Bisbee daily review., 1917-12-08
Mexican Soldiers Defeat Band of
 ViHd's Troops
(By Review | I.eased Wire)

columns of federal cavalry in com mand of General Francisco Muguia and General Pedro Fayela ambushed a large band of Villa followers in Santa Clara canyon. 75 miles north west of Chihuahua city. Tuesday. ac- cording to an official statement given out at military headquar CTS here to- night. A total of 400 were killed and wounded on both sides. The Villa forces suffered the heaviest losses from the enfilading fire of the fed eral force.
 An unconfirmed report was received here tonight that HipoHto VIlia, brother of Francisco Villa and a col onel in his command, was killed dur ing the fighting. A military head quartersColonel Joaquin Gomez Tagle, chief of staff, said no official reports had been received from Chihuahua city referring to the killing of Villas brother.
 The command was believed to have been that headed by Lopez. which attacked a train near Fl Mocho last week and killed General Eudardo Cha veg and practically all of his escort. Villa was not believed to have been present in person and this caused the report that Hipolito was killed to be doubted in official circles here
 Started Last Saturday
 The battle started Saturday whom General Favela engaged the Villa force guarding the entrance to Santa Clara canyon. Finding the force of Villa troops much stronger than he an- ticipated, he withdrew and sent to Chihuahua city Ior endorsements. General Murguia answered the call in person and rushed his troops to the scene of the figh.ing, arriving there, overland, Monday night with strong cavalry column.
 The attack in force started at day break Tuesday morning and the Villa forces were forced to flee into the canyon, where they were sought out and killed like rabbits, according to accounts received here today. The number of Villa prisoners and wound ed and captured was given as 150, while an equal number were killed in battle. The federal losses were lighter because of the fact that they swept the Villa ranks with machine
 
 the Villa troops an opportunity to charge. Many horses, much ammuni- ton and other military equipment were captured and the villa forces driven in the direction of Namiquipa, which is on the Pershing trail.
 Villas Men Decisively Defeated
 Ideal" local newspaper, published an extra tonight giving the details of the Santa Clara canyon battle, stating that Villas forces had suffered a de- cisive defeat at the hands of General Murguia. All information about the battle was withheld until late tonight for military reasons.
 Santa Clara canyon is a perfect set ting for such a battle. It is break in the mountains west of Laguna sta tion and is more than three miles long. The walls are steep and there are but two entrances to the boX-like forma- tion. The floor of the canyon is GOV cred with grass, watered from springs, and the canyon has long been a ia vorite rendezvous of Villa, because of the pasturage for his mounts there.
 Expect Attack at Ojinaga
 FABENS, Tex, Dec. Another at tack is expected to occur on Ojinaga, opposite Presidio, Tex, soon, if the Villa forces under General Porfirio Ornelas do not evacuate the border port and rejoin Villa in the field. A column of federal troops estimated to include 300 cavalraymen headed by General Jose Carlos Murguia and his famous Death Head Troop" passed through today, following the river load to Ojinaga to recapture the town for the federal government. As General Ornelashas fewer than 200 men there, he is expected to abandon the port, which was captured by Villa Novem- Der IA. Firing occurred opposite here last night, but was believed 10 have been federal patrols firing on Villa am intuition smugglers.