South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-12
United States Troopers Re-
ported to Have Engaged
Detachment of Bandits
and Captured Forty.
CARRANZlSTAS DON'T
BELIEVE VILLA Is DEAD
Believe Outlaw is Still Riding
at Head of Band of Chosen
Men, Retreating To-
ward TOrreOn.
News Service;

international News Service:
Ell PASO. Texas, April IL
Thirty-two followers Of Francisco
villa are reported TO have been Kill
ed and 40 others captured in a night
between Nexicans and United States
troopers at Troya, a small station on
the Mexican National railway De-
tween Jiminez and Parral.
The remnants of the bandit gang
fed in the direction of the Conchas
river. pursued by the Americans.
Villa was not with this detachment
of his men and il Is not known deli
nitely whether the outlaw is living
or dead.
Because of the extended advance
of the American first lire, official
confirmation of the story Of the fight
had not yet been received this morn
ing. although reports in private ad-
vices from Jiminez and Parral reIa-
tive to the engagement were re-
garded as authentic.
The detachment Of MeXicans en-
countered at Troya IS said to have
been a rear guard for the main body
of VilIistas which is falling back
toward Torreon and Durango City.
Elaborate Ambuscade.
An elaborate ambuscade was ar
ranged by the MeXicans, the bandits
hiding themselves in gulleys along
the rolling desert.
When the American scouts got
within sight of the ambushed MeM-
cans. the latter began firing which
revealed their hiding places and the
Americans were thus enabled to
keep out Of the trap.
The scouts gaHoped back to the
main body of cavalrymen and re-
ported a large force of Nillistas in
hiding. The Americans galloped
forward a short distance and then
dismounted. hiding their horses in
the foothills. Then the Americans
advanced on foot with their carbines
unslung ready for instant action.
Once within range of the MeXicans
the troopers advanced in short rush
es firing a volley and then throwing
themselves upon their faces.
Just as the fighting was hottest a
railway train moved into the zone of
fighting AS the bullets began "a
sing around the locomotive the en-
gineer stopped his train and then
backed out Of the danger sphere as
rapidly as steam could take him.
1t was the engineer Of this train
who took the first word of the fight
10 Jiminez, from which point it was
telegraphed to Juarez and FL Paso.
Gen. Pershing. whose column was
last reported in the neighborhood Of
Saveto. west of Troya, Is nearly 500
miles into Mexico. and is having con-
siderable difficulty in getting sup
plies forward
Mystery About Carranzistas.
There is considerable mystery
about the part being played by the
Carranza forces All reports from
the front say that they are very
friendly. but except in one instance
they have given the Americans no
help in checking the retreat OF Villa.
Officers Of the Carranzista garri-
son in Juarez don't believe that Villa
Is dead. Easing their conclusion up
on recent information received from
the interior of Chihuahua many of
them believe that the outlaw is not
even wounded one report received
in Juarez was that Villa had picked
the best OF his troops and was rid
ing at their head as usual, leaving
the remainder 10 fight the Americans
or to flee just as they saw fit
Crops have failed in the state OF
Durango and the people are or the
verge Of starvation II is feared that
this condition of affairs will increase
the enlistments in Villas band IS
the Mexicsns as a last resort may be
compelled 70 turn 20 outlawry 10
provide for themselves.