The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1916-03-22
Pursuing Villa.
Both Mexican and American
Soldiers Have Orders to
Get Bandit Chief.

who with force of between
1900 aud 1000 mon crossed in
to Columbus, n. Nj. where he
killed ten civilians and seven
American soldiers. after setting
fire to the town. Citizens at
tempting to escape from burn
ing buildings were shot by
Shippers. With Villas troops
was Mrs. Maud Hawke Wright,
who had been hold captive by
Villa and who for nine days
had suffered terrible hardships
on the march Of the bandits 20
Columbus. The MeXicans had
killed her husband and had al
so taken her baby, The latter
has been recovered
immediately after the raid,
Villa fled across the border and
was followed by a small detach
ment of American troops under
command of Major Frank
Tompkins. With % officers
and men Major Tompkins chas
ed 500 Villa men for fifteen
miles, killing 75 of them and
suffering no casualties. He
was finally compelled to return
to the American side,
While General Fred Funston,
known as "Fghting Fred, ;"
will be in full command Of the
eXpeditionary forces, the actual
lead will be under Brigadier
General j j. Pershing Both
OF these officers have seen ser
vice in Cuba and III the Phillip
pines.
First Chief Carrnnzn has Civ
en- his consent to the pursuit of
the bandits, aud President Viii
son has notified Carranzn that
Mexican troops may cross into
American territory when nece5
sary to chase outlaws. The or
der has been given to take Villa
dead or alive, and the troops
will mako every effort to "getn
him. Large rewards have been
offered for his capture by both
American and the Mexican
governments
The American force numbers
about II 900, all branches of
the service being represented
Arrangements have been made
to replace the troops on the
border who have been dispatch
ed to Mexico. People living on
the boundary line are fearful of
Mexican uprisings, as there are
more McXiCaus than Americans
at several points.
Hundreds of Americans have
already reached safety on the
American side of the Rio
Grandc. The large smelling
and mining companies have
closed down and have advised
their employees to seek refuge in
the United States Many Mex
leans are also refugeeing To the
United States.
Although Carranza has con
scented to the entry of American
troops into Mexico, President
Wilson firmly giving MS
surance that the expedition is
strictly for punitive purposes, ii
is feared disgruntlcd leaders
opposing Carranza may attempt
10 unite the Mexicans TO resist
the Americans. The army of
invasion will therefore See that
no hostile forces are in its rear
Carranza is said TO have
changed his cabinet SO that he
may be a candidate for election
as president. Ii is known that
many MeXicans oppose Carran
"a and they may incite opposi-
ton to the United States BY
claiming that Carranza has no
right to allow American troops
on Mexican soil. However, in
times past, American troops
have crossed into Mexico in
pursuit of Indians, and Mcxi-
cans have also been allowed TO
cross into this country when
chasing outlaws.
The greater part of the cxpe
dictionary forces is made up of
cavalry well supplied with
equipment necessary 10 cam
palgning in a rough and semi
desert country. Mountain guns
and aeroplanes wifi be used by
the Americans on the campaign,