"Pancho Villa: War Comes to the U.S." Topic

"In March 1916 Francisco "Pancho" Villa, a leader of one of the revolutionary factions in Mexico, crossed the Mexico–U.S. border and attacked a detachment of the 13th U.S. Cavalry in the border town of Columbus, New Mexico. The town was burned, military stores were taken, 18 Americans were killed, and 90 of Villa's forces were killed.

It is not known for certain why Villa chose to attack Columbus. The chaotic Mexican revolution had been causing death and destruction since 1910. By October 1915 the head of Mexico's government, Venustiano Carranza, had not only beaten Villa but had been officially recognized by the U.S. as President of Mexico. It is possible that Villa was seeking revenge for what might be seen as an act of political betrayal (he had been, at times, friendly with the U.S.). It is possible that he was simply desperate for arms and stores to continue the fight. There are suggestions—still unproved—that Japan (allied since August 1914 with France, Russia and Britain in the European war) and Germany (engaged in bitter fighting against those four countries) were in some way involved because of their ongoing political machinations with Mexico…"

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