The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-09-29
Bandit Leader Held the Town
For Hours.
WON OVER PART OF GARRISON
Left Unmolested With 1000 To 1900
Men and Carried of Much
Ammunition-Gene Bell
Sends Report.

count yet received of the fighting in
Chihuahua City, when Villa celebrated
the Mexican independence Day by. a
successful assault on the Carranza gar
rison, reached the War Department
from Brig. Gen. George Bell, command
ing the Ell Paso military district.
1t 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 1000 or more men of the
Carranza garrison; that he retired,
promising to return soon. and that he
took with him large quantity of cap
tured arms, ammunition and artillery.
General Bell in his report expresses
the opinion that the raid was COM
pletely successful and that Villa ac
complished even more than he said he
wonld. Trevino's personal guard de-
serted him, it appears, and in the con-
fusion many government soldiers
were killed by their own comrades
Washington Officials SkepticaI.
General Bells dispatch does not
show the source of his information and
many officials believe his account of
the incident is founded on rumors
reaching the border, as were various
stories which have been transmitted
by State Department agents. They
were inclined to believe for this reason
that the full truth of what TRANSFERRED
is not yet known.
Reports so far received are similar
only in that they show fight did
occur on September 16 and that the
Villa followers took the penitentiary
and some other buildings They con-
flict as to the part Villa played, not
even agreeing that he was present
All reports received are being for
warded to New London for the infor
nation of the Mexican-American COM
mission. 1t is regarded as probable
that an official version will be for
warded there soon by General Car
rama
May Delay Agreement.
No official would predict what effect
the incident may have on the negotia-
tions at New London, which embrace
General Carranza's request that
American troops be withdrawn from
Mexico. It was deemed certain, how
ever, 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 situa-
ton.
Many officers still believe that Villa
is either dead or his power so
thoroughly broken that he could not
hope to re-establish himself General
Pershing expressed the latter opinion
in report to the War Department
some weeks ago. and General Funs-
toms recommendation that the Ameri-
can troops be withdrawn is believed to
have been founded on that view. If
General Bells reports prove accurate,
however, and Villa did appear in per,
son at Chihuahua, it is expected that
the fact will be established definitely
by witnesses whose evidence could be
accepted without question
Not Likely To Involve Pershins.
1t 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 Chihua-
hua, and the main body still farther
away, No matter what successes they
might achieve in surprise attacks upon
Carranza 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 raider without
new orders from Washington.