The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-05
Spare Nothing But Horse flesh" Order of Pershing as the Troopers Pushed Straight Southward
COLONEL DODD WAS
 ALWAYS IN THE VAN OF THE CAVALRYMEN
Troopers Lived by Their Wits-Ranks Reduced by Hlness-There Were No Provisions

LIOctNN etttl UVl ., AOlu- manding General, March 31, via Aeroplane and Motor Cour- her to Columbus, New Mexico. April 1 The strategy where by after two weeks of pursuit the Villa band under General Eliseo Hernandez was over taken by American troops and dispersed was revealed here today.
 The plan was to send the American column in a straight line along "the string of the bow, while Villa was taking Ia longer route along "the arc of the bow Coupled with this maneuver was a general order:
 Spare nothing except horseflesh." ,"
 Under these instructions the cav alrymen with Colonel Dodd's brigade always in the van, pushed straight southward from the border through the Santa Maria river valley. Villa, meanwhile, after passing Casas Grandes had swung eastward behind the ridge of mountains, close to 5000 feet high. Although his position was difficult to locate, the troops south ward hurriedly went forward, press ing onward until they thought they had struck the trail and could pass around, heading them off. Literally nothing except horseflesh was spared by the Americans.
 REDUCED. BY ILLNESS
 On March p, Colonel Dodds men were reduced by the necessity of leaving pa trols and by the illness of about 40 men to a total advance guard of out 400. They had run completely out of pro- visions. Instead of halting to await food arriving, they pushed on, leaving no regular lines of communication with the columns in the rear
 For one solid week they lived on their wits results. the reserve strength and such scanty food as they could pick up. but always following the order: Spare nothing except horse flesh"
 How well they spared the horses was proven by their dash into the Villa stronghold on Wednesday morning, a march for which endurance and brilliant effort has never oeen surpassed.
 MARCHED IN CHILL NIGHT
 The. Americans made 55 miles in 17 hours, riding on a chill night. which cut to the bone, all having discarded every piece of nonfighting equipment except blankets and canteens and mess kits, Some of the men even had thrown away their blankets.
 The 55-mile march to Guerrero was hotly pressed in the hope that the town would be reached before daylight. How ever mistake in roads cost an hour, and it was not until after sunrise that the dust-brown adobe huts of Guerrero came into sight.
 Given a better guide and emitting the mistake in roads, Colonel Dodd believes he would have boxed in and either com pletely captured or annihilated the Villa force.
 Reaching a Mexican village requires much time because these places cover several square miles, but despite difficult ties Colonel Dodd was able partly to en- compass the town and to enter portions of it before his troops were discovered
 Reports say Villa had been in Guerrero all night resting from the wound he was said to have sustained two days be- fore in the fight with Carranza forces According to this story he had departed in carriage short time before Colonel Dodds attack. At any rate he was not present during the fighting.
 Before the Americans could complete their encircling movements the Villa forces began dashing out of the town on all sides, firing as they rode. They di- yided into small groups, sometimes riding singly, in their effort to scatter the on- slaught of the Americans.
 Running horseback fights followed, in which the American troopers performed desperate feats of bravery. During five hours they rode hard on the feet of the fast retreating> Villa forces. For 10 miles to the northeast the pursuit lasted, with the broad path of the fight being dotted with the bodies of the dead and wounded gaily dressed Mexicans.
 IS BADLY CRIPPLED
 What he considered accurate informa- tion that Villa was badly crippled, so much so that he neither could ride horse- back nor walk, Colonel Dodd turned northeast for pursupit of the routed band it's, maintaining also force at Guer- rero ready to strike in any other direc- tion. n sea
 Once during the fight with Colonel Dodd's men the Villa forces seemed to be
 (continued on Page Three)