The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-04
END OF REB ARMY
Villa Force Shattered in Clash
With U. S. Cavalry.
Field Correspondent Describes
Battle; so Mex Killed.
Erwin, NOT DODD, LEADER
Native SympathizerS Warned
Bandits of Approach.
Five Hours Fight Concluded
% Hours in Saddle.
ERWIN, NOT DODD, LEADER
BY II. d. JACOBS.


Field Headquarters of the Ameri-
can Army Near Dublan, Mexico. April
1-(by motor train to Columbus, n.
NJ "a mad five hours scramble over
the. mountain passes southwest of the
littie Mexican village of San &C.
ronimo. with a squadron of American
cavalry urging their faded mounts IN
hot pursuit of a terror stricken force
OF Ear dts, now close on their heels,
ncSs falling far behind, is the story o.
tie end of "Pancho' Villas army.
The bandits. breaking into small
groups and darling off into the mar
row defiles and pockets finally evaded
tier pursuers. Villa himself, wound
ed lin an engagement with Carran-
zlstas three days earlier. was not with
his force. But 60 Mexicans We're
killed during the running fight ana
their forces so scattered that stand
up fight is now out of the question
for them.
Only -Four Cavalrymen Wounded.
only four Americans were slightly
xyoI.nded. Colonel Dodd has been CIV
enaaredit for this victory but t was
.esilv Colonel Erwin who led a de-
tsehment of 400 of Dodd's men
onH the heartbreaking II hour rae
throughout the night until ne came
,,r'5,. Lieutenant Hernandez md his
500 Villistas on the san Gerohilil'
Re nch. 49, ,-,,,,,,+t ,iz-
crsl who saw the Americans enter IL
rorimo before the trap was spruris On
Vfna's main force at San Geronimo,
,,,.E-en+ed colonel Erwin's move belhS
= Fomplete surprise. The Nllllstas
80. saddled and all ready TO mount
a., fT.r,vfn. forcing his jaded troopeis
int5 a gaIlop, dashed toward lii0-ii
from the west. ,,.
nv bandits. waiting only to fire
t,,,<ried and scattered Volley, leapeu
onto their ponies and raced TOWARD lt ne
maintains to the east Cnhslhs ~
their saddles with their legA tne me-
reins hanging free, me An y, 1nrsuit
aIftmen raced Immediately IN p sils;.,s
eniptving their rifles at the IleelH5
6ar'dits reloading and firing at VIII
nd yelling wildly as Mexican alleI
Mexican toppled from his saoute anu
went down in the scurry OF nools;
Esddle worn, hungry and thirsty
hSnsh thew were, the Americans STUCK
doEgedly to their task for tive hours
Pursued Gain on Pursuers.
I'm they went among the strange
and narrow trails on whlch "a,
American risked his life repeateuly'
The sure, goat-1ooteuhes esq, ol tb hi rid
icsfn pdnies. together with thelr IIu-
-, intimate knowledge of the ground
finally told. Bit by bit the bandits
drew ahead, few OF them GTopPlits
back at intervals to Hre Nol.eS it
The faces of the Americans Az eacn
80, in the maze of narrow denies a
,,-oun of Mexicans would detach 1t
seif and scoot off into some hlaae9
pc5rket. Their forces grew smaller anu
shortly before noon the last OF them
had distanced Erwin and his men.
n was a crushing defeat for via.
t4ts last remaining army had been
Suffered. Sixty of his men had been
killed. He abandoned a number OF
Cssrranzista prisoners at San Geroh-
iu3o. And all this at the cost OF Tour
.i5tsh+l,- sounded American cavalry
F,r1vin and his troopers had % hours
straight ii the saddle, the last tNe
j besng in this running fight.