Temple Daily Telegram (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 153, Ed. 1 Monday, April 17, 1916 Page: 1 of 8
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8 PAGES
TODAY
TEMPLE DAILY TELEGRAM
MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS, CARRYING FULL LEASED WIRE DAY AND NIGHT REPORT
l r
LAST EDITION
2:30 A. M.
PRICE FIVE CENTS
TEMPLE, TEXAS, MONDAY MORNING, APRIL 17, 1916.
VOL. IX. No. 153
From Apparently Reliable Sources It Is Reported the Bandit Chief Has
Died of Wounds-Bringing Body to Chihuahua as Proof of Death.
■IKrM
FURTHER DETAILS OF CLASH INDICATE TROOPS
OF MEXICAN GARRISON, REINFORCED BY
CIVILIANS, ATTACKED AMERICAN COLUMN.
RUNNING FIGHT OF FIGHT MILES
Retreating Before Superior Numbers, Major Tompkins,
Who Was Slightly Wounded, Directed a Rear Guard
Action, Keeping Up a Steady Fire Which Resulted
in the Death of at Least Forty of tlje Pursuers.
NEAR KA8T OPERATIONS ADVAN-
TAGEOUS TO ALLIES—BATTLE
OF VERDUN CONTINUES.
The British troops going to the re-
lief of Kut-El-Amara'have gained fur-
ther ground against the Turks who
are barring their way along the Tigris
river. Pushing steadily ahead, the
liritish have driven the Turks from
their advance lines on the right bank
of the river and occupied the lines,
killing many of the Turks and taking
a considerable number of prisoners.
The Turks also have met with another
defeat at the hands of the Russians
in the Black sea littoral. Petrograd
reports that the Russians have driven
the Ottomans from a strongly organiz-
ed position fifteen miles east of Tre-
bizond, and are pursuing them ener-
getically.
The Douaumont-Vaux sector north-
east of Verdun has been the scene of
another hard fought Infantry engage-
ment, but the Paris and Berlin of-
ficial reports are at variance as re-
gards the result. Paris reports that
south of Douamont the French troops
captured sections of Qerman trenches
and took 200 prisoners. Berlin as-
serted that in the fighting which ex-
tended from Fort Douaumont to the
Vaux ravine, and in which the French
attacked with heavy effectives, the
French were repulsed with sanguinary
casualties and in addition lost 200 men
taken prisoners. * -
French Linos Shelled.
The Germans are heavily bombard-
ing positions in the Avocourt woods
and on Hill 304, and considerable ar-
tillery activity also is being displayed
around Douamont and in the Woevre
about Moulainville, Haudromont and
I,es Eparges.
The British report the raiding of
German trenches south of the Beth-
une-La Bassee road, while Berlin rec-
ords the destruction of a British posi-
tion about sixty meters in length in
mining operations near Vennelles.
Artillery bombardments continue at
various places on the northern Rus-
(Continued on Page Two.)
The Friendless
Alarm Clock
We respect an alarm clock—but
it has very few real friends.
It is a shining example of the
type of reminder that compels
rather than persuades.
People don't like to be Influ-
enced by alarm clock methods.
They prefer the advice of friends.
It is the element of, personal
friendliness that distinguishes the
nerwspaper from other publications.
It is a welcome, sought after vis-
itor in the home. Its advertising is
presented as a friend introduces a
stranger.
And It jets that consideration
that makes It valuable.
SAN ANTONIO, Tex., April. 16.—-A
force of Carranza's soldiers en-
gaged the little detachment of Amer-
ican cavalry at Parral Wednesday in
a regularly organized action, accord-
ing to a detailed report written by
Major Frank Tompkins and forward-
ed today to General Funston by Gen-
eral Pershing. Forty of the Mexican
soldiers, including one major and one
civilian were killed by the retreating
Americans. The American casualties
were two killed and six wounded, in-
cluding Major Tompkins. His yound
was slight.
Major Tompkins' account of the ac-
tion was received at General Funston's
headquarters tonight and served to
clarify General Pershing's report re-
ceived yesterday in which the identity
of the attacking force was unstated
and in which he left the inference that
the cavalry was under Col. W. C.
Brown.
The Americans now are north and
west of Parral, reinforced by a squad-
ron of the Tenth cavalry under Major
Young, accompanied by Col. W. C.
Brown, and a picked squadron under
Maj. Robert L. Howze. Fear for their
safety has been dispelled by this sup-
port and by troop dispositions that
General Pershing has ordered but the
character of which General Funston
did not wish to reveal.
Long Running Fight.
Major Tompkins' story of the fight
indicated lack of control over the
troops by the commanding officer of
the Parral garrison, General Lozano,
and bitter antagonism by the public
and troops. The fighting took place
outside Parral and was continued over
a route of eight miles to Santa Cruz,
a station eight miles northeast of
Parral on the railroad.
