Middletown transcript., 1916-04-08
ANOTHER BRUSH
WITH BANDITS
Thirty Mexicans Killed and
Forty Horses Captured.
U. S. CAvALRYMEN AT AGUAs
No Casualties Among Americans.
Villa, In Flight, Believed
Well Beyond Chihua.
hua City.

San Antonio, Texas.-Surprised dur
ing their siesta, one of the groups Of
Villas force driven from Guerrero was
defeated by squadron of the Tenth
Cavalry under Col. w. C. Brown. ac
cording to information secured by
General Pershing and forwarded by
MIN to General Funston.
IN this engagement, the second the
American troops have had with Villas
men, the bandits loss was estimated
at from 80 to 40 killed. No mention
OF American loss was made.
Colonel Browns encounter with the
Mexlcans had not been reported to
General Pershing when he made his
report to General Funston, his infor-
nation being gained from friendly
Mexlcans who had arrived at a point
near Rubio where Major Evans, of the
Tenth Cavalry, halted for day. Major
Evans reported that Saturday Colonel
Brown had encountered a band of
Villas men and was pursuing them
through San AntOnia, Chihuahua.
Soon afterward Mexicans who arrived
from that vicinity declared that he
had overtaken the wandering bandits
at the village of AguascaIientes, 20
miles southeast of Bachinava.
Bandits Caught Unprepared.
Villas men, according to their yer.
sion of the encounter, appeared wholly
unsuspecting of the presence of an
enemy a minute before they were at
tackled.
1t was about noon when Colonel
Brown brought his cavalry within easy
range. The MeXicans were lying about
the place, many of them asleep, and
all their horses were grazing, in many
cases some distance from the men.
Details Of the action were not told
but the Mexicans said that, besides
thirty killed, the Americans captured
an equal number of horses. General
Pershing added that his reports of the
engagement lacked confirmation.
though his credence of the news was
indicated by the fact that he trans
mitted it to General Funston.
The encounter aroused deep interest
at General Funston's headuuarters
where additional details were awaited
eagerly, but it was realized by officers
that the effect of Colonel Browns |
fight and of other minor engagements
that may occur is only indirect, so far |
as the greater problem of catching |
Villa is concerned. Engagements of
that character, it was said, may be ex-
pected now from time to time, and the
running down Of the marauding bands
is essential to the safety of the Ameri.
can column, but it was indicated the
only effect, so far as Villa is con-
cerned, will be to destroy the morale
of his supporting force.
other Bands At Large.
There are known to be other bands
operating in that same part of Mexico
and part of the American forces must
remain to deal with them while the
other part pushes on in the pursuit of
the fugitive chief.
Villa On Way To Parral.
Villas latest southwark shift was
credited in official quarters, since it
came from consular reports in which
the outlaw was located well beyond
Chihuahua City and evidently trying
to reach Parral, or perhaps even Tor
reon or Durango City. In the vicinity
Of all those cities there are known to
be operating organized forces of Villas
men, aggregating strength of some
thousands. According to all late re-
ports Villa appears to be travelling fast
now and already has placed between
himself and the pursuing Americans
a considerable distance.