The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1918-04-16
FOXY FRANCISCO VILLA
IS AT HIS OLD TRICKS
CONTINUES TO HARRASS MEXI-
CAN TROOPS IN HIS USUAL
DARING MANNER.

JAUREA, MeXlcO.-tranclSco Viii
la continues to play his fox-like
tricks on the Mexican federal troops
as he did when he was "Pancho" Viii
la, the bandit, and rode the Sierra
Madre mountains of western Chihau-
hau like a Mexican Robin Hood.
American mining men who had run
the gauntlet of Villas lines and
reached the border here on a passen-
ger train, the windows of which had
been shot out by Villas men, told
the first connected story of Villas
operations around Canutillo, Duran
go, just over the Chihauhau state
line, against the federal column
which pursued him from Jiminex with
its 100 mounted daredevils.
After the fight of Laguna de Es-
toeada, Chihauhau, Villa led his men
southwest toward the Rio Florido.
There 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
Durango river, Gen Eduardo Herman
DEE and Gen. Francisco Gonzales
closed in on him with cavalry col
umnS.
Pretending to fee 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 dis
appeared over the ridge of a sandhill
with the evening SUM- The federal
troops went into camp on a butte
overlooking the town, intending to
resume the pursuit at daybreak.
1t was moonlight night and few
sentries were posted, a custom not
uncommon in Mexico.
Instead of continuing his fight
Villa halted behind the first ridge,
had all of his men leave their hats in
a pile, wheeled his column and rode
back toward Conutillo. Scouts re-
ported 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 that 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 follow
ed the surprise night attack the fed
eral soldiers killed many of their
own men, mistaking them for Villas
men. After sharp encounter Villa
rode through Canutillo once more,
leaving small detachment there to
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 en-
envy believe that 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 a cir
Gle and strike the federal column
from the rear. Again the govern
ment 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 to
send his men against the enemy,
then having them retire in apparent |
disorder until they reach a canyon
or other place easily fortified by Viii |
la. The pursuers are led into this
trap and they are subjected to a 4
sweeping fire from the rocks and are
usually annihilated. This piece of
native strategy was used against the
federals of San Andres, Chihauhau,
again at Rosario, Durango and at
Pederanales, Chihauhau
Villa always carries a 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 tele-
phone or sent them messages telling
them to beware of Villa and claiming
to be a local federal commander in
the district from which the messages
were sent,