The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1916-04-06
AMERICAN TROOPS
ROUT VILLA BANDS
COLONEL DODD ATTACKED AZ
TER RIDING SIS MILES IN
II HOus.S.
THIRTY MEXICANS KILLED
Villa, Shot Through the Leg and With
One Hip Shattered Was Hurried
From Scene Barely in Time to
Escape Onslaught of Soldiers.

FL Paso.-Four hundred American
cayalrymen, under the command of
Colonel George A. Dodd, whirling
down from the granite slopes of the
great continental divide, have fallen
on the main body OF Francisco Villas
bandits at the San Geronimo ranch.
scattering them and driving the ban
dit chief. wounded and crippled, to
seek hiding place in the mountains
over which he has ruled for so many
years. Villa was hurried from danger
in a carriage, The American losses
were but four men wounded.
The news of the brilliant exploit
Of the American troopers were flashed
over the Mexican wires into Juarez
and sent thrill along the border
For II hours the veteran ColoneI
Dodd and his picked riders of the
Seventh and Tenth cavalry drove
down the valley of the Santa Maria
river At the emo of a 55-mile ride
they burst upon the unsuspecting VII
lsta camp. where 500 bandits were
celebrating the massacre of 172 Car.
ranzistas two days previously at Guer-
zero. Villa, shot through the leg ana
with one hip shattered. was hurried
from the scene, barely in time to
escape the onslaught of the Ameri-
can soldiers.
Make Only Brief Stand.
The bandits made brief but hope
less stand before the charge of the
troopers. Then they broke and fed,
leaving 81 dead on the field, includ-
ing Gen. Eliseo Hernandez. Two ma
chine guns. number of horses,
rifles ammunition and equipment fell
into the hands of the Americans.
Among the known wounded Is Pab.
10 Lopez. Villas lieutenant In the Co
lumbus raid.
The American soldiers for five
hours drove the enemy before them
into the wilderness of mountain peak.
desert and canyon, where roads or
even trails are unknown, and where
a misstep means death to horse and
rider They halted only after the
battlefield. and the fugitives were
scattered far and wide in little bands
of half dozen men each.
Villa Near the End.
Villas career has ended, his power
has been broken. His death or cap
tc If
haps only hours. such is the conclu-
sion reached here 1t seems impossi-
BILE that the crippled and defeated
bandit can long remain hidden, even
in the mountainous wastes in which
he has sought refuge.
The scene of Colonel Dodd's victory
is a broad valley lying at the head of
the Rio Santa Maria. On the west rise
the barren foothills of the continental
divide and to the east is trail which
leads through the Laguna de Castillo
district 10 Santa Isabel. 1t was toward
Santa Ysabel that he was believed to
be heading when the troopers swept
down from the north upon his camp.
Colonel Dodd's men made their way
unnoticed through the deep gulches.
which split the foothills In all dlrec.
tions, and were almost In the camp
before the alarm was given. Villa is
reported to have been in small tent
nursing his injuries when the crash
OF the American volleys awoke him
to action. The extraordinary hold
Villa has over his followers is shown
by the fact that their first thought was
to save him. Unable to walk or ride.
he was hurriedly placed In a light
wagon and driven over the rough
mountain trails to some secret lair
While 81 of the bandits are known
to have been killed, it is said that the
number may have been considerably
larger Nothing is known as to the
number wounded.
The last outrage placed to the ac-
count of Villa occurred at Minaca,
about 10 miles southeast of Guerrero
Here the Villistas are reported TO have
murdered Herman Blankenberg.
mine foreman, and two other foreign
ers. It is believed that the two un.
known victims were Americans. Four
Amerieans-Asklin, Hemple, Locke
and DIR. Steel are known to have been
In or near Minaca recently.
After the battle on the San Geroni.
mo ranch the American soldiers re,
leased large number of General Car.
ranza's men whom Villa was holding.
1t is not certain that Villa took part
In these murders. as it is hardly pos
sible that he could have made his way
from Minaca to the San Geronimo
ranch, 80 miles northeast. m the time
elapsing between the Murder of the
three foreigners and the battle on the
ranch.
Some time before the Minaca mas.
acre Villa descended on Guerrero.
where he slaughtered all the Carran-
zistas he could find.
II is probable that 1t was In the
guerrilla battle that villa was
wounded.