Arizona republican., 1917-05-31
VILLA |S
 AGAIN NAT
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Republican A. p. Leased wirel

Republican A. p. Leased Wire
 PRESIDIO. Texas. May 2O.-Fran- cisco Villa tonight holds a border port opposite an American town and again United States troops are patrolling the border line while Villa cavalrymen are silhouetted against the night sky on the southern bank of the Rio Grande.
 At o'clock this morning approXi- mately 200 Villa followers dashed into the little border town of Ojinaga. oppo- site here shouting Viva Villa" and shooting right and left as they rode. Only comparative hand full of MeXi- can government forces occupied the adobe garrison, General Figueroa, General Garcia and Colonel Rioias hay ing gone out Sunday night to engage the Villa command which was en- camped in La Mula pass. B miles south of the border These forces are eX- pected to return tonight and make a desperate effort to drive the fila troops from the town.
 Fifty of the government force of 75 men left in Ojinga succeeded in es- caping across the river G Presidio and were given asylum by American troops. Women and children followed behind their men, carrying babies and bun dies, one woman leading a burro la den with her worldly possessions. Of the 9 government soldiers remaining. 3 were killed during the fighting. two were taken prisoner and executed.
 The battle lasted two hours after which the small stores and shops which flanked the plaza were footed of every thing which could be carried away and the houses of the OIinaga lesldenls rlfled. The Villa command occupied the abandoned garrison. retrieved the rifles which the government soldiers had thrown away in their flight to the American side and, tonight, the camp fires of the Villa soldiers may be seen dotting the high table land on which is Ojinaga.
 Whether or not Villa was with his troops has not yet been fully con- firmed. No one was permitted to cross to the Mexican side tonight and tne MeXicans coming to the American side say they heard reports of Villas pres ence in the town but none had seen the famous leader. Chico Cano. a Villa commander led the Villa forces into the plaza with Martin Lopez, Jose Ynez Salazar and Carlos Montoya were re- ported to have been with him in the attack. Villa was reported to have been seen on a hill near Ojinaga early to- day but this was not confirmed.
 About three hundred refugees have crossed from Ojinaga and are camped tonight near the river According to these people the Villistas commenced the attack by hurling home made hand grenades into the houses.
 j. k. Weisinger deputy collector of customs. crossed to the Mexican side this afternoon and interviewed PorfiriC Ornelas who appeared to be in com mand of the Villa forces. The collec- tor reports he saw but few troops and no officer save Ornelas. Ornelas stated that his men were within hearing dis tance and that he was prepared to re- sist any attempt of the government troops to take the town. He said he could muster as many men as could the government commander. Ornelas said neither Villa nor Salazar were with him, but that Chico Cano was near.
 few women and children. according to the deputy collector remained ir their homes and were unmolested by the Villistas They were warned how ever, by Ornelas to come to the Ameri can side as he could not guarantee their safety after his reinforeements .had arrived.
 Mexican civilians who crossed iron Ojinaga late today and who were wit nesses of the fighting. say that twen- ty-five government soldiers were killed in the fight. Two soldiers who wer, taken prisoner were executed.