The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-04-05
francisco Villa Pulls the Wool
Over Eyes Of Pursuers
HOW HE STIRS UP ENEMY
Carries With Him His Own
Telegraph Operator Who
Sends Orders
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.]

/ ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.]
From Saturdays Daily.
! Juarez, Mexico, March 30.-Fran-
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 cf Villas lines
and reached the border here on
passenger 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.
Villa Went Southwark.
After the fight at Laguna de Esta-
cada, Chihuahua, Villa led his men
southwest toward the Rio Florido
where he had hidden while General
are bubbling hot springs on the Rio
Florido where Villa likes to battle and
soak the rheumatism and saddle
soreness out of his limbs after a
hard campaign. But, before he could
enjoy his private baths in the Dur
ango River, General Eduardo Herman
dez and General Francisco Gonzales
Pershing was pursuing him. There
closed in on him with two cavalry
columns.
Pretending to flee before these adj
| vancing columns, Villa and his men
dashed through the little mountain
town OF Canutillo with the federal
cavalrymen pursuing them a few
hours later. Villas little army dis
appeared over the ridge of a sand
hill with the evening sun. The fed
erals went into camp on butte
overlooking the town, intending to re-
sumo the pursuit at daybreak. 1t
was a moonlight night and few SEN
tries were posted, custom not I'M
common in Mexico.
FederaIs Shot Their Own Men.
! Instead of continuing his flight
Villa halted behind the first ridge,
had all of his men leave their hats
in a pile, wheeled his column and
rode back toward Canutillo. Scouts
reported the location of the federal
camp, plainly visible in the moon
light Whispered orders were given
that no one but those wearing hats
should be fired upon. The attack
then began. With war whoop
which was as terrifying as the fam
Gus rebel yell. the Villa column swept
down upon the camp, shooting from
the saddle at every man who could
be seen. In the confusion which fol-
lowed the surprise night attack the
federal soldiers killed MANY of their
own men. .mistaking them for Villas
men. After a sharp encounter Villa
rode through Canutillo once more,
leaving small detachment there to
hold the town against the federals.
4 Planned His Old Tricks.
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.
Il These Villa men also made all of the
civilians crowd into these houses and
give vivas for Villa to make the enc
my believe the Villa force was many
times larger than it really was. The
+ small Villa band succeeded in hold
ing off the federals until Villa could
lead his main column in 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 fayorite one is
to send his men against the enemy,
lthen have them retire in apparent
disorder until they reach canyon
or other place easily fortified by
Villa. The pursuers are led into this
trap and they ara subjected to
sweeping fire from the rocks and are
usually annihilated This piece of
native strategy was used against the
federals at San Andres, Chih. again
at Rosario, Durango, and at Pedera-
males. Chin.
! Sends Misleading Messages.
] Villa has frequently. forced federal
telegraph operators to send mislead-
ing messages directing troop trains
Ito proceed to point where trap was
laid for them This was done at
Laguna, Chih., and a paymaster gen.
eral and all his guard killed. Villa
always carries telegraph operator
! with him to see that his orders are
carried out and he is not tricked. He
has even called federal generals on
the long distance telephone or sent
them MESSAGES telling them to be-
ware of Villa and claiming to be
local federal commander in the dis
trict from which the messages were
sent. "a
Because of these tricks, learned as
a bandit in the mountains Villa has
become the subject Of many wild
tales of adventure in Northern Mexi-
co where he is credited with bear
+, ing . charmed life.
! Miss Catherine Corbeii. who was
manager of the hospital at Candy,