Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-05-03
j. S. TROOPS WIN 2
FIGHTS IN MEXICO
Six VilIiStaS Killed and Many
Wounded.
DoDD'S LOSES TWO MEN
Three Americans Also Hurt In Clash
With Bandits Near Tomaehio--
Col. Edwin Routs outlaws in
Battle az Cocomorachic.

Field Headquarters, April rs, via
wireless to Columbus, n. M.-Two
Americans were killed and three
wounded in Tn engagement between
cavalrymen under Col. George A. Dodd
and 260 Villa bandits at Tomachio, in
the center of the Sierra Madres.
The Villa command under four
chiefs, Baca, Cervantes, Dominguez
and RIGS, were surprised in the late
afternoon and routed. After the bat
tie the Americans found six dead
Mexicans and nineteen wounded.
while a quantity of horses, arms and
equipment was captured.
Reports received here made no men
tionof Villa himself being with the COM
mand, although it had been reported
previously that he was in hiding in
the mountains in that vicinity.
The Villa bandits were encamped in
a jagged. rocky defile when they
caught sight of the American column
riding toward them. about 4:30 o'clock
in the afternoon.
Immediately the Mexican bugles
sounded the call to arms Through
the mountain pass the two commands
struggled the Villa bandits dropping
all cumbersome equipment in pre-
cipitate fight before Colonel Dodd's
cavalrymen
Once during the fight the Villa
forces received re-enforcements and
attempted vainly TO make stand
against the Americans. When night
came the pursuit became increasingly
difficult because of the nature of the
terrain. honeycombed as it is with
mountain caves, gorges and trails, in
which there are many jagged rocks,
ruinous to the feet of the horses.
Colonel Dodd pursued the Villa ban
dts toward Minaca, his base, where
he is now reported to be awaiting sup
plies.
The 10 Villa wounded taken in the
engagement and the % horses and
arms captured were taken to Minaca
to await General Pershing's orders as
TO their disposition.
Colonel Dodd was given much credit
here for his feat and was officially
commended for the promptness shown
by his small outnumbered force.
News OF the engagements was re-
ceived at army headquarters at San
Antonio Tex. in two delayed dis
patches. General Funston immediate
" forwarded them to Washington The
first dispatch is one from General
Pershing. which is as follows:
"Namiquipa, April PA report re-
ceived from Colonel Dodd. whose col
umn OF four troops, Seventh cavalry,
has been operating southwest of Mi
naca, states that he overlook band of
Villistas near Tomachio. killing SIX
and wounding nineteen others, many
probably fatally.
twenty-five horses were captured.
Our loss, two killed and three wound
ed Fight lasted until after dark I'm
possible to tell definitely loss of vii
listas
DO not give entire credit to report
of his death.
Our killed at TomachiC we're Ralph
A. Raw, saddler. TroopL, Seventh cav
airy: Private Oliver Bonshee. Troop
H, Seventh cavalry; wounded, Thomas
Henry. Seventh cavalry: Tillman T.
Matthias Troop L, Seventh cavalry.
Dodd returning to Minaca."
General Funston forwarded the fol-
lowing dispatch under his signature
Late reports from Colonel Erwin
state that on the goth instant scout
ing party from his commend encoun-
tered small body of villistas near
Cocomorachic and MORALLY wounded
four Wounded in Dodd's command
doing well and none expected to die .