The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-04

Ing anil the battle became general.
While the main body OF the bandits fed
the rear guard attempted to check the
Americans. Eliseo Hernandez did his
best to inspire the Nillistas, but he
eoon fell mortaily wounded. The bandits
finally became dismayed at the losses
inflicted in the fight at corrals and In
The streets and took to their heels. col.
Erwin. after having made sure that no
armed men were secreted In the houses
D: the village. got the trail Of the flying
bandits and followed them for five hours.
when they had d!sintegrated into parties
Of two and three and had practically
disappeared from view.
From the prisoners taken 1t was
learned that Villas wounds we're serious
and hat the disabled leader was taken
to the home OF friends in the mountains
for safe keeping. to remain until he
recovers sufficiently to take the Held
again. II his hiding place has been dis
closed to the American commanders the
fact has not been made public by the
military authorities.
SIX Colamns Operatins.
There are six American columns now
operating In the south central portion OF
Che State Of Chihuahua. presenting a
front Of probably seventy-fvc miles
wide. These Columns are so disposed
that they are rakinE this entire width
with great care. To Col. Dodd has been
assigned the task OF searching the DIM
cult passes OF the Sierra Madre Noun
ain from Nuevas Casas Grandes to
MADEIRA and further south through "
on each side Of the valley Of the Rio
Santo Tomas, IL II is found necessary to
prosecute the search for villa further.
Under Col. Dodd's command are two
0ouadrons Of the Tenth Cavalry under
Col. Brown and Major Evans. respec-
lively. and u squadron of the Seventh
Cavalry, the squadron which made night
at San Geronimo. In addition there are
operating AS independent org anizations
eWo troops Of the Thirteen and Tenth UNI
fer Major Tompkins "A squadron OF the
Thirteenth under Major Lindsey. and "a
provisional squadron made up Of picked
men from the Eleventh Cavalry under
Major Howe Tompkins. Lindsey and
HOWE are operating e." the eastern
slope Of the Sierra Madr"s rs far east
~ tho eastern edge o. the valley
through which the Mexican Central
Railroad runs.
II is believed now that villa cannot
escape. His followers are becoming de-
moralized because of the constant vigil
lance exercised by the pursuers. Their
every move seems to become known to
IN Americans through the activity OF
scouts, airships and cavalrymen. This
ceaseless pursuit is getting on the
nerves OF the Villistas.
Evidence Is being Civ IN every day that
the natives have lost their first fear OF
the Americans and are coming 10 regard
them AS friends and are acting accord
inSly. This circumstance Is having de-
morsiizing effect upon those who SYM
pathize with villa and Is costing him
many prospective recruits.
Aviators' Close Call.
Two OF the avia;ors operating ma
chimes between headquarters and the
advanced base at N~amiquiIst have had
a thrilling experience which they Will
remember AZ long aS they live.
A pilot and an officer. who was acting
as observer. were making their way
back from Namiquipa to the iield head
quarters yesterday through one Of the
violent storms of wind. rain. snow and
sleet and had reached "A point about
half way through Chocolate Pass when
a sudden riff showed the machine speed
ting headon toward an almost perpendic-
Nlar cliff not more than a quarter mile
ahead.
The pilot, who was at the wheel. with
great presence of mind and with less
than half a minute to spare. turned alb
ruptly to the right and dipped AT the
same time. leaving the storm cloud and
nnding "A safe landing place within a
mile or two Of a small collection Of hUs
occupied by Mexican farmers
The machine was so filed with snow
and sleet that IT could not rise again at
once and the aviators were compelled to
seek shelter with the M.Nicans until tho
s<Orm subsidized and the machine could
DO dried out.