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Show uu WERE LOCATED SI AEROPLANE Columbus-, N M., March 31. American Ameri-can cavalrymen have met and routed at least a part of the command with which Pancho Villa has traveled south since the raid on Columbus on March 9. But Villa, fox of the Sierra, Is still at large. News of the battle, the first officially reported contact between American troops and Mexicans since General Pershing's column crossed the international line two weeks ago, tiuie luuiiy ay raciioruiu, il who u report to General Funslon. Later a personal message was received re-ceived by Commander W. R. Sample from Colonel Do R. C. Cabell, chief of staff to General Pershing. The official message said 400 American Amer-ican troopers had made a surprise it-tack it-tack upon tho Vlllistas at daylight The Moxicans were camped In a little valley eighteen miles from Guerrero. Thoy were approached from three sides and forced into a running battle. Located By Aeroplane. Colonel Dodd's men, In their efforts to reach contact with the Villistas, are credited with a performance that will live in American cavalry history. An aeroplane scout discovered the Villista encampment during the afternoon after-noon of March 28. Colonel Dodd's command was then just south and a trifle to the east of Namlquipa. This is sixty miles or more from Guerrero. A report was made to him as commander com-mander of the advance guard, and tbe 400 men wero mounted, with no Intimation Inti-mation of where they were going. Some time aftor midnight on the morning of March 29, the column reached the town of Guerrero, south of tho Mexico Northwestern, directly north of Minaca, on the Kansas City, Mexico & Orient railroad, now out of operation. Troopers Close In. The column there divided, working west, so as to loop around the encamped en-camped and sleeping Mexicans. A bugle blast and the troopers closed around the camp. The Moxicans were completely .surprised, and began firing the wild, spasmodic Hhooting of a disorganized mob. Dodd's troopers dismounted and returned re-turned tho fire. Thirty Mexicans Y'erc left dead upon the field when' the crackling carbine fire of the pursuing troops had ceased. no |