General Funston said tonight that
while Major Tompkins undoubtedly
acted in accordance with his best judg-
ment In retreating, he regretted that
he had not made a stand on "^^count
of the ill effect the story ot re-
treat will have on the Mexican people
who will naturally regard the incident
as an American defeat.
Major Tompkins Arrived outside Par-
ral on the forehoon of April 12 with
two troops, M and K, of the Thir-
teenth cavalry. Reduced in number,
the total of these two companies is
approximately 100 men. The report
that unarmed men went into Parral
appears to ha^e been erroneous.
Major Tompkins admitted that he did
march his small detachment quite
openly along the trail into the City
where they were met by General
Lozano, who received them most gra-
ciously. The civil authorities arrived
and joined in the courteous reception
of the major and his ty-oops. The in-
cident appeared to be progressing
without unpleasant features. General
Losano and the civil authorities dis-
cussed with Major Tompkins the ques-
tion of camping sites, he and the local
officials deciding on one Just outside
the city to which Major Tompkins was
directed.
Tlie Attack Begins.
Major Tompkins was preparing to
move out to the designated camp
when soldiers and civilians began to
throw stones and to shoot at the
Americans. Realizing that the action
was that of a mob of civilians and of
soldiers who had gotten beyond the
control of their officers, Major Tomp-
kins made no stand but retreated with
his men without making resistance
towards the city limits. Shouting
crowd* followed them while stones
Brigand's Body Found
EL PASO, Tex., April 16.—An unofficial message
received over the Mexican land lines from Chihuahua
says that Villa is dead. Other messages stated that
the burial place of Villa's body was betrayed by a
Villista officer who was promised his freedom if he
would tell where the bandit's body could be found.
The Villa officer took the Carranza soldiers to San
Francisco Borja, thirty miles south of Cusi and a little
to the west of Satevo. When the body was exhumed,
messages received here stated, it was found that the
left leg was in gangrenous condition and there was a
gunshot wound through the knee.
Consul Garcia said this afternoon that he had
made a request to Governor Enriquez of Chihuahua
to have Villa's body brought to Juarez, where the
American people can view it and be convinced that
the bandit is really dead.
Consul Garcia announces that he has received a
message from San Antonio, Mex., that a special train
was being made up at that point to take the body of
Villa to Chihuahua City. Mr. Garcia states that the
body is being brought to San Antonio by Colonel
Carlos Carranza, a nephew of General Carranza.
Washington, April 16.—American troops will be
withdrawn from Mexico immediately if Francisco
Villa is dead. Administration officials made this un-
qualified statement tonight, commenting on reports
from Mexican sources that the bandit's body had been
discovered and was being taken from Cusi to Chihua-
hua City by special train.
Neither the state nor war department had any
confirmatory advices on the subject from American
sources.
MEXICAN OFFICIALS ACROSS THE RIVER FROM
EL PASO ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE CAREER
OF THE PEON CHIEFTAIN IS ENDED.
{IRGUMSTANGES Hilt CONVINCING
Numerous Rumors and Incidents of the Past Few Weeks
Dovetail Into Each Other in Such a Manner as to
Lend Strong Support to the News of the
Passing of Mexico's Stormy Petrel.
THE BLOODIEST BATTLE IN HIST
V' Ml.' H.'li
f. W
{.Continued on Page Two.)
The most gigantic conflict In the
history of the world, the battle of
Verdun, has entered upon its ninth
week. It is in many respects without
precedent. The enormous scale of
the German preparations and execu-
tion of the attack, the unparalleled
concentration of artillery and the sus-
tained fighting mark the battle as one
of the greatest efforts of the war.
Verdun has been rated as one of
the strongest fortresses of Europe, a
cornerstone of the French defenses
against Germany. The evolution of
military tactics during the war, how-
ever, and particularly the employ-
ment by the Germans of long range
howitzers capable of reducing the
greatest forts, have done much to
change the character of the Verdun
campaign as compared with the ear-
lier conception of what such a strug-
gle might be. Before the battle
opened the French partly dismantled
their forts around Verdun, and here,
as elsewhere, on the various fronts,
chief reliance for resistance was
placed on an elaborate system of
trenches.
In no previous battle were the
losses so high as those which have
been estimated In the fighting around
Verdun. These estimates, however,
cannot be regarded as conclusive evi-
dence. for neither Germany nor
France baa Announced its o
ualties. The French war office has
declared the Germans have lost 200,-
000 in killed, wounded and cap-
utred. The Germans state semi-of-
flcially that the French casualties
number 150,000 killed and wounded
and that' 36,000 unwounded French
prisoners have been taken. If these
estimates are approximately correct,
nearly 400,000 men have been elimi-
nated as fighting units.
