Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-30
Villa Again Plays
Foe-Like Tricks
With Federal Arm,

Juarez. Mexico, March 30.-F'ran-
cisco Villa continues to play his FOX
like tricks on the Mexican federal
troops as he did when he was pan :
cho" Villa, the bandit, and rode the
Sierra Madre mountains OF western
Chihuahua like a Mexican Robin Hood
American mining men who had run
the gauntlet of Villas lines and
| reached the border here on pas
senger train, the windows OF which
had been shot out by Villas men, told
the first connected story of Villas
operations around Canutillo, Durango
just over the Chihuahua state line,
against the federal column which
pursued him from Jimenez with It's
100 mounted daredevils.
After the fight at Laguna de Esta :
cada, Chihuahua. Villa led his men
southwest toward the Rio Florido
where he had hidden, while General
Pershing was pursuing him. There are
bubbling hot springs on the RIO
Florido where Villa likes to battle and
soak the rheumatism and saddle sore
ness out of his limbs after hard cam
ptaign. But before he could enjoy
his private baths in the Durango river
Gen. Eduardo Hernandez and Gen
Francisco Gonzales closed in on him
with two cavalry columns.
Pretending to fee before these ad-
vancing columns, Villa and his men
dashed thru the little mountain town
of Canutillo With the federal cavalry
men pursuing them a few hours later
Villas little army disappeared over
the ridge Of sandhill with the eve
ming sun. The federals went into
camp on a butte overlooking the town
intending to resume the pursuit at
daybreak. It was a moolight night and
few sentries were posted, custom no,
uncommon in Mexico.
Instead of continuing his fight Villa
halted behind the first ridge, had all
of his men leave their hats in pile
wheeled his column and rode back
toward Canutillo. Scouts reported the
location of the federal camp plainly
visible in the moonlight. Whispered
orders were given that no one but
those wearing hats should be fired
upon. The attack then began. With a
war whoop which was as terrifying az
the famous rebel yell the Villa
column swept down upon the camp
shooting from the saddle at every man
| VINO could DC seen. IN the confusion
which followed the surprise night at
tack the federal soldiers killed many
OF their own men, n1istakins them fol-
Villas men. After sharp encounter
Villa rode thru Canutillo once more
leaving small detachment there tc
hold the town against the federals.
There again he played one of his old
| tricks. He had these men hide in the
adobe houses where they cut loop
| holes facing the side from which the
federal attack was expected These
Villa men also made all of the civilians
crowd into these houses and give vivas
for Villa to make the enemy believe
the Villa force was many times larger
than 1t really was. The small Villa
band succeeded in holding off the fed
erals until Villa could lead his main
column in a circle and strike the
federal column from the rear Again
the government troops were slaughtered
the mining men said, and many were
made prisoners and later executed.
| These are only two of Villas bag OF
tricks. Another favorite one is tt
send his men against the enemy, Their
have them retire in apparent disorder
until they reach a canyon or Other
place easily fortified by Villa. The
| pursue-s are lead into this trap ant
they are subjected to a sweeping fire
from the rocks and are usually ami.
hilated. This piece of native strategy
was used against the federals at Sar
Andres Chihuahua, again at Rosario
Durango and at Pederanales. Chihua
hua.
Villa has frequently forced fedora
telegraph operators to send mislead
ling messages directing troop trains t.
proceed to a point where a trap wa