Omaha daily bee., 1916-04-01
AMERICAN TROOPS
.ss ~ ) BANDITS
,,es-Se
:. lila Outlaws Do Not Know of Sol
diers' Approach Until They
Feel Blow.
CHIEF PERMANENTLY CRIPPLED

COLUMBUS, N. NJ. March 31.--A
message from Lieutenant Colonel d.
c. Cabell, General Pershing's chief
of staff. said Villa was carried away
in carriage after the battle.
wounded and with his hip perma-
nently disabled.
Colonel Cabell in his message CON
frmed the report that American troops
under Colonel George A. Dodd had de-
cisivelv defeated 800 lVilistas, killing 81,
including General Elseo Hernandez.
Pablo Lopez, Villas lieutenant who was
reported to have been killed i'm the Co
lumbus raid. Is stated TO have been Sc
riously wounded.
Attacks ut Dawn.
Colonel Dodd attacked the villa camp
with 400 members Of the Seventh and
Tenth cavalry at dawn completely sur
prising the Mexicans and forcing them
Immediately on the defensive. five
hour running fight follawed and last re-
ports from Colonel Dodd were that the
American troopers we're close behind the
Villistas. who were fleeing further into
the mountains.
II was indicated that the Mexican
forces were somewhere northwest OF the
railroad at the last reports to General
Pershing's headquarters. Before the bat
tie the American forces marched through
out the late day and all night, making a
march of fifty-five miles through the
chill mountain night In seventeen hours,
Several Taken Prisoners.
Several villa prisoners we're taken in
the engagement, the exact number not
being indicated in reports received here,
Also a number of Carranza soldiers. who
were being held with tho bandits forces
awaiting execution, we're liberated and
are assisting the American forces In tho
pursuit.
The villa flight after the engagement
was an utter rout, arms and equipment
being thrown away by the Mexicans In
their haste. Two machine guns. a guam
tity of ammunition and supplies wert
captured by Colonel Dodds' forces.
The dead and woundedSlyillistas wer,
lying about the field over which the
Americans fought and Colonel Dodds' re
ports said that perhaps the estimate o
! thirty killed was low. The names of th'
Americans wounded were not confined
in the dispatch, but n was reported tina
none of the men ware in a dangerou
condition.
Later reports indicate that villa haS
separated his 500 men into small band
each, fleeing in a different direction ant
that the bandit himself with n few
chosen followers were being jolted owe
mountain roads in light carriage in al
attempt to reach a hiding place
sentries Arc Surprised.
While few details were given in tn
dispatcheJ 1t was asserted that. despit
the arduous mountain march OF tn
Americans, the advance guard crept ul
through arroyos beyond the villa out
posts before they were discovered an
trat the American Sprinfie'd iifles MOVE
the Mexicans down as they sprang frou
their pallets.
Villa, himself, was in a little tent on
knoll in the rear of the encampmcnt an
II was asserted took no active part In tn
engagement, leaving the direction OF hi
troops to General Hernandez.
The dispatches did not state definitel
that Villa was wounded In the engage
ment. but rather intimated that he ha
been wounded previously and was nursin
his injuries at the time OF the attack
This is taken here to mean either tina
he was wounded. as has been reported !
the attack on Columbus, or in the mino
skirmish with the Carranza forces in tn
vicinity of Namaquipa early last week.
The isolation of the country in whlc
tho enga cement was fought and the dii
ficulties in communication and trans or
ton are shown by the fact that Colon'
} Dodds report did not reach the head
quarters of General Pershing at Coloni
! !