New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-04
CAVALRY DASH
OUTWITTED VILLA
Dodd's Troopers Cut Off
Lead of Bandit Force by
Clever Marching.
BY ROBERT DUNN.

General Pershing's Headquarters,
San Geronimo Ranch, Chihuahua,
March 81 by wagon train to Columbus,
y. NJ, April 3).-News Of Villas defeat
and disablement reached US at one Of
the bandits favorte hsngouts, here in
the heart Of his Indian village country
along the Santa Maria River, directly
opposite the wild canyon for which he
is supposed to be aiming to-day toward
his last refuge just over the pslisaded
mountain east of us.
General Pershing. leaping from his
automobile, had just found in an enor-
nous storehouse, among stone pillars
big as Luxor's, enough corn to supply
for weeks any force we might muster
in the valley. He had bought it. not
realizing that this was one OF the
bandits own storehouses until sud
denly there arrived on a big cavalry
horse, and in the van Of the detacn-
ment which he knew was headed for US,
a tall. bearded civilian in a red macki-
naw-the scout Brown.
Scout Brings News of Fight.
In a moment saw the general hand
ling yellow slips Of paper, which
knew. though we were more than eighty
miles from any of our radios, must
hear official messages. He conferred
while with his stay and his aid. Soon
he called over to me:
Dunn, come here. Great news!'
He let me read the yellow slips. Ella
ton lit his blue eyes, but with 1t went
the calmness, the spirit Of confidence,
that. after all. the issue was but the re-
suit Of his farseeing, deliberately laid
plans.
A host Of things were now explained,
including many of the odd, almost un-
canny incidents that had befallen US
in our dash that morning from Nami-
quipa toward Bachnaba.
The general had early dispatched
from the latter town the scout Brown
TO Bachinaba, but by another road than
the one we were to take. Brown was
to loop westward through Santa Ana
and Join US there. As he reached
Santa Ana he fell in with the two
native scouts employed by Coionei
Dodd. returning with the dispatches.
He took these from them, at the same
moment sighting the l1th Cavalry de-
tachment down in the valley where We
were. The three made for US, toward
some houses where the two scouts
homes we're. They having had nothing
to eat for three or four days, they were
anxious to get home. But when they
reached our road We had already turned
back from that point, having heard from
natives that Dodd had left Bachinaoa. |
II had been a lucky move for US, as
the town was probably then in the
hands of Villistas. Indeed, bicycle
.cout who had been ahead OF US had
arrived in its outskirts and, finding
none of our troopers there, had re-
turned. and by long tienda, where
We had twice crossed dry river bed
was fired upon half dozen times.
Fatigue Delayed Attack.
Thus the message reached US through
the llth Cavalry, who were then head
cd back behind US. Colonel Dodd' IN
deed. had heard Of the whereabouts OF
Villa from these same scouts. some OF
their neighbors being employed in sup
nlving the bandit with forage for his
horses. II was they who led him
through the unfrequented pass, visible
inst below here, on his fifty-iiye-mile
hike toward Guerrero. But for the
OF their horses and the
apathy OF the guides. said Brown. the
attack would have been made earlier
rortIruxN nm maya z column