Norwich bulletin., 1916-09-22
Some Details of
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BANDIT CHIEF PERSONALLY LED
 ATTACK ON CHIHUAHUA
PROMISED TO RETURN
Took and Held Numerous Important Buildings in the City for Several Hours-Joined by Thousand Men of the Carranza Garrison.

Washington, Sept 21.-The most de- tailed account yet received of the fight at Chihuahua City last Saturday, when Villa celebrated the Mexican Indepen- dence day by a successful assault on the Carranza garrison, reached the war department today from Brigadier Gen eral George Bell, commanding the Fl Paso military district. It asserts that Villa personally led the attacking forces; that he took and held numerous important buildings in the city for several hours; that he was joined by a thousand or more men of the Car ranza garrison. and retired, promising to return soon, and taking with him a large quantity of captured arms, am intuition and artillery.
 Source of Information Not Known.
 General Bells despatch does not show the source of his information and many officials believe his account of the incident was founded on ru- norS reaching the border as were various stories which have been trans mitted by state department agents. They were inclined to believe for that reason that the full truth of what transpired is not yet known. Re- ports so far received are similar only in that they show a fight did occur on Sept. 16 and that the Villa followers took the penitentiary and some other buildings. They all conflict as to the part Villa played, not even agreeing that he was present.
 Reports Forwarded to New London.
 All reports received are being for warded to New London, Conn.,, for the information of the Mexican-American commission. It is regarded as prob ble that an official version will be forwarded there soon by General Car ranza.
 No official would predict what effect the incident may have on the negotia- tions at New London, which emb1 ace General CarranZa's request that Amer lcan troops be withdrawn from Mex ico. It was deemed certain, however, that no agreement could be reached by the commissioners until it was known precisely to what extent the situation in northern Mexico had been altered by the Chihuahua City developments and until it was made clear what the Carranza government would do to cope with the new situation.
 Many Officers Believe Villa Dead.
 Many army officers still believe either that Villa is dead or that his power is so thoroughly broken that he could not hope to re-esta bIish himself Gen. eral Pershing expressed the latter opinion in a report to the war depart ment some weeks ago, and General Funston's recommendation that the American troops be withdrawn is be- lieved to have been founded on that view. If General Bells reports prove accurate, however, and Villa did ap- pear in person at Chihuahua, it is ex- pected that the fact will be established definitely by witnesses whose evidence could be accepted without question.
 Pershing's Forces Not Involved.
 It is thought unlikely that General Pershing's forces will be involved in any new fighting in Mexico even if the most favorable account for Villa of the Chihuahua battle proves true. The nearest American detachment is more than 100 miles north of Chihuahua and the main body still farther away No matter what successes the ynight achieve in surprise attacks upon Car raEza posts, the bandits are not ex- pected to risk an attack upon the Americans, and the latter could not go out in pursuit of the raiders without new orders from Washington.