Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-20
BANDIT WREAKS
VENGEANCE AS HE
TURNS IN FLIGHT
CONTINUED from Page one)

mare mountains. so close 70 them in fact
that II his reputation as a fox holds
good during the American chase. he will
be able TO make a puzzling disappearance
In these ranges within q very few hours
hard riding.
stiII Keeps His Distance.
! BY all accounts he is more than 100
miles ahead OF the Americans. about the
same distance he has been out OF their
reach for a week. but with one possibly
| important difference--that while hereto
fore the Americans have been riding on
somewhat cold trail. they are now
nearing ground which villa very recently
passed over and where they may have
practical opportunity 20 test out the tenn
per Of the rural Mexicans, from whom
they might receive valuable information.
The story that villa Il gathering men
and preparing to resist was revived in
/ constitutionaiist circles today. and he
was even said to have 100000 rounds OF
cartridges and shells many Of home
manufacture. secreted in the mountains
where he was 10 make q stand Doubt
that villa would do any such thing was
expressed. however. by Andres Garcia,
the Mexican consul here. who claimed
that villa intends to make the American
declared he was convinced that the bandit
had no intention OF fighting Americans.
"One Of my men," he said, who re-
turned from the Galeans district today,
brought me positive information that
Villa was disbanding his men and in
tended 10 hide in the mountains with
three or four Of his trusted followers and
defy the Americans to find him.
Might Hunt for Years.
AN army might wander In that region
for years and never find man like
Villa. who knows every foot OF the
ground.
Il am convinced that villa intends to
play hide and seek with the American
soldiers, with the intention OF making
their expedition ridiculous. He may make
raids on communications or something
like that. but he will never risk a real
battle"
The rewards which have been offered
| for Villa, alive or dead. In Mr.. Garcias
opinion, are the best hope of ending the
bandits career.
THE news OF these rewards will flash
through the region" he said. and
should be very much surprised II they
do not bring some results"
The Carranzista consul has a plan of
his own. which he believes Is the best
way TO CAPTURE villa
The Way 60 Get villa.
General Gutierrez" he said. told me
that he expected to have 1900 men on
Villas trail within week. Then there
are 1900 to 5000 American troops. I do
not believe that all these thousands of
men with all their equipment are needed.
What IN needed Is about five columns
OF 500 picked men apiece. all well
mounted and carrying the least possible
amount OF equipment. These columns
should be in sufficiently close touch TO
be able to render assistance 90 any one
OF them that villa attacked. II they
moved fast and were the right men they
would have good chance 20 lay villa by
the heels"
Mr.. Garcia denied emphatically the re-
peated statment that the people Of Guer-
rero and Galeana are In sympathy with
OF terrorism he has inaugurated there.
| but Il must be remembered that the villa
OF today Is not the Villa OF five years ago.
In the carly part OF his career, he was
very liberal with the people about him.
| IL he got $500, say in a raid, he would
give half OF Il away, But when he began
to gather power he slezed everything for
himself. Those people among whom he Is
now have long history of murders and
attacks upon their women to avenge. The
only hold he has on them is fear
North central Mexico. In the neighbor-
hood OF the former villa stronghold OF
Torreon, and about Durango, furnished
reports of battles between small bands
OF outlaws and conStitutionalist troops.
One OF these bandit organizations In the
| fight near Torreon was credited with be-
ing q villa organization. Nothing was
available tonight upon the outcome OF
this fight.
LulI at CoIunbus.
The Columbus camp was enjoying
Iull today. Certain troops have been dts
patched somewhere" and certain others
have arrived and taken the places OF
those who have gone into the sand waste
lying south OF the railway track. The
aeroplanes have been tested out and seam
to be waiting transport The big special
motor trucks used with the aeroplanes TO
follow the flights are tust now busy with
the moro prosaic duties OF carrying fod-
der, provisions and other supplies. The
number OF motor trucks will be greatly
Increased soon. according 10 reports
around the camp.
This morning reveille was blown at
o'clock over in the cavalry camp, but
when thu people OF Columbus turned out
OF bed they found nothing but foot and
hoof prints and Uttered sand in what has
been a populous corner Of the camp.
There were stlll plenty OF soldiers on
hand. and Columbus billiard rooms and
soft drink places-the town Is dry-dally
take In enough to pay the city debt
An automobile record between Denver
and FL Paso. run OF SO miles. was made
by Lieutenant A. NJ Graham Of the Elev-
enth cavalry In answering the call to .
with his regiment in Columbus by Thurs
day. He was on the road fifty-five
hours. with seven hours sleep. iie made
the run alone.
r.. vvaaaa~~. - Ch.a~o-