Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-04-06

while a captain at Fort Ethan Allen, and his ideas of 'rough
OF his own men out of the saddle, but kept on despite MS
sixty-four years in his ride of ffty-fve, miles in seventeen
hours to raid Villas camp and scatter the Mexican panolIS
to the four winds, in a running fight of five hours IN addition.
mat l1 ,d is the hen1 story y in a nutshell she eliot; of a. a d sed , Gt arms ar tbe 'n "a.
Whether Villa in person has been taken at this particular
moment, as reported, seems to be a matter of little account:
He is as good as captured either dead or alive. AS a factor
feared at one time, Villa is Virtually eliminated. His forces
have been overwhelmed by a body of Americans ne affected
the attacking troops, The news OF MS disastrous cereal a
spread throughout Mexico, and whether ne remains a LUZ,
never again to make itself felt in the scene of his long period
of marauding exploits and cruel slaughter u,s
We naturally grow enthusiastic over the glorious oeeos
of Dodd and his comrades in arms. when we consider what
was involved in this punitive expedition and what failure TO
ish. 1t must be admitted that under all the circumstances
under which that expedition was launched the chances looked
favorable for the naturalization of Villas boast:
If Villa had taken to the mountains at once individually
cents. 1t would have appeared like using a siXteen-inch gun
to shoot sparrows, with the birds not sitting still long enough
to enable the gunners to aim the giant artillery. Instead of
that Villa tried to hold his forces together with the idea that
forc sgu,a a$P ps he n reti prgL'oT There eTp' was a I,u Hs't the danger lar that that
Villa would be able to precipitate war between Mexico and
Villa might have reached his goal in friendly territory
where MeXicans would have focked to his standard with all
for the gratifying speed with which Colonel Dodd dashed
ahead, regardless Of all handicaps as to Typographical con-
tation. We can fully appreciate Dodds achievement only
when we glance at these conditions.
An established line of communication with the base of
supplies is to an invading army, in a wild country what the
arteries are to the human body, carrying subsistence and
ton to New York city, the American forces extended their
lines of communication into Mexico without the use of a sim
gle line of railroad. Part of the time auto trucks were avail
able. In some instances mule teams were the only avail
able means of transportation. Even the aeroplanes did not
make their way to the very front until the end of the week.
For days the forces Of Colonel Dood were isolated be-
nouncement of his first victory over the Vilistas was several
days in reaching American territory.
Villa and his forces could steal horses by night and ride
them to death by day, and steal fresh horses the next night
and so on, but Dodds rushed on relentessly. He and his
men did not wait for supplies but lived off the sparse coun-
try, eating tortillas and frijjoles and game, sparing their
horses wherever possible but not themselves. That is how
Dodd surprised Villa, who never dreamed the American forces
could ride him down. This feat is explained in a few words
by the fact that the American forces slept only three hours
in a ride of 40 miles. go
AS to what occurred to Villa himself, the public must
wait for the substitution of official reports for rival rumors.
At last accounts Colonel Dodds forces of cavalrymen, of
which the seventh and tenth furnished the nucleus, We're
searching for Villas remnant. Dodds horses were faded
band. Fresh mounts were being rushed to them from Casas
Grandes with 500 remounts expected from military specials
base at GO casa sc G ia sHH for I Dod EvsN supply noplS train rain at 't the first first
opportunity to get them through.
That summarizes what has been done and is being done.
Now what of the effects of the success of the American punt
tive condition. Joint credit for which is given Gen. Pershing,
Dodd, who commands the force that raided the Villa camp?
It goes without saying that news of the success of Col,
Funston. who commands on the front, and also by Presi-
dent Wilson and the other authorities in Washington. Gen.
era ISIHl Ill MS telegram 10 ne War department says
that with Villa permanently disabled, Lopez wounded, Her.
nandez, who commanded Villas troops, dead, the blow adj
ministered is a serious one to Villas band. Congressman
James R. Mann, the republican floor leader, caused the read
ing in the House of General Pershings telegram reporting
the success OF the American troops. 1t is announced by the
Washington correspondent Of the New York Times that as
the clerk concluded the reading practically every member
present ~appauded vigorously, and a few southern demo-
Gratis raised the rebel yell" the galleries joining in the dem
onstration.
Secretary of War Baker in his statement says: "The
success of Colonel Dodd in catching up with the retreating
bandits and dispensing them shows the value and effective
ness of the careful preparations made by General Funston,
as well as the dash and vigor with which Colonel Dodd him
self and the members of his command have undertaken the
task. Il IS IS 1t will allay apprehension on the American side
by showing the rapidity and effectiveness with which our
army acts, and among the Mexican people it will show the
singleness of our purpose and discourage other bandits from
sympathetic demonstrations"
The success of the American punitive expedition in ex-
terminating the Vilista leaders and dispensing their bands,
without involving the United States in war with Mexico, can
not fail to have a marked political effect throughout the
United States. Democrats everywhere recognized the fact
that President Wilson's Mexican policy was the most serious
defect of his whole administration. When Colonel Dodd SIR
prised the Vilistas, he wiped out much Of the reprcach to the
administration growing out of the evident unpreparedness
of our forces for immediate action, and caused Americans TO
forget much Of what had gone before.