The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-03-10
MtX|CANS CHASED
OVER BORDER BY
j. S. SOLDIERS
Americans Troops on Mexican Soil
After Raiders
1s MEx'ANs WERE KILLED
Villa -. surned Part Of Town of
Columbus and Murdered Dozen
Americans. Z

Francisco Villa, outlawed Mexican
bandit. raided United States territory
at Columbus N. NJ, yesterday. With
500 men he attacked Columbus, killed
at least 16 Americans and fred many
buildings before he was driven back
across the international border.
At least $50 troopers Of the 18th
United States cavalry followed the
Villa band into Mexico. Reports to
Col. II. ]. Slocum, commanding United
States troops at Columbus, late yes
terday stated that Villa had made a
stand Is miles south of the border
where spirited fighting ensued. In
this engagement an unnamed private
was killed and Capt. George Williams
adjutant of the 18th cavalry was
wounded.
The small detachment of troopers
under Maj. Frank Tompkins and Ell
mer Lindsey. fighting dismounted,
made determined stand against the
renewed Villa attack and at last re-
ports were holding their ground.
The raid on American territory prov
ed costly to the bandit chieftian The
bodies of IS bandits, including Pablo
Lopez, second in command, had been
gathered and burned at noon and
troopers reported an undetermined
number of dead still lying in the
brush.
Led to the attack under the slogan,
Death to the Americans!" Villa S fol
lowers fought with desperation. Just
before dawn they crept along bitches
skirting the United States cavalry
camp and rushed the sleeping town,
firing heavilvf
The first yolley brought American
troopers into almost. instant action,
While 4 portion OF the. raiders engaged
the cayalrynen, others began applying
the torch and shooting Arnericaii
civilians who Ventiired from the build,
ipgs, Lights in homes, and public
htiiidings immediately became targets
for snipers posted at Villas direction,
Other bandits, creeping ciose'to Amer.
lean homes; entieed a" number Of
civilians into the open with English.
spoken invitations. d, A number OF
fatalities are attributed to this ruse.
Stores were looted, Oil was poured
upon frame structures. and the match
applied by still other bandits. The
post office was raided and furniture
smashed but the hooters secured only
one small registered package.
Ell Paso. Tex, March 9-Failure of
hn h of fltr
ment when they were most needed at
the beginning of the fight between the
Villa bandits and the Thirteenth cav
airy, at Columbus early this morning,
was the cause for the escape of the
bandits across the border and also for
the relatively small loss of life among
the Mexicans, according to Private
Thomas Barton of the hospital corps,
who, with Private e. M. Johnson
brought five wounded soldiers and one
officer to FL Paso this afternoon. 14 i
I9l According to the soldiers, the attack
began near the edge of Columbus,
2 There were no guns or weapons of any
Kind in the hospital. johnson said he
killed one Villa bandit with an axe
which he threw as the fleeing Mexican
ptosCu tiS hOSpItht IVA
,villa!r 9ye g. so't3Ee a1 ~
q Private Venner.s who was shot
through the chest said he killed four
Mexicans and was raising his rifle to
fire at another when bullet struck
him. He says the Villa men had no
machine guns.
Many civilians barricaded them
selves in their homes and fired at the
Mexicans as they darted through the
streets. The fighting in the town end
ed almost as suddenly as it begun
Less than two hours after the first
shot was heard, Villas buglers sound
ed the retreat and the raiders began a
disordered fight. closely followed by
American troopers.
The casualties of the 18th cavalry
in the fighting at Columbus were
seven killed and six wounded, Villas
total losses in the days fighting were
estimated in excess OF 100 killed and
twice as many wounded The Ameri-
can pursuit into Mexico which ended
about 2 O'Clock was reported to have
accounted for more than 75 MeXicans
killed and wounded.
The American loss on the Mexican
side was one corporal slain when Villa
threw out heavy guard to engage
the pursuing American troopers. OF
the eight American civilians slain in
Columbus, Charles Dewitt Miller Of
Albuquerque and DR.. II. J. Hart of Ell
Paso were burned to death in the fire
that destroyed the Commercial hotel
The body of Walton Walker, a Sunday
school convention delegate, from
Playas, n. NJ. who was shot to death
with W. r. Richie, proprietor of the
hotel, also was incinerated.