The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-03-30
YANKEE TROOPERS
MAKING DESPERATE
.LuNGE AFTER VILLA
Chase of Bandits by
Flying Columns Pro-
ceeding.
GAR r ANA M e N
Have Lost Traces Of Bandits.
Negro Cavalryrnan Kill
ed in Wreck.
CAR R ANA M E N

El Paso, TeX.,-The chase of Villa
| by flying columns of American cav
lalry goes relentlessly on. but from
1.-THE meagreness of official dispatches
! from General Pershing's advanced
base, it is impossible to learn the po-
sition of the American troops and
how far they are in the rear of the
fleeing band.
Villa was last heard of heading
southwark toward the Tarahumare
Mountain country, his command
driving their Mexican ponies at full
speed and being closely pressed by
the American troopers.
Carranistas Lose Trail.
The commanders of the Carranza
troops now in Chihuahua region ap-
parently have lost trace of Villa and
his men. for no report has been re-
ceived 'iy Mexican officials here for
some time CO.. arning Villas where
abouts. Armed lands of Villa forces
are reported in various parts of Chi
huahua and in some numbers in Tor
reon, but they are operating inde-
pendently of the main Villa command
Carranza officials in Juarez eX-
pres their belief that Villa will try
to establish his main base at some
point after he has thrown the Amer
lean cavalry off his trail and then re-
cruit his command to one of large
proportions from the Villa bands in
southern Chihuahua. Villa the
Carranza officers think, will then
engage in marauding campaign that
would give the American and Car
rama forces no end of trouble.
Army officers here do not believe
Villa will ever make a stand and
fight American cavalry.
First U. S. Soldier Dead.
Columbus, N. MA railroad wreck
in the district south of Casas Gram
des caused the death of the first sold
ier in the American command, ac-
cording to official dispatches receiv-
ed at military headquarters last
night
message from General Pershing's
headquarters said George A. Hud-
nell, a negro soldier in Troop b,
Tenth cavalry, had been killed in .
wreck gave no details.
troops was given military burial
March "a, according to the wireless
message
Pershing Using Trains
San Antonio, TeY.,-Conf:rmation
that Gen. Pershing has already leen
using a portion of the Northwestern
railroad for transportation of troops
was secured by Gen. Funston yester
dav from what was said to be an Of
fetal source. This information in
cluded a report of an overturn'ne of
two cars and the injury of ten troop
ers. Three of the men were reported
seriously injured.
The accident occurred while the
cars were being taken over tampor
ary track, built around the Cambre
tunnel south of Casas Grandes. One
of the rails gave way and the cars
rolled down an embankmens.
Will Investigate Raid
Washington, d. Ca full investi-
cation of the circumstances of the
raid on Columbus by Villa has been
ordered by the war department. Gen
Funston has been directed to take
the matter up as soon as Colonel
Slocum, and such of his men as took
part in repulsing the bandits attack,
return from Mexico.
Too Busy For Inquiry.
So far the department has no Of
fetal report of what took place, eS-
cept for the brief telegraphic dis
patches. The officers and men of the
Thirteenth cavlary has been too busy
to appear before a court of inquiry.
The orders to Gen. Funston became
known last night when abstracts OF
Secretary Bakers bill, in connection
with the emergency appropriation
measure became available.
Permission to Pershing.
Washington. d. C.--While no
word had come from Special Repre-
sentative Rodgers at Queretaro con-
cerning the request for using MeXi-
can railways to transport supplies
to General Pershing's troops. there
were indications in the official dis
watches from General Pershing
through Funston that the troops
were using the railways in the Cases
Grandes district, probably upon per-
mission from the local Carranza Off
cials. The dispatch that Saddler
George Hudnelt Of the Tenth cav
airy. had died from injuries received
in railroad wreck, was taken to.
mean that the troops were being
transferred by rail southwark from
Cases Grandes.