The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-04-07
SURPRISE MEX|CANS
DURING SLEEP HOUR
American Troopers Rout Larg-
est Portion u Villas Scattered
Following.
TRANSPORTATION SERIOUS

Problem of supplies More Serious
rs Line Lcngthcns Which 1t Must
/ DO To Further Pursue Bandit.
San Antonio, April 4.-Surprised
during a siesta one of the groups of
/ Villas forces driven from Guerrero
was defeated Saturday by squadron
of Tenth cavalry under Col. w. C.
Brown. according to information OBJ
tanned by Gen. Pershing and for
warded to Gen. Funston to-day. In
this, the second engagement the
American troops have had. with 200
men. the bandits losses were esti-
mated at from 80 to 40 killed. No
mention Of American loss was made.
News of the reported engagement
fought at the Village of Aguas-
calientes, 20 miles southeast Of Bach
inaba, was brought by friendly Mex
leans TO point near Rubio, where
a detachment of the Tenth cavalry
under command of Mai. Evans haf-
ed yesterday. At the time Gen
Pershing sent his dispatch to Gen
Funston he had not received an Of
fetal report from Col. Brown and
the eXpeditionary command pointed
out that reports of the encounter
lacked confirmation. Credence in
the news was indicated. however. by
the fact that he transmitted it to
army headquarters here.
Found Many Asleep.
According to the version Of the
MeXicans who arrived at Mai. Evans
headquarters. Col. Brown surprised
and attacked the wandering bandits
at noon while they were lying about
the village, many asleep and all their
horses grazing. Other than the num-
ber reported killed and the fact that
the American forces captured n
number of horses, Mai. Evans in
formants were without details Of the
encounter
A previous report from Mai
Evans stated that Col. Brown was
pursuing the Villa band through the
town OF San Antonio.
There was much interest at head
quarters in the fight. but it was real
ized. II was said, that such minor
fights may take place frequently.
their effect being 10 destroy the
morale of Villas forces. sap their
strength and thus indirectly aid in
the effort TO capture the OUTLAW
chieftain.
Other Bands Nearby.
. There are known to be other bands
operating in that same part of Mex
ico and a part of the American
forces must remain to deal with them
while another part pushes on in the
pursuit of the fugitive chief.
The action reported south of Bach
inaba served TO stiffen the opinion
of stan officers that II the punitive
expedition is TO complete its work 4
great many more troops must be
sent into the country or the Mexican
Central railroad from Juarez to Chi
huahua and even through China
hua TO points further south must be
used to transport troops and sup
plies
The official admission at Gen.
Funston's headquarters to-day that
the success OF the evDed;tion now de-
pended largely on the freer use Of
the railroads or the material
strengthening OF the long rounda-
bout line OF communication and its
branches revealed situation that
it was believed might alter the en-
tire plan of pursuit.
Villa Farther South.
Villas latest southwark shift was
credited in official quarters since il
came from consular report in which
II was stated the outlaw was located
well beyond chihuahua City and evil
IDENTIFY trying to reach Parral or per-
haps even Torreon or Durango City.
In the vivinity of all those cities or
ganized bodies of Villas men, ag-
gregating a strength of some thous-
ands, are known to be operating.
According to late reports, Villa al