Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-05
gly in their effort to scatter the on
slaughts Of the Americans

ely in their effort to scatter the on
slaushts Of the Americans
Running horseback fights followed, In
which the American troopers performed
desperate feats of bravery. During hve
hours they rode hard on the neeis OF
the retreating Villa forces: For ten
miles to the northeast the pursuit
lasted. the broad lane Of the fight being
dotted with the bodies OF dead ana
wounded Mexicans.
with what he considered accurate in
formation that villa was badly Grip
pied. SO that he could neither ride
horseback nor walk. Col. Dodd turned
northeast for pursuit of the routed
bandits, maintaining also a force az
Guerrero ready to strike In any other
direction.
once during the fight with Col Dodd's
men the Villa forces seemed to be pre-
pairing for a stand outside the town,
but they broke without serious nsht
| before the rush of the cavalrymen
Mexicans Shot as They Ride.
One body of hard riding Mexicans
was caught on top of a ridge by the
Americans, who shot down a dozen OF
them as they rode, sharply dehned
against the skyline.
| The fighting ended shortly after noon,
when the last Of the Villa men. mount,
ed on the feeter and surer-footed
horses. escaped into the mountains:
| Providencia and Santa Ana, from
of the Guerrero fight, mark the upper
borders of the district into when the
enemy fed. The Villa forces headed
\ for hills and mountains ranging IN
height from several hundred to Se vera
they would find temporary refuge.
Among some of these hills the Ameri-
cans found marks of carriage wheels.
WAS this Villas carriage, or was ~
A vehicle carrying supplies to the head
Of some trail leading to mountain
hiding place." This was the question
| every officer asked. This was the news
| hurried back to Gen. Pershing a rev
hours after the fight. 1t met him al
| ready at the front, for he had passed
| through his most advanced base inc
morning after the Guerrero nshe any
| had Joined the picked command OF MAJ.
Robert L. Howse of the 18th Cavalry,
lately stationed at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga
Ordered to Block the Passes.
This command was ordered to block
one of the passes through which Villas
men might try to escape. Word was
hurried back to Maj. Frank Tompklns
at the advanced base by automobile.
Mai Tompkins is of the 18th Cavalry
the officer who led the American pur-
bus the morning villa raided the Amer
lean town. The officer who carried "oro
back to Maj Tompkins asked the au-
tomobile mechanic one question, have
you extra treS
Yes" was the answer. Not another
word did the officer speak. But ne
threw the car into high speed over
rocks, bitches and hills until the escort
riding with him used both hands 10
keep from being bounced out OF their
| another OF the passes against vita D
escape.
The men, who had been without
"a tons except such as they could pick
un in the country for four days. were
favored by the arrival of an automobile
supply train, which pulled in just be-
fore they left. These cavalrymen were
ordered to leave their swords behind,
and were told that no matter how
much else they might accomplish. it
would be of little avail until they
caught Villa himself.
Troopers Depart Silently.
During the night the troopers from
headquarters made a start for their
station, which. it was hoped, would
close the last door by which Villas
men might escape northward. The men
were awakened, given coffee, the first
days, and which had arrived oppor
itunely just before midnight, and then
silently assembled by troops. They
worked so quietly that fifty feet away
| from their campfires it was not possible
| to discern that an important troop
movement was getting under way. Once
after they left tattoo of hoofs was
heard from a rocky mountain trail,
but otherwise the departure was un-
heard and unseen by most of the men
remaining in camp
Yesterday while coming here by au-
tomobile Gen. Pershings escort took
the wrong road, riding nearly into a
town which was believed to be full OF
Villa followers at the time. They were
within ten miles of the place when the
error in the road was discovered. Later
In the day 1t was reported that two
scouts for the Americans were in this
town and in possible danger. Nolun-
teers were called for to bring them in.
So many officers rushed forward to
offer their services that none of the
privates got chance to join the res
cue party. The scouts were brought
in safely.
Pershing Limits Food Prices.
Several mule packs of Mexican silver
money has been sent to Col. Dodd's
troopers to enable them to obtain food
and fodder from the Mexicans Their
| American money was such an unknown
quantity among the Mexicans that
trading with 1t was difficult At this
J camp Gen. Pershing has set a limit
| on the prices which may be paid for
chickens. This Is to prevent bidding
| up the prices among those with money
| to spare which might result In gen
| eral increase in cost of chickens and
| raise the limit beyond the means of
private soldiers. The price has been
fixed at so cents to 81 per chicken, de-
pending on the size.
| All comforts have been discarded. One
| ofhcer. who had an extra outfit of white
goods. gave them up to be ruined when
an aeroplane. at point farther north
OF tho line Of communications. appeared
| overhead and seemed to have trouble
in locating the camp. The white
articles were used to signal down the
aviator.
CAPT, D, H, ROBINSON DEAD