The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-04-17

the bandit chieftain Is expected to ar
rive before night.
Washington, April 17.--American
troops will be withdrawn from Mexico
Immediately If Francisco Villa is dead.
Administration officials made this un.
qualified statement last night com.
menting on reports from Mexican
sources that the bandits body had
been discovered and was being taken
from Cusihuiriachic TO Chihuahua City
by special train. Neither the state nor
war department had any confrmatory
adyices on the subject from American
sources. Reports reaching FL Paso
and other border points were forward.
ed for information, but neither Ameri-
can consuls nor military authorities in
Mexico were heard from
There was no attempt at Washing
ton TO disguise the eager interest in
thu reported killing of the bandit
Every message received was closely
scrutinized at the state department
and sent to the White House. In some
quarters there was a disposition to
credit them notwithstanding the fact
that border reports generally have
been viewed with so much suspicion
since the pursuit began.
Officials would not discuss what
proof they would deem necessary 10
establish the fact that the body men
toned in these reports is that of
Villa. 1t is certain. however, that
every effort will be made to obtain so
complete an Identification as to make
sure beyond reasonable doubt that
the man who waged war with a few
hundred bandits against the United
States and the de facto government
Of Mexico simultaneously has paid the
penalty Consul Letcher at Chihua-
hua should be able to make the identi-
tication
Customs Collector Cobb at FL Paso
notified the state department late yes
terday that Mexican customs officials
at Juarez had told him the body OF
the bandit had been found and would
be taken last night to Chihuahua City
The Mexican embassy earlier had re.
ceived the following message from
Mexican Consul Garcia at FL Paso.
THE telegraph operators at Custi
and MADEIRA have informed me that
they have found the body of Fran
cisco Villa and that It will be con
Quoted to Chihuahua"
San Antonio, Tex. April 17.--lt was
a force of Carranza soldiers who en-
gagged the little detachment of Ameri
can cavalry at Parra Wednesday in a
regularly organized action. accordlnl
to detailed report written by Mai
Frank Tompkins and forwarded tC
Sen Funston yesterday by Gen. Perish
ing.
! Forty of the Mexican soldiers. in
cludng one major and one civilian
were killed by the retreating Amer
leans. The American casualties wer,
two killed and six wounded, the lat
ter including Mai Tompkins Hi
wound was slight
| Maj. Tompkins' account OF the ac
tion was received at Gen. Funston
headquarters last night and served (,
clarity Gen. Pershing's report received
Saturday in which the indentity of tn,
attacking force was not stated ant
IN which he left the inference that tn,
cavalry was under Col. w. G. Brown
| The Americans now are north ant
west of Parral, reinforced by a squad
ron of the 10th cavalry unde
Mai Young, accompanied by Col. w
c. Brown and picked squadron III
der Mai. Robert IIowse. Fears TO
their safety have been dispelled b
this report and by troop disposition
that Gen pershing has ordered, bu
the character of which Gen. Funsto
did not wish to reveal.
Mai. Tompkins story of the fgh
indicates lack of control over th
troops by the commanding officer G
the Parral garrison, Gen. Lo2ano, an
bitter antagonism by the public an
troops The fighting took place on
side of Parral and was continued owe
Il route Of eight miles to Santa Cru
a station eight miles northeast of Pa
( raj on the railroad,
+ Gen Funston said last night thu
, while Mai Tompkns undoubtedly ac
}. ed in accordance with his best iud
n ment In retreating, he regretted /
' had not made n stand on account
the ill.eftects the story OF his retrej