New Britain herald., 1916-03-24
Endurance Tested.

Chihuahua, Mexico, March 22, tby wagon train to Columbus March 24.) Reaching here by a forced march that demonstrated the endurance of the American soldiers and obviously amazed the MeXicans, several thou sand United States troops, cavalry, infantry and artillery were scattered today between this point and the northern boundary of the district of Guerrero, intent on the task of cap- turing or killing Francisco Villa ill the shortest possible time and eX- terminating the bandit band with which he raided Columbus, N. M., and slaughtered nine civilians on March 2. Troop movements and dispositions, however, it was said, were shrouded in the strictest secrecy by order of the war department.
 Entry Into Mexico.
 The entry into Mexico occurred at t2:07 D. m, March IS. At that mo- nient the American colors with the standard of the 18th cavalry, 200 men of which beat off Villas raiders de- spite the surprise movements of the Mexican brigands, were carried over the boundary by the color guard. Colonel Herbert J. Slocum, command Sing the 18th was the first command
  by Major James A. Ryan, acting chief Of staff to General John J. Pershing, who commands the punitive expedi- ton.
 Heavy Wagon Trains.
 This was column No. i consisting Of infantry, artillery and cavalry and burdened with heavy wagon trains It moved rather slowly and scamped the first night at Palomas, filthy village of adobe huts seven miles be- low the boundary, south of Columbus. Column Mo- 2 entered Mexico from Culberson's ranch, f1fty-one miles south of Hachita, N. M. General Pershing who had accompanied the ] first column part of the way to Pa Iomas, returned to Columbus the 1 same afternoon, raced to Culberson's ! in an automobile, and taking com l srnand of the second or flying col unn'' drove it more than 110 miles over the desert of. Chihuahua in twenty-two hours actual marching time.
 Spies Dot First Route.
 Official records show that spies dotted the route of the first column, but the men of the second had forged l their way fifty miles into the country before a single native was seen; and 1 10 the surprise of the Mexicans 1 reached here Friday night, exactly forty-two hours after crossing the border at 3:17 Thursday morning..
 In this column every man was mounted and the wagon trains were supplanted by army mules, which made the entire distance under heavy packs with the loss of only three of their number.
 Record of Speed.
 Battery B of the Sixth Field Ar tillery, commanded by Captain Ed gar H. Yule and Lieutenant Charles ! P. George formed a unit of the fly ing column named while the cavalry 1 traversed trails through the bad country of the Sierra Madre noun !! tains six to eight thousand feet high, l the battery encountered by ambu- lances and field wireless equipment 1 travelled the valley roads, longer by l eighteen miles. Nevertheless, it l reached camp only an hour and a half behind the cavalry without the 1 loss of a mule or horse and not 8 sore back among any of the animals. Officers declared this exploit would long stand as a record of speed and endurance.
 Muster Rolls Found.
 The Thirteenth Cavalry, because of it's accomplishment in driving Villas 1 greatly superior numbers out of Co., lumbus, after a brief engagement, was given first place in the first column.
 Muster rolls of the Villa command found here after he passed through going southward, eight days ago, showed that he made the raid on Co., iumbus with 5S3 men.
 H. feat, deserters reported that the ban dit chieftain killed five of his officers and men as towards. There were 293 in his command when he retreated R through Colonia Dublan. Travelled Light The 18th accounted for the rest Major Frank Tompkins, who took 59 A of his squadron and drove the ban dits 15 miles into Mexico after they had crossed the border, commanded the advance guard. The rest of the csvalry under Major. Elmer Lindsey > followed. Then came the mountain @ and field guns, next the, dough boys" " of the infantry regiments, and last \ the wagon trains, field hospital and sanitary equipment and the field wireless.
 The orders were for every man to \ travel light" Officers and men were not permitted to carry much more than the clothing and equipment worn on their persons. The trains nevertheless were long and heavy. Vast quantities of ammunition for all types of arms, including the ma chine guns of the cavalry and infan- try accounted for most of the weight. Ratfons were carried for only five \ days. They were bacon. hardtack