|
Dromo's Den
|
|
[Up] [Dromo's Den] Pancho Villa Biography VILLA, FRANCISCO (PANCHO) (1877-[1923]). A Mexican revolutionary general, born at Las Nieves. His name was Doroteo Arango and he took the name, of Villa after joining the Madero revolt. He received no education and at an early age became an outlaw and bandit, after killing an official who had outraged his sister. Many deeds of cruelty and daring were ascribed to him and a price was put on his head by the Díaz administration. Upon the outbreak of the revolution in 1910 Villa offered his services to Madero (q.v.) in return for pardon. During Madero's administration he served under Huerta (q.v.) against Orozco (q.v.), in 1914 joined Carranza in the revolution against Huerta, and later in the same year himself headed a revolt against Carranza. For his career from 1910 to June, 1915, see MEXICO, History. In response to President Wilson's note of June 2, 1915, Villa agreed to treat with Carranza to settle the difficulties of the country, but the latter refused. Upon receipt of the identic note of the Pan-American states (Aug. 11) he again accepted the peace overtures; but this was of no avail, since Obregon was now gradually forcing him towards the border. In October, 1915, Villa controlled only portions of the states of Sonora, Chihuahua, and Sinaloa, and. On November 2 he suffered a severe defeat at Agua Prieta. In December, representatives of Carranza and Villa met in El Paso and endeavored to arrange a surrender of the Villistas. Carranza insisted on giving no guarantees to Villa and declared him an outlaw. This resulted in the failure of the peace movement and Villa continued the struggle. He was considered responsible for the Santa Isabella massacre (January, 1916) and was reported to be hostile towards the United States. On March 9 he crossed the border and attacked the town of Columbus, New Mexico, killing a number of citizens and destroying a portion of the town. The purpose of this invasion was supposed to be to embroil the United States and Carranza. The United States immediately dispatched a punitive expedition to Mexico to capture Villa and disperse his forces. Villa escaped into the mountains and the United States was soon brought into conflict with the Carranza administration. American soldiers were fired on in the town of Parral by a mob and by Carranza troops, who wished to see Villa captured by their chief and not by the Americans. The New International Encyclopaedia, Vol. XXIII (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1920) 152. |