The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1916-04-05
Some Wonderful Feats In
the Villa Chase.
MANY HARDSH|pS ARE BORNE
And Difficulties Overcome By
Our Soldier Boys On
the Trail.
HIKES IN STRANGE COUNTRY

With American Outposts in Next
co to Columbus, N. NJ, April 1 (by
aeroplane) Cavalry marches sur
passing all known previous perform
ances of mounted troops in Mexico
have been made in the pursuit of
Francisco Villa by some of the hy-
ing columns sent out to cut off the
avenues of escape of the Mexican
bandit. The diary of cavalry OFF,
Ger, obtained to-day, gives roman
tic sketch OF 'one such march. Names
and dates cannot be published. The
first entry shows the abandon with
which the Americans threw them
selves into the chase. 1t says:
I'VE arrived with practically moth
ing to eat and no grain for the
horses"
How food was obtained in compar-
alive plenty, for men and horses, is
also a military secret. However
some of the minor sidelights were
furnished by this officers record.
1.-THE night of March - said the
diary, eve hiked all night, making
fifty miles, including a fifteen-mile
climb to an altitude of 10000 feet
over a terrific mountain trail. We
made camp at s a. m. and in the ev-
ening started over mountain trails
5000 feet high. In march of ITO
miles from our base we slept three
hours. AL the mountain trails were
very bad.
mo sign yet of Villa, and no sign
of beef. We saw one COW. Troops
got two deer. They kept the deer
and did not loan a bite to any one
else. Hogs!
Some of the men obtained rhu-
barb, with which they made a very
good stew. We also got some ducks.
- hiked twenty miles, and +
IN worried about him. Later. -
has returned safely. He located
wire and supplies for us. We were
to take five days rations for men
t4he we wanted, we took only two
days. Spent two days in high alti-
tude in rain. The weather is other
wise fine. We have been among
pines nearly all of the time. with
canyons and massive, rocky or bril-
liant semi-metallic peaks, all about
us. The scenery is most wonderful,
much like Yellowstone. I imagine.
Probably villa could hide here
Indefinitely but he would starve.
Later, march resumed, making
thirty miles to a point where We OBJ
tanned beef and one mess of beans"
The remainder of the diary, to
date, cited two further advances.
and then the trip of four-man pa
troll, led by this officer. across
range of mountains to receive orders |
from one of the main line communi-
cations. The diary recorded no in
cidents of the side trips as worthy of
mention. although when the patrol
arrived in the large communication
camp, its speed and daring was COM
mended. To-day the same small pa
troll mounted its horses and gave the
big camp laughing farewell, start
ing a long, hard. lonesome ride to
overtake the flying column to which
the couriers belonged.
Scouting on foot. done by some of
the aviators. along with Topographic
cal work, was brought to light to-
day in one of the field camps. One
aviator's experiences began with his
landing after dark near the scene
of. mountain side grass spot. He
said
about shutdown. wishing to see
some of the aeroplanes, which had
been flying below me, and which had
disappeared against the dark black
E3und of the earth. glided to a
level where expected 10 see the
other planes against the lines of the
horizon. However. the other planes
als$ glided at the same time. so that
did not see them. Soon after
dark, while looking for signal bon
fire. saw what seemed to be
beautiful FIRE and descended to in
vestigate. |
Observation was not easy at the )