Evening journal., 1919-07-09
why VILLA ESCAPED
IN JUAREZ BATTLE
Neville. N. E. A. Expert.
Says Yank Orders Saved
Bandit
DlSPERSE, NOT CAPTURE
is PLAN AGREED ON
BY JACK NEVILLE,
/. l.. A. staff CORRESPONDENT }

Ell PASO, Tex, July 9-The mystery
Of Villas escape is a mystery no
longer.
That Villa, Felipe Angeles and their
i,4O0 bandits were not annihilated is
not due to poor American Seneralship,
breakdown OF cavalry horses. entan-
clement Of Yank troops in maze Of
irrigation bitches, or any other special
lnterposition of the Goddess Of Chance.
IL is fair to assume that the shock
OF Villas escape nearly killed Villa.
How did it happen? The answer is
now known here, on high authority,
that General De ROsey G. Cabells Or
Hers were not TO annihilate the Mexi-
cans who were shooting across the
border, but TO disperse them and make
them quit shooting.
Former rumOrs had attributed the
miraculous escape to American artil-
lery becoming entangled in Mexican
Irrigation bitches outside Juarez, Amer
ican horses being winded oy the time
the Nillista camp was reached, and the
flight Of Villa by an unknown road.
Officers have now admitted that tho
Americans had no intention OF bagging
the bandit army. 10 is even said that
the eleven prisoners brought TO this
side by the Americans were only cap
tured when il became a question Of
bringing them in or shooting them in
cold blood
Details OF the battle now leaking out
show that the Americans could have
taken at least 600 prisoners at one
time and could practically have ami
Inflated the remaining Nillistas with
shrapnel or explosive shells.
'Had we wanted the Nillistas we
would not have attacked as we did, a
high army officer told me.
Our orders were 10 dsperse them"
Eyewitnesses 10 the battle say that
when 600 Nillisias could have been sur
the Americans dsmOunted and
opened fire at 1000 yards, peppering
The rebels with Just enough bullets 10
put them to flight.
As the mounted rebels swung 10 the
southwest OF Juarez, the American ar
,illery opened up, PLANTING shells in
heir rear and continually kicking up
he dust just behind the fugitives as
hey fed for miles.
The Yank barrage didn't say stop"
. said. Keep moving"
General Cabell. i'm answer TO a mes
'age from General Felipe Angeles de- /
an explanation for the Ameri- /
AN attack. sent word that he had no
eply to make and couldn't talk with |
lin. This snatches away the last hope 4
II Nillista sympathizers who had de- |
PENDED on Angeles presence among the /
ebels 90 enlist American sympathy.
Villa hurried southwark instead of /
10 the west and making for /
he Mormon colonies where more than
100 American Mormons own farms.
troops have been dispatch /
ID TO guard the Americans.
Angeles reason for declining the I
military leadership Of the Nillistas and /
'efusal 10 lead the bandits in the as !
ault on Juarez is also now apparent 20 |
hose who have studied the situation.
n a recent proclamation Angeles de-
Jared he stands for a civilian presi-
ent In the event Of the success OF his |
evolt The fact that ne did not accept
military command would technically
rake him a civilian" and permit him
D take the presidency in the event Of
he overflow OF the Carranza govern
rent.
One prophesy that miscarried was
nat the Carrancista garrison would
lrrender or join the rebels. Carranza's
lldiers evidently can be relied on TO
ipport the established government.