Evening star., 1918-03-30
VILLA STILL PLAYING
HIS FOX-L|KE TRICKS
Band Leaves Hats in Pile
When They Make Night At
tack on Canuti|lo.

JUAREZ, Mexico, March 30.-Fran-
cisco Villa continues to play his fo1-
like tricks on the Mexican federal
troops as he did when he was "Pancho"
Villa. the bandit, and rode the Sierra
Madre mountains of western Chihua-
hua like a Mexican Robin Hood.
American mining men who had run
the gantlet of Villas lines and reached
the border here on a passenger train,
the windows of which had been shot
out by Villas men. told the first con-
nected story Of Villas operations
around CanutilIo. Durango. just over
the chihuahua state line, against the
federal column which pursued him
from Jiminez with its 100 mounted dare
devils.
After the fight at Laguna de Esta-
cada. Chihuahua, Villa led his men
southwest toward the Rio F1oT1oo'
where he had hidden while Gen. Per-
shing was pursuing him. There are
rido, where Villa likes to battle and
soak the rheumatism and saddle sore
ness out of his limbs after hard
campaign 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.
Only Pretended Flight.
Pretending to flee before these ad-
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 disappeared
over the ridge of sand hill with the
evening sun. The federals went Into
Iy,%$ III q tNr
intending to resume the pursuit at
daybreak It was a moonlight night.
and few sentries were posted. a custom
not uncommon in Mexico.
halted behind the first. ridge. had all Of
his men leave their hats in a pile. wheeled
his column and rode back toward Canu-
tillo Scouts reported the location Of the
light Whispered orders were given that
no one but those wearing hats should be
fired upon. The attack then began With
a warhoop which was as terrifying as
the famous 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 followed
the surprise night attack the federal SOL
taking them for Villas men. After sharp
encounter Villa rode through Canutillo
once more. leaving small detachment
there to hold the town against the federals.
Used Populace in Deception.
There, again, he played another 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 fed
eral 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 it really was
The small Villa band succeeded in holding
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 man said. and many were made
prisoners and later executed.
These are only two of Villas bag of
tricks. Another favorite one is to send
his men against the enemy, then 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 are sub
jected to a. sweeping fire from the
rocks and are usually annihiliated.
This piece of native strategy was used
against the federals at San Andres,
Chihuahua; again at Rosario. Durango.
and at Pederanales, Chihuahua.
Carries Telegraph Operator.
Villa has frequently forced federal
telegraph operators to send misleading
messages directing troop trains to pro-
ceed to a point where a trap was laid
for them. This was done at Laguna,
Chihuahua, and paymaster general
and all Of his guard were killed.