Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-04-05
Colonel Dodd's Relentless Pur-
suit Enables Him to Surprise
Strong Force Of Bandits
and Kill Many,
RUNNING FIGHT ON
HORSEBACK ENSUES
Aviator Renders Valuable Ser
vice, CavaIrymen Dispense
With SabreS and Depend
Upon Carbine and Revolver.
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inv MORNING IouRnaL SPECIAL taAssp wisst
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Gen. j. ]. Pershing's Camp, San
Geronimo Ranch, chihuahua, April
(by Aeroplane and Motor Couriers TO
Columbus, ~ NJ, April 4)--The
American expeditionary forces first
fight with the Nillista bandits was u
running match, with the bandits try
ing to do all the running. This was
learned today, when part of Colonel
Dodds command. which participated
in the fight. arrived at a supply base
near the headquarters camp, When tho
Americans overlook the Villistas In a
surprise attack last "Wednesday morn
ing the bandits made no attempt To
fight with the Americans, whom they
oqualled in numbers. except when they
were brought to bay by the hard rid
ing OF the pursuers. Troopers who
participated in the fight said that the
bandits rode silently, as II they were
in fright
No viIlista Yclls.
Few Of them yelled, even in the ex-
eitement of fighting, although yelling
has been heretofore characteristic
Of the villistas in action. The bandits
rode crouched over their horses scat
tering over wide zone, leaving the
Americans to force all the fighting
These were plainly some OF the VII
istas who participated In the Colum-
bus raid, and apparently they had no
heart left for another battle. with.
American soldiers. The Guerrero
river divided some OF the pursuers and
the bandits for II time during the five
hours running fight. Americans gall
loped for some distance along ono
bank of the river. firing as they rode,
at bandits on the other side.
Good American shooting.
As the Vllistas in small groups rode
up some of the immense gradually
slopng sides of the foothills in the
long flight. they offered clear but
tiny targets for American forces strung
out along the line Of pursuit Against
the brown grass of the open slopes
men and horses were distinctly visible
for great distances until they reached
the almost vanishing point of size.
Some of the troops had unusual oppor-
tunity to test their marksmanship at
the extreme range of killing for an
army rifle, about 5000 yards. At
about mile few Of them made hits.
but most of the thirty known dead
were shot at shorter ranges
Rough Mexican Surgeons.
The number of Villlstas wounded
is problematcal. as these bandits are
noted for their hardihood In recoy-
ering from wounds without what is
surgery as known TO mod
ern armies A meat saw TO amputaie
a limb or an arm, without anesthetio
for the patient, is an ordinary opera
tion among them. When the amnu-
tntion liz done. the saw is heated and
clapped over the raw wound to cau-
terize ii, Wounded men treated by
these primitive methods are easily
hidden in the mountains where the
Vilistas fled after the battle OF Guef-
rero Colonel Dodd's men looked fit
Notwithstanding their days Of riding
and fighting without rations other
Ihan such native food as they could
buy along the line of march.
Mislcd by Guide.
The Guerrero river runs immclI-
ltcly past the town of Guerrero In
closing about the town the Ameri-
cans placed two squadrons of cavalry
IN the roads facing the city and an
,ther squadron across the river on
he opposite side of the town. ~
fourth command took position near
4 ford on the river at one edge of
own, Owing to "a guides error the
squadron which was TO occupy the
position across the river was slow III
lrriving and the Mexicans saw one
squadron in front of the town before
hey knew that there was any COM
nand across the river.
Fleeing bandits Hit.
AT first the Villistas tried to ride
,ut of town toward the southwest.
)ut the cavalry in front of the city
ihot too many of them to make this
inc of escape feasible. In this dash
few Vilistas got across the river
ma escaped in a southwesterly diree-
ion. The main force then turned
northeast, heading across the river,
where the cavalry squadron which
lad been delayed by poor guides was
lot yet in sight on the pass in that
Erection.
The delayed squadron arrived IL
Ime TO catch this retreat ig full
wing and to shoot down many horses
nd men but not quickly enough to
top the escape of the bulk of Villas
Turning into the pass
Yhere the villistas had headed north
asst the Americans pursued them for
,ur hours, when the bandits formed