New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-01


That he is as badly frightened as his
men. as eager to get from his American
pursuers, is indicated by reports OF
Guerrero residents who witnessed his
escape from the town IN hastiIy-
seized hack
More than forty dead bandits, some
Of them in the streets OF Guerrero, o. '-
ers miles away, where they had fallen
when shot by pursuing Americans, ten
The story OF Villas first defeat al lhe
hands OF Americans. Four Americans
wounded, none of them seriously was
the only damage the man VINO Is mos'
feared by Mexicans Of all men on ear, earn
could infict upon his pursuers Nnen
Colonel Dodd's column left Guerrero, IN
the wake OF the fleeing Villistas. they
still were finding dead bandits all
around the town, among the rocks ana
ravines, where they had fallen or mad
crawled 70 die.
Late to-day additional American
troops had taken up the chase OF thc
Villistas. with reinforcements beng
hurried from the Tres Alamos camp OF
General Pershing. Advices indicate
General Pershing personally IS leading
one of the pursuing columns. 49,
Moving from the east with l,2OO men
Of the chihuahua City garrison is Gen
eral Luis Herrera, who to-day teIe-
eraphed to General Gavira at JuaTez
that he would attempt to check the VII
listas who, he had heard, were attempt-
ING to reach San Andreas. where
large body of bandits was gathered 10
augment Villas force.
In their panic the Villistas left their
machine guns unfred and their horses
unsaddled. leapine upon the bare bachs
Of the horses and driving tnem al ,op
most speed There were FIVE hundred
or more Villistas at Guerrero. mere
arc believed now TO have been five nun
bred more bandits nearby. where VIVA
was assembling force TO MAKE a stand
acainst the Americans. The quickness
,~itb which Colonel DOdd's men covered
the ffty-fve miles that separated them
from Guerrero when Il was learned
villa was in that place. gave the bandit
chieftain no time 10 concentrate MS
forces.
That the scattered remnants may have
reunited since the crushing defeat ~ IN
dicated in advices late to-day. IL was
said in one dispatch received IN Juarez
tonight that Villa was belieVeec 70 DC
nlannine counter-attack on his pur-
suers. and that q battle probably would
take place within few hours.
From Mexican Consul Garcia, IN III
Paso. the first report of the battle at
Guerrero and the defeat of the VITA
forces was received on the border. IL
later was confirmed in dispatches from
General PershiLg and General Funston
General Pershing wiring from San
Geronimo Ranch. where he was making
his temporary headquarters. Consul
Garcia made the following announce
ment Of the engagements o.,
Lieutenant Colonel K. Fugio Davlla
has wired from Casas Grandes TO 1eh-
eral Gavira at Juarez as follows;
"Chief of staff of American expedl.
ton al Tres Alamos Camp, instructed
By General Pershing, has informed me
San Geronimo. fought a Nilhsta col
umn composed of five hundred men
under Elisio Hernandez. Nillistas lost
Hernandez and thirty men. American
forces had several wounded. Confrma-
ton received that Villa was wounded
II last fight with Constitutionallsts ana
is hiding in neighborhood Of Guerrero
Colonel Dodd evidently attacked villa
with but q portion of his flying squad
ron. taking only the 18th, Cavalry on
The swift seventeen-hour drive with
out food or rest. That the 10Th cav
airy. which also forms portion OF
Colonel Dodd's column, was sent 20 cut
off the expected flight OF the bandits
from Guerrero was indicated IN intor-
nation from the south tonight. The
Tenth. il appears, did not arrive in
time to take part in the battle, but
probably now is nearest TO the bandits
in their fight. The negro troopers are
feared by the Mexicans quite as much
az the white fighters of the American
army.
If Villa succeeds in escaping capt
ure it will be q great surprise TO
army men on the border. who are
watching with intense interest the
chase in the wilds Of Central Chihua-
hua. With Colonel Dodd.s two col
umns closely pursuing, with General
Pershing near with other forces. and
with large force Of Carranza troops
ahead of the Villistas TO check their
fight. il appears TO army men that
escape practically is impossible. IL IS
thought, however, the hunt may soon
become one of single purpose. the
catching Of Villa himself. Another
defeat OF the bandit band such as in
ficted in Guerrero would cause the
bandits TO scatter until they couidn I
be told from the natives not in arms.
Villas cunning and the assistance ne
will receive from Amercan-hating
Mexicans may enable him 10 hide for
weeks in some mountain retreat. ne
task now is admitted to be the ex-
termination Of his band in the hope
that Villa may be found with his men
and be captured before he can get into
hiding.
No cannon or machine guns were
used BY either side in the Guerrero
battles. This was shown IN advices
tonight Colonel Dodd took no ma
chine guns with him. leaving them 10
he brought up later and the Villa
bandits had no time 10 use the two
machine guns they had in town, and
which the Americans captured. Villa
has other machine guns and number
of field pieces. But they were not in