Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 March 1916 — 250 SOLDIERS CHASE 1,000 MEXICAN OUTLAWS [ARTICLE]

250 SOLDIERS CHASE 1,000 MEXICAN OUTLAWS

Private Killed and Captain Wounded In Engagement Slaj—ing of Sixteen Americans. Columbus, N. M., March 9.—Francisco Villa, outlawed Mexican bandit, raided United States territory today. With 500 men he attached Columbus, killed at least sixteen Americans and fired many buildings before he was driven back across the inrteraat'onal border. At least 250 troopers of the 13th U. S. cavalry followed the Villa band into Mexico. Reports to Col. H. J. Slocum, commanding the U. S. troops at this place, late today, stated that Villa had made a stand 5 miles south of the border, where spirited fighting ensued. In this engagement an unnamed private was killed and Capt. George Williams, adjutant of the 13th cavalry, was wounded. The small detachment of troopers under Maj. Frank Tompkins and Maj. Elmer Lindsley, fighting dismounted, made a determined stand against the renewed Villa attack and at last reports were holding their ground. The raid on American territory proved costly to the bandit chieftain. The bodies of 18 bandits, including Pablo Lopez, second in command, had. been gathered and burned before noon and troopers reported an undetermined number of ’ead still lying in the brush. Led to the attack under the slogan “Death to the American®!” Villa’s followers fought with desperation.. Just before dawn they crept along a ditch skirting the U. S. cavalry camp and rushed the sleeping town, firing heavily. . The first volley brought American troopers into almost instant action. gaged the cavalryhten, others begs* applynig the torch and shooting American civilians who vent used from the buildings. Lights in homes and public buildings imemdiately became targets for snipers posted at Villa's direction. Other bandits, creeping dose to Americans homes, enticed a number of civilians into the open with English-spoken invitations. A number of fatalities are attributed to this ruse. Stores were looted, oil was poured upon fjame structures, and the torch applied by stilT other bandits. The postoffice was raided but the looters obtained only one small registered package. Failure of machine guns to work at the crucial moment when they were most needed at the beginning of the fight was the cause attributed for the escape of the Villa band across the border. ' ■ " > ‘ .

ASKS RIGHT TO SEND, MEN OVER BORDER Gen. Pershing Sends Forml Request to Carranza For Permission to Chase Bandits. Washington, March 9.—Formal request for permission to send American troops across the border to hunt down Villa and his bandits who raided Columbus, N. M., early today has been made to Gen. Carranza by Gen. Pershing at El Paso through Andres Garcia, Carranza cohsul there. White a reply from Carranza Is awaked, five troops of the 13th cavalry are across the border under orders from their commander, Col. Slocum, not to go more than two miles into the interior. .