New Britain herald., 1918-04-09
VILLA AGAIN DONS
Fighting CLOTHES
Foxy Mexican Rebels Bath Dis
turbed He RetaliateS


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 q Mexican Robin
Hood.
American mining mon 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 opera
tons around Canutillo, Durango, just
over the Chihuahua state line, against
the Federal column, which pursued
him from Jiminez with it's 100 mount
ed 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
bubbHng hot springs on the Rio Flor
lido where Villa likes to battle and
soak the rheumatism and saddle sore
ness out of his limbs after a hard
campaign. But, before he could enjoy
his private baths in the Durango
river, General Eduardo Hernandez
and General Francisco Gonzales closed
III OH MN Win TWO CdNdlIy
Pretending to flee before these adj
Vancing columns, Villa and his men
dashed through the little mountain
town of Canutiuo with the Federal
caValrymen pursuing them few
hours later. Villas little army disap-
peared over the ridge Of a Sandhill
| with the evening sun. The Federals
| went into camp on a butte overlook
| ing the town, intending to resume the
| pursuit at daybreak. 1t was d moon
light night and few sentrics were
| posted, custom not uncommin in
| Mexico.
! 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 Canuti1lo. Scouts report
| ed 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 as ter
| rifying 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 soldiers
killed many of their own men, mis-
taking them for Villas men. After a
sharp encounter, Villa rode through
Canutillo once more, leaving n 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 loon
holes facing the side from which the
Federal attack was expected. These
I Villa men also made all of the CIV
ilians crowd into these houses and
give vivas for Villa to make the enc
| my believe the Villa force was many
| times larger that 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 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 have
them retire in apparent disorder until
they reach a canyon or other place
easily fortified by Villa. The pursuers
are led into this trap and they are
subjected to a sweeping fire from the
rocks ana are usually annlhllateU
This piece Of native strategy was used
gainst the Federals at San Andres
Chihuahua; again at Rosar rio, Duran
go, and at Pederanales, Chihuahua.
Villa has frequently forced Fedora
telegraph operators to send misleading
messages directing troop trains tC
| proceed to a point where q trap was
laid for them This was done at La
guna, Chihuahua, and a paymastcr-
general and all Of his guard were
| killed. Villa always carries a tele.
graph operator with him to see tha
| his orders are carried out and he is
not triclled. He has even called Fed
| eral generals on the long distance tel
| ephone or sent them messages tellins
| them to beware of Villa and clai1nin&
to be the local Federal commando,
in the district from which the mes
sageS are sent.
Because Of these tricks. learned a,
a bandit in the mountains, Villa ha
become the subject of many will
4 tales Of adventure in northern Mexico
where he Is credited with bearing ;
charmed life.