Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-19
GEN. PERSH|NG MADE
EFFORT TO GET VILLA
Punitive Expedition" First of
Three Crossings Of Border
in as Many Years
CARRANzA OPENLY HOSTILE

time within a period of a little more
than three years with the dispatch of
United States troops across the border
in pursuit of the bandits who captured
and held for ransom two American
aviators, Peterson and Davis.
At the time of the recent fighting at
Juarez, a force entered the turbulent
republic for correctional purposes fol
lowing outrages on our citizens living
close to the international line; but the
event that created a tension that threat
ened a rupture with the Mexican Gov
eminent took place in March, 1916.
when the famous Pershing punitive
expedition was sent across the Rio
Grande with the stern instruction to
capture or kill PanCho Villa and rxter-
inmate his murdCrous band of outlaws.
This drastic order was the fruit of
series of border outrages eliminating in
an attack by Villa and band of som"
500 on the town Of Columbus, y. NJ.
and the camp of the Thirteenth lnitcd
States Cavalry nearly a score OF Amrri-
cans being killed in the sanguinary fight
ing and many buildings set on fire be-
fore the bandit chief and his followers
were driven back across the information
al border. They were followed by 300
troopers of the Thirteenth Cavalry and
In the fighting that ensued on Mexican
territory at least seventy five OF the
bandits were killed. the loss to the
American cavalry being seven killed
and six wounded.
Pershing Sent to Get Villa
President Wilson aud his cabinet
acted promptly. and Il punitive "Xp"di-
ton was at once organized, placed under
the immediate command Of Brigadi"r
General John J. Pcrshing, who barely
more than year later was to gain
world celebrity as commander in chief
of the American Army in France, and
who was ordered to get Villa, dead
or alive.
Care was taken to impress the Car
rama government with the fact that the
Pershing expedition was purely puni-
tive and was in no way designed TO COM
promise or infringe upon Mexican
sovereignty.
About 10000 men comprised tho
Pershing force, made up principally OF
infantry, with perhaps 2ONO cavalry.
Many of these soldiers gained experience
in what proved a futile search for the
elusive Villa that stood them in good
stead when, in April of the following
year, they answered the trump that en-
rolled them into the victorious Ameri-
can army that dealt the decisive blows
ending the titanic conflict that con-
vulsed Europe.
While the Carranza Government made
pretense of approving the action of the
Washington administration to rid Mex
ico and the border of the constant men :
ace of Villa and his outlaws, the mask
was speedily east aside.
AS Pershing and his gallant troops
advanced farther into the territory over
which the Mexican president held i'm .
potent sway, and during the entire
period of the hunt for the bandit chief.
In the numerous engagements that
marked the arduous if unavailing pur-
suit, hostility, at first covcrct, later
truculent, was displayed by the Mexican
authorities.
On June II, General Jacinto TrevinO,
commanding the Carranza army of the
north, advised General Pershing that
any movement of the American troops
east or west from the lines they oCcu
pied at the time would be considered "a
hostile act and a signal to begin war
fare
Despite this threat PerShng main.
tanned his search for the fugitive out.
law, and on June IS, 1916, the very day
following this insoent ultimatum from
chihuahua, President Wilson ordered
the National Guard to the border. Or
u Not In al
In which Carranza troops confronted
Pershing's forces, Captain Adair an'
Lieutenant Boyd, of the American army
were among the slain.
Withdraw Without "Getting Villa"
A month later, during which time
several battles and skirmisheS wer'
fought and brilliant deeds of heroism
performed by Pershing's men, the ban
dit Villa meanwhile safely hidden from
his grim pursuerS, but his outlaw army
thoroughly beaten and scattered, the
Washington government, after much ne
gotiation, agreed to joint rommlN
sion for the settlement Of the dlthcuIl"'
with Mexico.
To be sure the avowod object o
the ''punitive" expedition to ="
Villa had not been achieved, but t"l
tne time at least he was regarded as III
nocuous and there were persistent re
ports of his death.
The first fruits of the conferences 4"
4 the Joint commission we're seen IN 'h'
ordering of fourteen National Huar'
regiments home. That was on Angus
40 On November ~ a border proto"o
was signed by the joint commission, an'
IN january, 1917. Washington order"'
the withdrawal of Pershing and his e%'
pedition. D.,;.,
On February General P"rShlns
rode out of Mexico at the head Z"
IA 600 soldiers of his ''punitive cNprd'
tion.' The bands were playing ." hel
Iohnny Comes Marching Home as th'
men marched past their commander
mounted upon bandStund at inc
horder line near Columbus, ~ M tN'
acene of the bandit attack OF nearly
year earlier. They looked hard as nam
and fully fit for the arduous and her"''
y dutv they were called upon to perform
when their country called upon them &c
60 10 Europe and help to make th'
ys,orld safe for democracy.