Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1916-03-10
V|[LtiTANS COLUMBUS, \. N,
IS AMERICANS KILLED AND 9 WOUNDED WHEN 1000
MEXICAS UNDER GEN. VILLA MAKE EARLY NORM
INC RAD ON BORDER TOWN; 100 MEXCANS KILLED

ronniry. where they deployed in
force. Major Tompkins saw the fol
~ OF following them further and he
drew oir to n defensive position on
high ground. Major Tompkins re-
TUNED to camp.
\! the time the fight opened iher,
wer parts of four troops and the ma :
chine gun platoon in camp. Two of
the troops under Major Lindsley were
IN camp at Moore's ranch on the line
four miles from Columbus. These
two troops were not engaged, in fact
did not kaow of the fight until met
by party of volunteers from Deming
who had been sent south shortly af-
ter daylight by Col. Slocnm. The Of
licer of The day was the only CON-
missioned officer in camp, the other
Officers living in cottages in and u
bout Columbus with their families.
The officers joined their commands a.
rapidly ~ possible. The men OF the
Thirteenth, however. knew that il wa,
hand TO hand work, and with whet-
ted appetites nj the first sight of blood
went ai The killing with keen relish.
Not for n moment did they hesiatet or
iillter. aud il j. to their determined
resistance and great courage,
that the village of Columbus and its
unininred citizens owe their exist
ance. Officers of the Thirteenth be
licvc that Villa intended that every
man. woman and child in the village
should be killed. the bank and stores
looted. the soldiers massacred. aud
their equipment secured. Villa "got
away" with only II very small part
OF hi program aud his losses will
make him consider well another at
tack on u garrisoncd town.
II j. believed that Villa rcircated
for the l5oca Grandc river and noun
tains southeast of the border. This
j. wild. wooded. and well wntered
country, and Ia dislodgc him will be a
con siderable undertaking.
Nothing was known last night as to
what might follow as consequence
Ia Yesterdays battle. At least no
for an advance had been
made nj late hour at Columbus. II
is now up to Washington. There are
hardly enough troops on the border
{" make an effective advance, with
the possibility of having both fac
tions to fight.
~ Major Tompkins was return
'ng from following the rctrcatinc
raiders, he was stopped ut the inter
nntional gate by Cnrranza troops.
They said the Americans had no right
in Mexico. and they denied that lh,
,'nrranza garrison AT Palomas. four
miles south of the border, had any
thing To do with the raid. There
were possibly forty Carranza men at
the gate. Major Tompkins found
method of quickly overcoming any
wish IN the part of the Carrnnza Of
iircr lo dciain the returning American
troops.
The ieat hsd its ludicrous side as
well as that of tragedy. The Amer
lean troops and officers fought in
rather curious uniforms. Here was
an officer in paiamas giving orders
Ia group of men in every stage oi
d;~hahilic. Most of the men had ON
shoe.. but of other parts of uni
fcrn they were wholly or partly in
nocent. But they fought just as weh.
The streets at an early hour yes
I iday morning were >ircwn with the
dead aud wounded Mexicans. The
wpundcd aud dead Americans we're
FIST collected. Then the hospital
,nr : vent after the Mexican wound
ci snd the ground around the hos
pital was soon covered with maneled
and bleeding men. The most OF
them we're yaqui Indians and. no
mniicr haw badly wounded, not n
groan escaped their feverish lips.