The battle lasted five hours.
The Villa men were badly beaten.
Villa himself was not in the force of
bandits, as he was laid up with a
broken leg. He took no part in the
engagement. Thirty of the bandits
were killed. The rest scattered and
fed.
Colonel Dodd captured two machine
guns and large number of saddles
besides considerable supplies of war
munitions.
The bandits were taken completely
| by surprise. They scarcely put up
ANY fight at all. Most of them mere
| ly seized their rifles and ran for some
shelter
! Colonel Dodds overlook the Villa
force after a march of fifty-five miles
which the men made in seventeen
hours.
! Eliseo Hernandez, the Villa COM
mander, was killed. The bandits were
pursued for ten miles, and took ref
uge among the mountains.
| The attack resulted in the release
of large number Of Carranza prison
ers. These say Colonel Dodd's at
tack saved their lives. Otherwise they
would have been put to death.
San Antonio, March 31.-Confiicting
rumors are af1oat here that Villa is
1,,o,i,,daJ o,d &c IN, hid;y in fbo pootyr
tain north of Guerrero.
! Ell Paso, Texas, March 31.-An I'M
confirmed report was received here
( today to the effect that Villa had
murdered ten Americans at the town
| Of Miniac.
| Caught Up With Villa.
| I1lniIed Press Dispstch.i
San Antonio, Texas, March 81
American troops have caught up with
Pancho Villa. Villa has been lighting
to cover his retreat and resume his
flight The Americans have just To-
Gated Villa south of Guerrero. All of
this information has been giyin out
by General Funston from dispatches
he has received, though he will not
tell from what place the dispatches
were sent. General Funston says he
has information that there has been
actual fighting between the American
soldiers and the Villa bandits. Villa
is said to have received strong rein
! forcements.
Might Go To Central America.
/ villa might continue his flight
right through to Central America, but
II hope he will be headed off by our
boys, so that it will not be necessary
/ to chase him all that distance" re-
marked General Funston today. IF
! we don't stop him now, am afraid
he will give us quite chase"
/ General Funston remarked that
there would be fresh crop of rumors
now that new phase of the cam
paign had opened. He said he was
confident that the superior intelligence
! of the Americans would win the vic
| tory for them, even IL the bandits
greatly outnumbered them.
The Railroad Problem
/ Washington, March 31.--With news
! coming from the Mexican border to
the effect that Villa has been trapped
by the American and Carranza SOL
diers, this government is again max
ing an effort to settle with the Car
rama government the matter of the
use of the Mexican Northwestern
railroad by the American army
y ----
Section Men Granted Increase.
All the section foremen on the
western division of the Omaha rail-
road have been granted an increase
getting from $5S to $50 so a month.
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