Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-03-25
INVESTIGATE BORDER
CROSSING AND MURDERS
Two Women and a Man Kill
ed by Raiders West Of
Columbus; Presence of
Force in This Vicinity
Threatens Line of Com
munication to Expedition
in Mexico

Ell Paso, Texas, March 25.-Fran-
cisco Villa was reported early to-day
TO be fleeing west in the San Miguel
country, having successfully eluded
the encircling ring that was being
drawn around him by American and
Carranza troops. News OF the out
laws retreat westward was brought
here from FL Vale, but. could not he
confirmed at Fort Bliss or in Mexican
official circles
Several thousand American soldiers
arc known to be searching the coun-
try south of Casas Grandes in every
direction to locate the bandit but
have not come into contact with HIM.
Wire communication out of El
Paso into Mexico is still interrupted
and ii is believed that rowing bands
OF Villa men are responsible for the
wire cutting. having been detached
from the main Villa command for this
purpose.
Dispatches received at Mexico City
and Douglas, Ariz., apparently confirm
reports to FL Paso from General
Eertani i'm the field that the troops
of the de facto government had come
into contact with Villa in the Santa
krlara canyon. General Pershing has
lade no mention of this battle and
army officers here incline 10 the belief
that it was probably not more than an
outpost engagement.
Major Sample. in command of the
United States army base at Columbus
has been asked to investigate the re-
port brought into Douglas, Ariz., that
Villa bandits had crossed the border
eight miles west of Columbus and
murdered three Americans, two wo-
meu and one man.
The bandits, numbering 100 or
more, are said TO have recrossed into
Ill
uf Villa forces in the Upper Galeana
district would be a threat to the line
. of communication to the base of the
American expedition at Casas Grandes.
Await Word of Fight
The most curious feature of the
whole situation. the question why Gen
eral Pershing made no report on the
battle said 10 have been fought. re-
mained unsolved. While the story of
the surrounding of Villa and his fol-
lowers might be dismissed as prema-
ture, it is known that the American
columns have penetrated the territory
where the Villa bands are operating
and word is eagerly awaited from Cen
eral Pershing of the first clash between
the bandits and the troops of the
United States.
The veil of mystery which has
dropped over the operations around
Namiquipa was riValed by the con-
General Luis Herrera had turned his
arms against the de facto government
The latest news TO be brought here
from chihuahua came with the arrival
of Charles r. Yeats. an American min
ing man, who reached here from Chi
huahua City on an early morning train.
Yeats said that Herrera was not in the
Mexican state capital when he left and
that city appeared as much in the
dark as to his Whereabouts as FL Paso.
Reiterates Revolt Rumor
II have lived twenty years in Mex
leo" he said, "and l never felt certain
from one day to another where any
leader stood. They are all individual
its, and pay little attention to any GEN.
tral authority. II is positive that Her.
rera was bitterly opposed to the entry
OF American troops into Mexico and
openly accused CarranZa of being false
10 the national honor of Mexico but
whether he has gone as far as actual
revolt I cannot say"
Yeats said that there was grave un-
rest in Chihuahua and rising tide of
hostility against Americans, but that
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