Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-20
VILLA ABAND0NS
HIS WOUNDED AND
FLEES LAS CRUCES
Bandit Reaches Babi Cora and
Hurries on to Avoid Battle
with the Troops of
Carranza.
LOPEZ AMONG MEN DESERTED
Villista Leader Whose Death Was
Reported, Among Wounded
at Ell Valle.
MAKES ESCAPE TO MOUNTAINS

EL PASO, Tex. March l9-Vila
has reached Babi Cora, near the lake
OF that name in the Guerrero region.
after having abandoned thirty Of his
wounded at El Vale. according to
telegram received today by General
Gavira at Juarez from Colonel Nieto
Macias, the commander at Pearson.
This places villa little beyond
Las Cruces, where the Carranza Of
ficials reported him yesterday
villa fled 20 avoid conflict with the
Carranzista troops under Colonel Ceno.
Among the thirty wounded, who had
been shot I'm the Columbus raid and car
ricd along In wagons only to be ahan-
doned at E, Vale was said TO be the
Villista leader. Pablo Lopez.
Death before Reported.
Lopez Is the lender whose death was re-
ported as positive fact at the Columbus
raid. Later reports east some doubt upon
his death and indicated that another
chief carrying his papers might have been
! the renl victim. Lopez. In these later re-
ports, was said to be badly wounded
The kilograms said that Lopez IL In
had way. having been shot through the
abdomen and both legs, which were
broken Tho Villista chiet, Cerrantos, Ia
reported with number OF bandits in
Las Cruces.
General Rertani, commanding the Car
rama forces at Casas Grandes, came to
Juarez today to talk over the military
situation with his superior General Ga
vira lie said that General Pershing' =
| A.. mt "A "a
] Grandes and n part near Galeanea, some
distance southwest OF Casss Grandes The
Americans encamp In the country, but
have permission TO go to the towns to
| buy food, fodder and other obtainahle
goods. An order 20 this effect came from
| War Minister Obregon.
No Word About Railway.
No word has yet peen received by Ga
vira regarding the use of the National
Railways for the transport OF Pershing =
supplies, and. Gavira added, no shipments
OF this kind have yet been made on the
trains out of Juarez. This In matter
10 be settled between Washington and
the Carranza government.
Villa spent last Wednesday and Thurs
day In El Yalle. according to reports al
the Juarez headquarters. but fled with
OuL klNlnk nhllit NHtu lt oah Aht h'eRe
OF Colonel Cano from Santa Ana, escap-
ing up, a steep canyon from Los Cruces.
villa is now I'm a very difficult sec
ton for u.s." said General Gavira. ''and
very favorable for his purposes. He Is
NOW in broken, rocky, plne-clad. noun
famous country fun of places Of conceal
ment. Only cavalry can operate in II TO
advantage.
Country for Cavalry.
From the boundary down as far al
Pearson. the country il flat and sandy
| with roads. But south OF there, horses
must be used as transports instead o
wagons. and motor cars. There are higl
ridges and many obstacles. while / havI
never campaigned in that section.
understand good water Is obtainable from
springs and also the pasture is fair
which Ii to Vlllh's advantage. But th'
people In that part have almost given al
the cultiation OF the soil because tn,
country has been so long oerrun b!
bandits. who took everything the!
wanted. villa wont find food there.
IT can say l have every confidence Il
the situation. for the net drawn by tn
Americans and Mexican forces Is clos
ing up"
Surprise 60 GRvira.
Villas turn to the west was rather
surprise TO GavirR- who said that Genera
Gutierrez thought he would try TO escap
eastward-an event Gutierrez was pre-
pared for
Today Gavira received by wire a cop!
Of the agreement by which the Carranzi
government permitted the entry OF tn
American force at Columbus.
The town OF Juarcz spent Sunday Il
the usual Mexican fashion. with a lin
Of refresla 4ent stands along its mai
street and oehestras playing in tn
amusement resorts In the evening.
military band gave a concert I'm IN
plaza.