Norwich bulletin., 1916-04-05

San Antonio. Texas, April 4.-Sur-
prised during their slsstn. one of the
groups OF Villas force driven from
Guerrero was defeated Saturday by
squadron OF the Tenth Cavalry under
Colonel w. c. Brown. according to in
formation secured by General Per-
shing and forwarded by him to Gen.
Funston today.
80 to 90 Bandits Killed
In this engagement, tho second the
American troops have had with Villas
men, the bandits loss was estimated at
from 30 TO 10 killed. No mention was
| made Of the American loss.
| Colonel Browns encounter with the
MeEican5 had not been reported 10
! General FNprshlng when he mSde his re-
port TO General Funston. his Informal
/ ton being gained from friendly Mex
/ leans who had arrived Ut point near
| t;Ub.o. where Major Evans OF the
| Tenth Cavalry. halted yesterday.
Major Evans reported that Saturday
| Colonel Grown had encountered I'D
Of Villas men and was pursuing y m
| through san Antonio, chihuahua. - on
| afterwards. MeEicaus who a.--ived
/ from that vicinity declared that he had
| overtaken the wandering bandits at
the village OF Aguas Calientes. % miles
| eoutheast OF BachlnIva.
/
Villas men. according TO their ver-
unsuspeCting OF the presence OF IN en-
emy a minute before they Were at
| tackled.
It was about noon when Colonel
Brown brought his cavalry within
easy range. The Meztcans were lying
about the place. many OF them asleep
and u their horses grazing in many
cases some distance from them. De-
| tails Of the action were not told. but
the MeNiCans said that besides those
killed the Americans captured IN equal
number of horses. General PeTshinE
added that his ~rDC-;~ Of tire engage
ment lacked confirmation. though h q
crcdeuCe ul tAe n-ssa was indicated by
the fact that h= transmitted It to Cen
eral Funston.
Interest at Funston's Headquarters.
The encounter aroused deep interest
at General EunsLOn's headq CarJsrs.
| where additional details were awaited
| eagerly but il was realized by officers
| that the effect OF Colonel Browns night
and Of other minor engagements that
may occur is only indirect, so far a.
the greater problem Of catching Villa
/ concerned. Engagements Of that
] character, it was said, may now be eN-
pected from time to time and the run
ming down OF the marauding bands Is
essential to the safety OF the American
.
effects so far as Villa is concerned.
Will be to destroy the morale OF his
supporting force
Other Bands Operating.
| There are known TO be other bands
operating in that same part Of Mexico
and a part OF the American forces
must remain TO deal with them while
the other pushes on in the pursuit OF
sTl1s sCti0D south of Racbfnaya only
| served to strengthen the opinion OF
stan officers that If the punitive eNpe-
/ dition is to complete its work many
more troops must be sent into the
country or the Mexican Central Rail-
even through Chihuahua to points
farther south must be used
Freer Use of Railroads Necessary.
The official admission at General
| F'unstOn's headquarters today that the
success of the expedition now depend
ed largely on the freer use OF the rail-
roads or the material strengthening OF
| the long roundabout line Of communi-
cation and its branches, revealed a sit
uaion that It wa believed might alter
the entire plan Of pursuit
Villas Southwark Shift Credited
Villas latest southwark shift was
/. credited in official quarters since II
came from consular reports in which
the outlaw was located well beyond
chihuahua City and evidently trying
to reach Parral or perhaps even Tor
reon or Durango City. In the vicinity
. of all those cities there are known tC
. be operating organized forces OF
. illa's men aggregating a strength OF
some thousands. According TO al
late reports Villa appears to be travel
ling fast now and already has placed
, between himself and the pursuing
, Americans a considerable distance.
Quicker Means of Sending Troops.
To meet the new situation staff Of
ficers assert a quicker means of send.
: ing forward troops and supplies should
be made and 1t was pointed out thai
! the direct Juarez-Chihuahu ua Railroad
. offered that means or a large number
o Troops must be sent to Columbu,
Immediately for campaigning in MeXi.
, CO.
More Troops Required.
To reinforce the line OF communi.
cation now maintained would requir,
the calling Of the few regiments left II
the United States other than thos,
engaged in border patrol duty or sta.
toned in the southern department
None OF the troops stationed along tht
, OF army officers here, unless they arr
replaced by other military units. Tk,
only remaining regiments that Nigh
D be called are the Second Cavalry anC
I the Third and Thirteenth Infantry
Army mep do not believe however
] that the troops along the line Of com
munication even II Increased by thesl
gi three regiments. would be adequate 4
guard the line IL It's is extended from