The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-04-06
VILLAS ARMY DEFEATED
MORE THAN THIRTY MEXICANS
WE'RE KILLED.
Four Americans Injured, None Kill.
ed.-Villa Reported Not in Fight
Himself.

Sdu AulOlllO, 1SAdo, -hdl Cll ol.
Thirty of Villas soldiers killed, four
American troopers wounded, none
seriously, and more than 450 of the
fugitive band dispersed after rum
ming fight that extended over ten
miles, is the summary of the first en-
gagement between forces of the
American punitive expedition and
Francisco Villa.
Col. George O. Dodd surprised 500
of Villas men at Guerrero March 29,
and with smaller force, comprising
detachments of the 7th and 10th cav
airy, began the attack that ended five
hours later, when the Villa force had
been chased into the hills northeast
of Guerrero and broken into small
bands.
Gen. Eliseo Hernandez was among
the Villa followers killed. A man
named Lopez, who was wounded, is
believed to be Pablo Lopez, who COM
manded the bandits that killed near
ly a score of Americans at Santa
Ysabel and who enormously was re-
ported killed in the fight at Colum-
bus, N. NJ. The number of Mexicans
wounded was not stated in official
advices.
Pershing's Report.
Gen. Pershing's report reached
Gen. Funston today. Villa was not
with the defeated force and Col.
Dodd was believed to be forcing his
cavalry to it's utmost to run him
down before he could reconcentrate
his scattered men. 1t was reported
to army headquarters here that Viii
la was wounded; had one of his legs
broken and one of his hips badly
bruised. The character of his re-
ported injuries suggested that per-
haps he had been injured in falling
from his horse rather than by a gum
shot, as had been unofficially report
ed.
Col. Dodd attacked the Mexicans
at 6 o'clock, according to Gen. Per-
shing's report, but whether in the
forenoon or in the afternoon was not
stated. Here it was regarded as
probable that it was in the morning,
for the action which followed was a
cross-country chase that could not
we'll have been made after dark.
Villas Whereabouts.
Just where Villa was during the
fight no one here knows, but he was
reliably reported to have been near
by and prevented from being in the
enga cement only by his injuries.
Staff officers here believe there is
no doubt that Col. Dodd'sI army,
strengthened by men sent forward by
Gen. Pershing, have begun a driving
hunt for the wounded bandit. 1t will
be no surprise now to Gen. Funston
and his staff to receive report at
any time telling of his capture. News
of another battle soon is not expect
ed, however, as the blow administer
ed by Col. Dodd, it was believed,
would serve to deter Villas men from
speedy recommendation.
News of the punishment inflicted
upon Villas men was received with
manifestations Of delight at Gen.
Funston's headquarters, and an echo
of the manner in which it was re-
ceived at the war department came
in the form of message of congratu-
lation to Gen. Funston from Secre-
tary Walker.
Divide the Credit.
Army men here were disposed to
divide the credit for the action be-
tween Gen. Pershing and Col. Dodd.
Gen. Pershing is in charge of all op-
erations and doubtless directed the
movements that eliminated in the
surprise attack, but Col. Dodd's cav
airy aroused the admiration of Of
icers at headquarters by the splen-
did riding they did.
The man hunt now has been nor
rowed down to the region Immediate
ly west of Chihuahua, along the
Northwestern railway, in the region
about the headwaters of the Santa
Maria river, in the opinion of many
army officers here.
Into the part of Mexico, three hun
dred miles from the border, Gen.
Pershing has sent various columns
of his punitive force. His use of
one hundred and forty miles of the
Northwestern railroad south of Casus
Grandes has enabled him to move
forward men and supplies to a point
a short distance north of Guerrero,
and where a fair trail extends to the
south. Other troops that have been
moving down the Santa Maria valley