The Little River news., 1919-08-23
CAVALRY ON TRAIL BUT
 NO BANDITS YET CAUGHT
Troopers Forced to Scatter in Riding Through Rough Country; Once or
 Two Mexicans Killed.

Maria, Tex, Aug. 20-After 36 hours of campaigning in Mexico below the Big Bend border, following "hot trails of the Mexican bandits who held Lieuts. Peterson and Davis for ransom, Am erican cavalry troops went into camp in the mountains tonight for the sec ond time during the punitive expedit- ion after Jesus Renteria's S band.
 Since the troops crossed the Rio Grande early this morning. they have been riding constantly during the day light hours in pursuit of the bandits.
 The only contact with the bandits reported resulted in the killing of 3 Mexicans who fired on an American airplane yesterday. According to the aviators' report upon returning from the field, the fight lasted 20 minutes. The aviators were unharmed.
 Reports from the field are meager. As result of the broken country south of the border the troopers have been forced to scatter and follow such trails as they can pick up. The country is too rough for airplanes to affect a landing below the border without great danger.
 ''Sti!l Following Trail"
 A cryptic message, 'Still following trail" brought to the border by air plane today was the only definite word from the expedition. No officers com manding troops in the field have yet returned to the field bases on the river.
 Reports from Presidio, Tex, told of movements of Mexican federal cav airy, under Gen. Antonio Prunedo, to- day General Prunedo left Ojinaga last night, marching toward Cuchil- To Parade 40 miles up the Conchos river.
 The Americans had a different task before them today because the heavy storm last night had almost obliterated trails of the bandits.
 
 were operating is infested with small bands of Villa followers who have been raiding the mountain valleys end canyons since part of Villas band left him after the American forces crossed to Juarez in June.
 Night in the Mountains.
 Reports from the field in Mexico today told how the Americans spent the night in the Mexican mountains The troopers slept under a starless sky, in canyons, on trails, wherever they happened to be when it grew too dark to continue their pursuit Sentries were stationed at entrances to canyons, and at high points or trails to prevent an ambush or sur prise attack if the bandits reassembled in force during the night.
 No fires were permitted. Horses were picketed in hollow squares and the men, rolled in blankets, slept be- side their mounts with rifles and pis- tols at their sides. Tickets patrolled the temporary camps.
 Pack mules were unburdened for the night and the field wireless set was rigged for making reports to head quarters. Before dark, airplanes swooped low over the camps, dropping orders The troopers, tired out from their long, hard ride, slept as soon as they finished cold supper of field rations.
 Hippolito Villa, brother of Francis co Villa, is believed to be hiding in the mountains near where the American columns are working. Hippolitio is said to have a small bodyguard.
 supplementary report made at the headqurters here today told of efforts by Davis and Peterson to signal Amer ican airplanes searching up the Con- chos river for them The aviators said they saw one plane at one time and several at another The aviators took off their undershirts and tying them together tried to signal the airplanes, which, however, flew back to the bord-