Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-09-18
Make Assault on Guerrero
and chihuahua City
and Are Repulsed.
AMERICAN CAVALRY
KNOWN TO BE NEAR
Not Believed That United States
Troops Came in Contact With Out
law Army, Said to Number 1000
Men at Time Of Attack on Chihuahua
Eighty seven Prisoners Captured
and Put to Death by carranza Troops


band Of villistas made an attack on
Guerrero, eight miles west Of Chihua-
hua City. but were repulsed and fell
back across the line Of the Mexico
Northwestern railroad toward the foot
hills of the continental divide, pillag-
ing ranches as they went, according
to advices received here today.
Recent reports received here have
assrted that American cavalry scout
ing patrols have been operating be-
tween Guerrero and Namiquipa. The
patrols were sent south from FL Vale.
the southernmost American base, IN
response to reports that Villa him
self was leading the bandit band in
that vicinity.
Mexican authorities at Juarez said
wire communications were faulty and
no reports Of an engagement at Guer-
rero had been received.
It was not considered probable that
American patrols would encounter the
bandits. who probably were making
for secret lairs in the hills of that dis
trict.
First Attacked Chihuahua City.
An earlier report Of Villas opera
tions said that Francisco Villa and
forces numbering upward Of a thous-
and men attacked Chihuahua City.
Mexico. The statement says Villa was
repulsed, losing 1873 dead and 81 pris-
oners. who were Immediately executed.
The government casualties were not
stated
Because of the simultaneous out
80 =; H., ~
huahua City the state capital was
placed under martial law and the de-
cree was today extended to embrace
the state
The battle. according to details made
public tonight by Gen. Gonzales, lasted
thirteen hours. villa had previously
given warning he would attack on
7 Mexican Independence Day.. but no
weight was attached to the declnra-
ton. At o'clock in the morning,
however. the capital was attacked
from three sides the west. east and
north.
liberate Conviets.
The defending troops consisted Of
about 1000 men. The Vilistas. with a
rush into town. gained possession Of
the penitentiary ard We're aided by the
prisoners. whom they liberated ani
partly equipped with arms. The gov
ernment troops rallyins at the bar
racks. tshelled the penitentiary and
speedily caused its evacuation.
Other bands Of Villistas proceeding
according to a carefully prepared rlan,
gained a foothold in the state palace
and the federal building. There the
hottest fighting took place, lasting for
hours. Machine guns and to some ex-
tent field guns were used by the gov
eminent troops. and extensive prop
ertv damage resulted.
The rebels fought with the utmost
desperation. 1t was remarked nv gov
ernment officers that the villistas
were Invariably tall. we'll conditioned
Mexicans. apparently the pick Of the
Chihuahua and Durango mountain
men. Weight Of numbers and mun;-
tions f'rally turned the balance In
favor OF the government,
Prisoners Put to Death.
The surrounding Of the b,ildin rs
was completed about noon. and late in
the afternoon the government troops
came into hand TO hand contact with
the rahels. Bloody fehtine ersued. in
which the remnant OF the villistas es-
capped. topather with the slightly
wounded Those taken prisoners were
overpowered in the palace. their am
mnnition exhausted. The wounded
w"re executed where they Law.
The prisoners were taken from tho
p"nitentiarv early Sunday morning
ard executed
Villa himself did not lead the at
tack. hut directed the n,ovenort Of his
mon from the outskirts of the ctv.
Government reports ton'~ht have villa
fleeing toward Santa Yeahal to the
west. along the Mexican Northwestern
railroad with the remnant of his men,
He IS being pursued by Constitution
al cavalry Cen Gnnza1ns said