Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-13
VILLA TRIES
TO BREAK Up
RAID FORCE
Plans to Have Small
Bands Hide in Noun
tains to Confuse the
Pursuers
American Military Experts Be-
lieve Capture r: Might Have
Been Assured Had Large Body
of Troops Gone after Villa on
Thursday

Columbus, \. NJ, March 12.-Reports
multiplied here today that Francisco Viii
la is disintegrating the force of 1900 to
800 men whonr he used to support or to
make the Columbus raid last Thursday.
II Pursued at Once
American military authorities said to-
day that possibly it would have been adj
visable to go after Villa Thursday when
his raiders fed southwark They were
then demoraliZed and were dropping loot
and war material before attacks of ~ men
under Maj, Frank Tompkins. Requests
of Col. Herbert Slocum, commanding the
18th Cavalry here, and of Maj Tompkins
to be allowed to renew the pursuit Fri
day viii, larger force We're denied pend
ing the organization of the large punitive
expedition.
Today ii was stated that this eXpedi-
ton. owing to inadequate railroad facii-
ties and the widely scattered position of
the troops necessary to constitute it. who
have been on patrol duty, might require
enter Mexico. at least from this point
Villas Strategy
Meanwhile reports from Mexican
sources stated that Villa apparently was
carrying out plan TO elude pursuit by
breaking up his forces into small bands
and hiding among the mountains Some
OF his forces were reported to he APP
preaching the Sonora state border. Others
were said to be making their way south
ward and southeastward today toward
the mountains of the San Geronimo dis
trict, from which the bandit cheftain
started Marst LIST with the announced in
tention of invading the United States.
Orders to Squadron
Col. Slocum said he had been adv iscd
that the first squadron of the 18th Cav
airy had been ordered to rejoin the reai-
ment. The 18th. on account of its exploit
Thursday in beating off an overwhelming
number of MeXicans after a stiff fight in
which they inflicted possibly - times the
number of their own casualties, is said to
have been assigned to the duty of taking
Villas direct trail. But owing to the eX-
igencies of the patrol duty to which the
army has been assigned ever since the
outbreak of the Madero revolution in
1910 the regiment has had on duty only
two-thirds Of its strength.
The first squadron under Lieut. Col.
T. River, has been stationed at Maria.
Texas, more than $50 miles east of
here. and assigned to patrol A stretch
of territory So miles in extent. 1t might
be several days before this squadron
will be assembled here.
1t appears to be the opinion Of mill
tary men here that when Villa is found
and pushed on both sides he will not
stand and fight.
Precipitate Retreat
Although Villas strength in the bat
tie here was estimated from 1900 to
$500 men. Capt. Rudolph Smyser and
Capt. George Williams. who participate
ed in the pursuit, described his retreat
as precipitate. Prisoners captured de-
clared that the bandits we're stricken
by fear, although when they discovered
the meagre force Of SO with which
TOmpklnS entered Mexico thursday
they attacked with 900 men.
1t was suggested today that the
state authorities would indict Villa on
charges of murder and formally de-
mand his extradition.
Although the Villa trail is getting
colder every day army officers ex-
pressed confidence in their ability
finally to apprehend him.
Francisco Miranda, one of the MeXi-
can prisoners, was sent to Fort Bliss
today for the amputation of gan
grened leg. Officers of the medical
corps here are making strenuous eff
forts to save Jesus Raves, the 1e-year-
old boy who was wounded among the
Villa raiders during the fight. His left
hip was shattered.
1t was announced today that the two
souadrons. numbering about 100 men
Of the 18th Cavalry under Col. H. G.
Sickel, who were ordered from Fort
Robinson, Neb.. yesterday. will take
the place Of the 18th Cavalry in posts
here. One squadron Of the 18th is at
Panama.