VILLA'S HUMAN TORCHES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 61, 11 March 1916, Page 6

VILLA'S HUMAN TORCHES.

BANDIT SWOOPS DOWN SUDDENLY. PEOPLE BTJRKED A_TVE. HOWLING MOB OF BANDITS. (Received 10 a.—.)

WASHINGTON, March 10. .. The attack of the Mexican bandits on Columbus commenced at midnight. Five i hundred men, divided into small parties were posted at different parts of the streets, and picked off the Americana as they emerged from the dwellings and hotels. Several guests were burned to death. The Central Hotel, which waa one of the first buildings set on fii» sheltered a score of women and while the howling mob of bandits Burged up and down the surrounding streets. Troopers finally dispersed the bandibv who managed to get away by capturing .' a. number of horses from the military compounds and cutting all the telegraph

The attack was a complete surprise for the border officials. They were watching the movements of the bandit chief, who was believed to be fifty miles away.

Senator Fall says that he has received information that Colonel Slocum, com; manding the regiment of the United States cavalry following the bandite into Mexico, intends to attempt the capture of the whole gang.

A Mexican rancher who was in the custody of the bandits since Saturday and escaped during the fighting, tola a story of the hanging of three American ranchers prior to the raid. General Villi was in personal charge of the expedition and openly avowed his intention of forcing the intervention of the United States by killing everybody at sight, Mrs. Wright, who was at a ranch visited by the bandits, heard the leader declare that he was going to "shoot up" Co!_nbus, and make a torch of every, man, woman and child.