The ground occupied by the Ger-
mans after fifty-six days of offen-
sive operations may be roughly cal-
culated at 100 square miles. They
have forced back the French from
their outlying positions to their def-
inite line of resistance along the
semi-circular front from the edge of
the Argonne eastward across the
M*euse and southward into the
Woevre. For the most part this main
line has withstood the shock of the
successive efforts. The Germans
captured Fort Douaumont early In
the campaign and have bitten into
the French defenses at Dead Man's
own cas-
THE WEATHER
Foreoatt.
TetMf* Monday and fueedur lain
hill and elsewhere, but at no point
have they succeeded in breaking
through.
The Verdun drive was begun on
Feb. 21 by the German army under
Crown Prince Frederick William.
The Germans are reported to have
brought up seven army corps, or
about 280,000 men, to reinforco the
troops which had been in service
there and subsequently, according to
French accounts, other large bodies
of reserves were called In. After an
unparalleled artillery bombardment
by way of preparation, the Infantry
attack was launched. An unofficial
French estimate placed the number
of attacking Germans in some sec-
tors at 17,600 men to the linear mile.
Within the first ten days of battle,
the French lost Ilaumont, Saumog-
neaux, Brabant, Ornes, Beaumont,
Chambrettes, Marmont, Cotellate,
Champneuville and numerous other
outer positions, including villages,
woods, heights and fortified farms,
together with the fortified works of
Hardaumont, Dieppe. Fromezzey.
Abaucourt and most Important of all,
Fort Douamount. These positions lie
east of the Meuse and north, north-
east and east of Verdun.
Fighting continued Intermittently
northeast of Verdun during the third
- it (Continued on Page Two.)
EL PASO, Tex., April 16.—Francisco Villa is dead and his
body, disinterred some days after his burial, is in pos-
session of the Carranza troops, according to a series of tele-
graphic messages received in Juarez today by the Mexican
officials.
For more than a week reports that Villa had died from
wounds have been current both here and in Juarez. Today's
accounts were the most circumstantial, and apparently relia-
ble, yet received. They were accepted with reserve by offi-
cials, including General George Bell Jr., but the Mexican of-
ficials expressed confidence in their reliability. The messages
in the order in which they were received were as follows:
The dispatcher of the Mexican Northwestern railroad at
Juarez reported to Gen. Gabriel Gavira, Carranza command-
er at Juarez, that he had heard a conversation over the tele-
graph wires to the effect that Villa's body was in the hands
of the Carranza troops.
General Gavira notified Consul Andres Garcia here who
rushed messages to the telegraph operators at Madera and
Cusi, asking for confirmation.
CONFIRMED BY TELEGRAPH OPERATORS.
The Madera and Cusihuiriachic operators answered con-
firming the report and stating the body was being taken to
Chihuahua.
The telegraph operator at San Antonio, fifty miles west
of Chihuahua, telegraphed Consul Garcia that Villa's body
was in possession of Col. Carlos Carranza, nephew of Gen-
eral Carranza, who was taking it in a special line to Chi-
huahua.
In reply to these messages telegrams were sent to the
Carranza generals in the field and officials in Mexico City,
Chihuahua and other points asking confirmation, but no an-
swers have yet been received.
There are other known facts which have been pointed
out by Mexican officials as lending support to the report
that the bandit chiefs career had ended.
Villa has been suffering for more than a year from a
virulent form of blood poisoning. He was treated for this
disease while in Juarez by one of the best known physicians
in El Paso.
The physician stated that the condition of the bandit was
such that even a minor wound would be fatal in ten days
unless treated promptly and with the best medical skill and
care
ANOTHER CONFIRMATORY INCIDENT.
Another message from Chihuahua City received here
today stating that rioting had broken out there was regarded
in a measure confirmatory of the bandit's death. Villa is
known to have had numerous sympathizers among the lower
classes there and it was considered probable that their sym-
pathy would take the form of violence if they learned his
body was to be exhibited as that of a criminal.
A point upon which the greatest emphasis is laid is that
nothing positive has been known of Villa since the battle at
Guerrero when reports of his being wounded were accepted
by General Pershing and other American officers. If he
had continued south as was assumed he must by this time
have reached either Torreon or Durango City, in which
events some news of his movements would almost positively
have become known.
Only one message was received in Juarez today giving
any details of the supposed finding of Villa's body* It was
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Williams, E. K. Temple Daily Telegram (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 153, Ed. 1 Monday, April 17, 1916, newspaper, April 17, 1916; Temple, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth473895/m1/1/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Library Consortium.