Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-31
CAVALRY PURSUES
VILLA IN VOLCANIC
HILLS OF MEXICO
Bandit Somewhere Amid Ex-
tinct Volcanoes on Great
Mexican Continental Divide
Fleeing TO the South
By JUNrUS d. WOOD
Stan Correspondents OF the Atlanta Jour-
mai and chicago Daily News.

CASAS GRANDES. Mex, March e.
(Nia Radio to Columbus, n. M.D-Scouts
brought reports To headquarters Of
sighting a Villa detachment nifty miles
from mere today. This is the tarthest
north his band has been since his. raid
on Columbus indicating that he is split
ting his band Tor safety ana forage.
clashes with American forces have been
avoided so FAR.
PASO, March 29.-Somewhere amid
the extinct volcanoes or the great Mex
lean continental divide Francisco villa
is fleeing southwark today. Hard on his
trail, United States cavaIrymen are
straining every nerve to overtake him
before he can reach the wastes. almost
unknown to any but MeXicans and In
Clans, in which Villa began his bandit
career years ago.
In the absence of Official news the
border is cOntenting itself with speed
lauOn.
Americans familiar with Mexico are
almost unanimous in their opinion that
the troops Of the north, operating in an
unfamiliar country and riding corn-fed
horses are greatly handicapped. 1t is
rot a question of nerve or courage but
a problem Of natural conditions.
An American rancher familiar with
the country through which Villa is re-
treating, said today:
Il have known Francisco villa for
twenty years. For many years / was
the only white man in the country in
which he lived. 1 know his habits, his
processes OF mind and the Tarahumare
Indians among whom he is at present
/ have very little hope that the American
cavalry can catch him now that he has
presumably fifty or more miles start of
them.
villa and his men, mounted on their
Mexican ponies, can travel forty miles
q day with ease. and fifty miles ii
pressed.
"kH his men need is a little dried
beef and some corn meal With this
and a blanket strapped behind their
saddles. they can travel indefinitely
Compare this with the equipment of an
American trooper who makes thirty
five miles day at best.
The Tarahumare Indians will not
give the slightest assistance to the
Americans, but they would dig up their
last grain Of corn or wheat for Villa.
One difficulty is lack OF water in that
country. What little there is now will
be dried up soon. There may be a few
showers in May, but there will be moth
ing like what is needed for a large
body or troops until after June 90"
The rancher said he thought aero
planes would prove OF little assistance.
in the first place." he said, "the
aviators will be starting from an alti-
tude of 5000 to 10000 feet. They will
then be flying over the country of rug
ged hills of granite, split in a thou
sand ways by gulleys, ravines and great
canyons. On the calmest day of sum-
mer you can climb from valley where
not a breath of air is stirring and en-
counter a wind on the top of the hills
which would take a strong man off his
feet"
The rancher was positive that Villa
was making for Torreon. Villa follow
ers operating about that city are
numerous.
If Villa can reach the Torreon region
sufficiently ahead of his pursuers to
organize scattered bands into a group.
he may try to break through the Car
rama forces and strike souTnward for
Mexico City.
Meager official dispatches from Gem
eral Pershings advanced base did not
give the position of the American troops.
Villa was last heard of heading into the
Tarahumare mountain country, closely
pressed by the Americans.
Commanders OF the Carranza troops
now in The Chihuahua region apparently
have lost trace of villa and his men, for
no report has been received by Mexican
officials here for some time concerning
the bandits whereabouts.