Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-04-21


firing ahead and hurried on at full
speed thru the darkness thinking there
was an attack on General Pershing
and his escort. The firing had been
directed by the Villistas at the gem
erals motor truck ana the automobile
which was accompanying It. These
two machines, bearing the impede
menta for the expeditions flying head
quarters, had been unable to hold the
pace and had fallen behind. .,.
When the first shots shattered the
windshield of the automobile and
ratified against the motors hood the
drivers of both machines eXtinguished
their lights and sped forward to over
take the generals escort The auto
mobile, which was in the rear, crashed
into the slower moving truck and was
put out of commission While shots
continued to fall around them oc-
cupants of both cars took positions on
the ground and poured out the con-
tents of their rifles and six shooters.
Bandits Put to Flight.
The arrival of the aero truck finally
caused the bandits to withdraw. The
last truck in the motor train had
reached the top of the hill and pro-
ceeded a few hundred feet across the
mesa when signal shot was fired
from that end of the ambuscade
closest to the head of the train.
The signal brought forth a volley
from the west side of the road. as indi-
Gated by the flashes Of light from
section Of the mesquite thicket 100
yards long. In minute the throbbing
motors were silent and all lights out.
The men, numbering less than fifty.
including officers and chauffeurs in
the train jumped to the ground with
their rifles and pistols and fattened
out.
A second volley came from the BAN
dts on the east side of the road. The
bullets ripped thru the canvas cur
tains Of the trucks. splntered the
wooden sides of the cars, and rang out
as they spattered against the solid
metal wheels.
Attacked From Three Sides.
At the same time, a third party Of
the bandits opened another cross fire
from the road. in the rear of the last
truck, which made the attack on three
sides. The aero squadron cook. rather
late in leaving his position on the
drivers seat of the last truck. became
the personification of alacrity when
bullet pierced the peak of Ms hat and
removed it.
Without waiting for orders the train
escort opened up fire in all three direc-
tons. The captain walked up and
down on both sides Of the line Of
trucks cautioning the men to save
their ammunition and to fire only
when they saw a fash Of light in
the mesquite. In the darkness, which
was almost black, save for pale
cloud blurred moon, the flashes of the
rifles were the only means by which
the Americans could direct their fire.
Most Of the bandits were mounted.
Following the first American shots
horses were heard to snort and fall in
the brush. which was SO thick and
thorny that pursuit was impossible.
Proceed to Carranz ista Camp.
Even after the opening volleys from
the Americans the Mexicans main
tanned a scattering fire from many
points on the three sides of the square
on which they were formed As the
three sides slipped further away from
the trucks and the flashes became
more indistinct thru the underground
the train escort knew that the bandits
had been repulsed.
The engines were started again, and
the train proceeded with lights out, It
being feared that the road illumination
might prove too good target for the
bushmen Four miles further the train
encountered the outpoints Of the Car
rama camp. where the fight was re-
counted to General Cara.
1T was Taranga's band" Cara said.
I'VE knew they were going thru here.
We have been looking for them for
the last two days. My troops are all
from the state of Jalisco. SO We know
little concerning the trails in this
northern country. 1t has been difficult
for US to pursue"
Halted by Carranza Sentinel.
AS with the motor trucks. General
Pershine's encounter with the Car
ranzista troops was one Of the melo-
dramatic incidents of the night. A
sudden turn in the road and the head
lights of the generals car revealed
Mexican with ready rifle standing in
the center of the way.
"Halto'' his challenge came. loud and
sharp. The brakes squeaked. Before
the cars had stopped the rifles OF the
guards in the car closely following had
been leveled on the sentinel.
With the exchange Of questions and
answers between the sentry and a
staff officer riding with the general.
the sentry, a boy of 10. ragged and
laden with crosswise cartridge belts.
accepted place on the running board
and led the way to some higher ground
on the edge Of the CarranZa camp.
This morning General Cara ampli-
fed his brief conference of the night
before by sending two officers with
his compliments to General Pershihs's
camp here, which is some fifteen miles
from that Of the Jalisco troops.