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Show VILLA, THE BANDIT GENERAL From an American point of view tho success of tho Constitutionalists at Torreon is more advantageous than their defeat would have been. Villa has won for the present day rebels what Orozco lost for the rebels of two years ago, and In this instance the Issue was of tremendous consequence, conse-quence, for had Huerta triumphed at Torreon his Increased prestige would have further complicated the position of the administration in Washington, from a practical as well as an international inter-national viewpoint. Interesting and romantic to a degree de-gree is the fact that the presiding genius of this prospering rebel campaign cam-paign is the notorious bandit and free bootcr, Pancho Villa, tho boli. nnd ambitious scavenger of the very country which Is now so distressed and baffled by his amazing generalship. general-ship. It was at Maplml that I had tho doubtful pleasure of meeting under un-der Intlmata circumstances, tills Fra DIavalo of Mexico. Then a war correspondent cor-respondent with Mtulero's Federal army ar-my (in tho year 1912), I round myself my-self at tho littlo mining town In tho company of Ilaoul Madcro, Si youngor brother of tho assassinated President. Mndcro, an enthusiastic admirer of tho rclustittod outlaw, wns anxiously anxious-ly awaiting Villa's return from tho battlo of Parrel. There wero rumors rum-ors of his defeat and posslblo annihilation. anni-hilation. After five days tno suspense sus-pense was ended by tho arrival of tho defeated Colonel Villa, who, to compensate himself for his rebuff and satisfy his craving for bullying nnd looting, had, before evacuating Parrel, Par-rel, robbed Us bank of 180,000 pesos and on tho retreat annexed (o his procession ono thousand sheep. His approach was a marvelous spectacle. spec-tacle. With intense curiosity I watched him fling himself from his horse, this BWaggerlng and ferocious master of six hundred wornout men the remnant of his army; 180,000 stolen pesos, borno In sacks; scores of half starved horses and mutes that wero being led away to Bhelter, and 1000 'bewlldored sheep, a toothsome gift to tho Federal army. Mndero flow to meet him, and in a few minutes min-utes I received nn Invitation to dine with tho ravenous adventurer. So occupied ho was with gorging that he paid the most meager attention to Mndero and myself, but later, when ho had led us to his primitive quarters quart-ers upstairs, ho relloved himself of pistols, cartridge belts and various other warllko trappings and, spreading spread-ing his hugo bulk on a rickety bed, began to smogo clgaros and bo as soclnblo as his reticent nature permitted. per-mitted. Ho explained his defeat at Parrtil. Orozco had several times tho number of his own men, lie said, and went on to recommend to us his own courage and contumacy, Orozco will never forget Pancho Villa and tho battle of Parral, was his boastful climax to the talo. From Pancho Villa, Man and Soldier, by N. C. Adossldes, In the American Review of Iteview'B for May. |