The Mena weekly star., 1916-07-27
'DE FACTOS DEFEAT
 VILLA IN BATTLE
Noted Bandit Personally in Com Trevino Declares Power of Outlaw Has Been Broken
 Other Engagements.

Chihuahua City July 23.-DetaiIs 0f running engagement near Ha- cienda Fl Florido. almost directly south of Parral on the Chihuahua Durango border, between the conl- mand personally directed by Villa and Carranza troops were received here today.
 General Jacinto Trevino, comand- ing the army of the northeast, an- nounced that the dispatches showed that the ViIlista power in Mexico had been etfectually broken and that it Is only a matter of a few days until Villa himself is captured or killed.
 The reports said that only the better mounts of the Nillistas all lowed their leader to escape. Dispatches which were sent from Rosario by Gen. Tsmael Larnes for Gen. Matias Ramos, commanding the government forces in that sec- tor, and were relayed here from Jminez by Gen. Domingo Arrieta, said that in the engagement which took place last Saturday apprOxi- mately 200 Villistas were killed. The Carranza losses were not given definitely. but they stated that Villa was driven first to seek refuge on the San lsadro ranch and, being dislodged there, was pursued more than 90 miles into the state of Durango It was pointed out that a result of the engagement was 1 to prevent the bandits reaching their objective in the. Sierras and in keeping them in the compara- tiyely open country of the Nazas river.
 The battle was begun early in the morning. the attack being made in four columns directed by General Ramos on the center and left by Gen Ernesto Garcia on the right and General Larnes on the south of the bandits rear.
 Two Other Engagements.
 Government troops engaged in two sharp skirmishes with Nillistas yesterday and were victorious in each, according to dispatches to General TrevinO. Gen. Jose Santos reported from Parral that he had defeated with heavy loss a small band under the leader Torres at POnzO Ded Calvo, half way between l Iorreen and Saltillo, while General Layeaga telegraphed from Tepehua- nes that he had beaten of a small force near that town.
 l General Santos said that he had 1 surprised band of more than 100 near a water hole and had killed six and captured three who were executed later He suffered no cas- lualty. hut seized all the arms and saddle horses of the bandits. who lcarried away II wounded. he said.
 Pursuing Outlaws.
 The dispatch continued that a lcolumn had been sent in pursuit of the fleeing outlaws. the first to be seen in the district for about two months.
 The band engaged by General La
 Neaga apparently was small de- Itachment which had separated from
 the main command The bandits refused battle. according to dis patches and retired under fire to- ward the hills as the government troops advanced.
 Additional advices to the com lmandaeia said that a Japanese physician, who had treated Villa in 1 the town or l0ffeOn ue JaSa SOuth of Los Nievas. recently reported that Villa still is badly crippled and lrequires an operation. but before this could be done he must have two weeks of absolute rest and even then a complete recovery can not be assured.
 Villa Followers Surrounded. Upon receipt of this report Gen eral TrevinO announced that ne ex- poets dispatches at any aime tell | ing of the defeat of the bandit chief and his followers, who are surrounded by the forces of Gems. Matias Ramos and Ernesto Garcia.
 He will not get a moments rest, much less two weeks. if we can help it.. he said All reports agreed that the Nillistas band along the Chihuahua-Dura border is suf- | fering greatly from lack of food and