Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-28
Villa 7 certified
For First ime
mBLoodyCa reer
Slaughter of His Followers in
Fight at Columbus Put Fear
of American Soldier Into His
Bandit Heart
BY JUNIUs B. WOOD,
stan Correspondent for The Atlanta
Journal and the Chicago Daily News.

JOuruaA anu the 0aAAS
HEADQUARTERS OF THE UNITED
STATES EXPEDITIONARY FORCES
IN MEXICO, March 2S.-(By Aeroplane
TO Columbus. $50 far the MeNicans, eX-
cept for the cooperation given by the
troops. have been neutral toward the
army. Those who had supplies TO sell
have been ready to accept American
money and none have threatened oppo-
sition. The only serious accident was
10 a number of negro troopers Of the
Tenth cavalry and they were injured on
a train. Throughout the line Of march
few Mexicans were seen until the Ster-
ras came in sight 1t seemed as if
troopers and infantrymen were march
ing through a deserted country. Even
i'm the towns only 2 few children and
an occasional woman were in sight.
The fight of Villa and his band from
Columbus was clearly marked by dead
Mexicans. broken down horses, over
which -vultures were circling, and cold
camp fires with scattered tins and torn
blankets, part of the loot from the
American border Near one of the
American camps the bodies of two Mex
leans and another man. supposed to be
an American from his red hair, were
found The body was not positively
Identified, but was given a burial. Some
said ne was a Tancher named Mckay
and others hazarded a guess that he was
a renegade American who had been with
Villa. II was plain that he had been
killed by the bandit.
VILLA is TERRIFIED.
Villa is said by those who have seen
his fight through the country to be
terrified for the first time. in his bloody
career The fight the few American
soldiers put up was unexpected by MIN.
His dead and wounded numbered close
TO 800. At Ascension he impressed five
wagons to carry the wounded who had
survived the rough ride. Among them
was Pablo Lopez, his murderous hrst
assistant who directed the raid.
At CorTslitos his wagons were turned
back and other wagons taken. Two
wounded were left at Ascension, but
they insisted they had heen impressed
into the band when il went north. At
CorralitOs the remains of camp fires
were found along the long avenue back
Of the ranch house and i'm the last big
cottonwood tree next to the river are
the marks of the bullets which killed
I'VE faithful employees. The big ranch
OF nearly 1000 square miles and a
headquarters house like modern hotel
are to be abandoned unless peace comes
10 Mexico.
a number OF these have been out for
several days. ODeletiOn by the censor is
indicated at this point. Mr.. Wood evil
IDENTIFY had written something of the
activity OF the aeroplanes which met
with blue pencilingD
The weather has been so tempestous
some of the time that the biplanes could
not be used. A bowling blizzard of
snow and sand swept over the camp for
two days. Though the air was bitter
IL, areasya R1f
tude of 500 feet. the sun was shining
brightly. It's tropical heat was notice
able So fierce was the wind that at
mess time food was blown from the
tin plates while over the coffee and
what remained of the food was a rapid
" increasing layer of dust which would
have paralyzed an anti-germ devotee.
Before a meal is finished consider
able rim of mud plainly marks on the
plate where the moist food ends and the
dry plate rim begins. In some places
they have laws that food must be
screened or daintily wrapped in tissue
paper, vet everybody is healthy here.
To those marching with an army any
food tastes good
II is surprising how quickly mess
stoves come out of wagon trains and
fires start when a camp is reached
Salt pork and gravy or corn beef stew,
known as slumgullion, is the staple
When the portable bakery is working
there is bread and when not. hard bread,
a compromise between crackers and
hard tack. When il can be secured
there is fresh meat, and some Of the
officers messes have eggs, chicken, fish
and other foods. When a column is
marching breakfast usually comes at (
m. The call wakens you up in the
cold and dark fifteen minutes earlier.
The next meal is cooked as soon as pos
sible after another camp is reached.
In camp arising hours are not so early.
but the last of the breakfast is gone
at 1880 and everybody has washed his
own tin plate. cup. knife and fork, and
started out about his work.
Headquarters is in communication
with the outside world by a wireless
which works when wea Their permits, a
field telegraph wire which is occasion
ally cut by the sharp hoofs Of pack
mules and the motor trucks, which can
reach Columbus in sixteen hours. Strict
censorship is maintained over every
thing which goes out. Even personal
mail must be submitted to the censor
or commanding officer before it can
leave camp. Usually the mans word
that IL does not contain tabOOed infoT-
nation is sufficient.