The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1916-03-17
VILLA BANDITS RAID
new MEXICO TOWN
TORCH APPLIED TO TOWN AND
AMERICANS ARE MURDERED IN
NIGHT ATTACK BY BANDITS.
0. S. TROOPS INTO mexico
FLEEING Mexicans Are Persued Into So
nora by United States Cavalry.
Washington UphoIds Crossing
of Border by Troops, Etc.

Columbus. N. M-Francisco Villa,
Jutlawed Mexican bandit, raided Unit.
I'd States territory Thursday. With
500 men he attacked Columbus, killed
At least sixteen Americans and fired
many buildings before he was driven
back across the international border
At least 25O troopers Of the Thir-
zenith United States Cavalry follow
I'd the Villa band into Mexico Re-
ports to Colonel H. J. Slocum, COM
handing, stated that Villa had made a
stand fifteen miles south Of the bor'
Ter, where spirited fighting ensued,
In this engagement an unnamed pri'
gate was killed and Captain George
Williams, adjutant of the Thirteenth
Cavalry, was wounded.
The small detachment of troopers
lnder Majors Frank Tompkins and Ell
ner Lindsey, fighting dismOunted,
made determined stand against the
renewed Villa attack and at last re-
ports were holding their ground.
Villa threw out heavy rear guard
and effectually stopped the American
advance. Meanwhile the main body
Of the bandits was believed to have
retreated into the Mexican hills, pre-
sumably making for the Boca Grande
river, the nearest water.
The raid on American territory
proved costly to the bandit chieftain.
The bodies of eighteen Mexican ban
dts, including Pablo Lopez, second in
command, had been gathered and burn
ed before noon, and troopers reported
an undetermined number Of dead still
lying in the brush.
Led to the attack under the slogan,
Death to the Americans" Villas fol.
lowers fought with desperation. Just
before dawn they crept along bitches
skirting the United States cavalry
camp and dashed into the sleeping
IOWu, hiring heavily.
The first volley brought American
troopers into almost instant action.
While a portion of the raiders engaged
the Cavalrymen others detailed by the
bandit Chieftain began applying the
torch and shooting American civilians
who ventured from the buildings
Lights in homes and public buildings
Immediately became targets for snip,
ers posted at Villas direction. Other
bandits, creeping close to American
homes, entiCed a number of civilians
into the open with English spoken
invitations. A number of fatalities are
attributed to this ruse.
Stores were looted and oil was pour,
ed upon frame structures and the
match applied by still other bandits
The postoffice was raided and the fur
niture smashed, but the hooters Sc,
cured only one small registered pack,
age.
Many civilians barricaded them
selves in their homes and fired at the
MeXicans as they darted through the
streets The fighting in the town end
ed almost as suddenly as it began
Less than two hours after the first
shot was heard Villas buglers sounded
the retreat and the raiders began a
disOrderly flight, followed closely by
American troopers.
List of American dead civilians:
Milton James, Mrs. Milton James, J
s. Dean, j. ]. Moore, A. L. Richie, Wal
ton Walker De Witt Miller, H. M
Hart. Soldiers; Frank Kendvall, far
rier, X Troop, Thirteenth Cavalry;
Sergeant Marg A. Dobbs, machine gun
troop; Corporal Paul Simon, Sergeant
John Nievergelt, band; Corporal Harry
Wiswall, G Troop; Thomas Butler, pri
vate, F. Troop; Fred A. Griffin, pri
vate, X Troop; unnamed trooper killed
across border.
Washington stands squarely behind
Colonel H. j. Slocum in sending his
cayalrymen into Mexico in pursuit OF
Francisco Villa and his band of out
laws, who raided Columbus, N. M,
! Thursday, numbering American sol
diers and citizens ard firing the town
Secretary Lansing has informed the
de factO government of Mexico through
Eliseo Arredondo, it's ambassador-des
ignate at Washington, that he trusted
no objection would be made to the
action OF the American troops, they
having followed what is known in mill
tary circles as a hot trail" No or
ders have been issued for the return
of the soldiers and it is not probable
any will be issued for the present