The sun., 1919-06-03
VILLA DENIES
COLUMBUS RAID;
URGESINQUIRY
Carranzists HOodwink Z. S.
Administration System
atically, Is Charge.
CHIEF "SLAIN" Is TIMES
Reports Of Border Outrages
and Drunkenness All I'm
true, He Says.
CHIEF "SLAIN" Is TIMES


WASHINGTON. June "A new and
unexpected turn has been given to the
Mexican embroglio here by news that
Francisco villa, through his friends in
Washington, is courting full investiga-
tion Of the Columbus raid with a view
to proving that he had nothing to do
with Ii. Villa Is forwarding alleged
documentary proofs, summary of
which is now available here, and is
ready to come personally to the
United States and face Investigation
or trial II he obtains assurance that
protection will be accorded him. pend
Ing the outcome.
Villa asserts he Is able to prove
to the complete satisfaction Of the
United States Government the follow
ing facts:
That he was $50 miles from Co
lumbus at the time Of the raid
and that none Of the men engaged
in the raid was acting under his
uifect OF ln0lrect orders.
That Gen. Julio Cardenes, who
was later killed In hand to hand
conflict with Capt. Holndahi, one
Of Pershing's scouts, was the In
shgator aud executioner Of the
Columbus raid.
That the present Administration
In Washington has been syste-
matically hoodwinked and victim
lied by Carranzista propaganda
into believing all sorts OF unre-
liable and fantastic reports about
himself and his activities.
False Reports shown.
In support OF this latter contention
Villa cites numerous specific instances
He calls attention to the frequency
with which the Administration here
omcially and emi-officially. has an
nounced his death and his burial. On
fifteen occasions, Villa says, he has
been reported dead on the authority OF
cepted as reliable. and on four occa-
sions his body has been identified by
agents In whom Washington placed
implicit confidence. he says. while on
one occasion four witnesses swore they
had seen him buried, and their reports
were accepted, he says. without ques-
ton.
The object OF Villa in citing these
facts Is to challenge the reliability OF
the testimony which he says the
United States Government has relied
upon in judging his activities. He
blames the Carranzrsta agents for an
alleged deliberate campaign OF provid-
ing the United States Government with
absurd and false stories which he COM
plains are for some unaccountable
reason implicitly believed In Washing
ton.
As one example he cites his capture
OF Torreon in 1918. Refugees and ma
tive Spaniards spread stories, he says
about atrocities perpetrated by ''the
drunken villa and his maraudsrS" WHIT
looted tho city, all OF which was accepted
at Washington despite the fact that
both the British and American consuls
at Torreon reported officially that Geo.
Villa had entered tho city in an orderly
manner and that civilians were not mo
lested.
Villa asserts his f1rst act was 10 have
notices posted on the saloons that any
one caught selling liquor to any OF his
men would be fined $500 for the first
offence, and for the second offence shot
In oontesting the reports OF the refugees
and subsequent reports by the Carran-
zistas villa states that he never uses
intoxicating liquors under any circum-
stances. and that furthermore he has
never tolerated the use OF liquor In any
form by any OF the mon over whom he
has had command.
Allegations Are Denied.
In attempting to refute the persistent
bandit charges against him Villa says
that many Americans have written to
Washington to substantiate his claim
that ne protects Americans against ban
dts and that he on many occasions pro-
vides escorts for American miners hav-
ing thousands of dollars worth OF bullion
in their possession. villa admits that
there are many rowing bandit bands in
Mexico and he says that each Individual
band. even composed OF only a few men
pretends to be a ''Villa band" whereas
In all cases these bands are not counte-
nanced or In any way protected by him
BY way OF seeking TO substantlate
Villas claims that Carranzista agents
are continually deceiving the United
States Government and the American
people, Villas friends to-day called at
tention to one OF the latest detailed
passsS1s4 ~ EkfeA RqeA