Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 March 1916 — U.S. SOLDIERS SHOT BY VILLA SNIPERS; MORMONS SAFE [ARTICLE]

U.S. SOLDIERS SHOT BY VILLA SNIPERS; MORMONS SAFE

Cavalry Near Bandit's Territory 5 ‘ in Mexico. FIRST CLASH IS DUE SOON Troops Are Being Led Into the Casas Grandes Region by Mormon Scouts—Censorship Is Still Rigid.

Columbus, N, M., March 17 —Six or seven American soldiers in the expeditionary forces in Mexico have been wounded by snipers, according to unofficial reports which have been received hero. Nothing in the reports bore out rumors of Americans killed or other aggressions by Mexicans. -■'■ -■ ■■ Continue Hunt for Villa.

San Antonio, Tex., March 17. —Somewhere south of New Mexico General Pershing and the divided force he la commanding are on the march. ‘ They have had no encounter with Mexicans, and their progress into Mexico in search of Francisco Villa and his little army has been uninterrupted, according to the laconic messages received by General Funston.

"Merely plowing their way through the desert sam! ” \ ore the words of Generul Funston in summarizing the day’s developments. Near Villa Territory.

The Seventh and Tenth cavalry, advancing into Mexico by forced marches from Culberson’s ranch, near Hachita, N. M., were nearing the Villa territory in the Casas Grandes region, according: to information which was received from El Paso.

These troops are reported to bo marching with the minimum of equipment and to be led by Mormon scouts from the Mormon colonies at Colonia Dublan and Colonia Morales.

First Clash Due Soon.

II Villa intends to offer any organized resistance to his pursuers it might be possible for United States soldiers to come in contact with his outlying posts very soon. The American expedition is penetrating Mexico under ideal weather conditions.

Morrdons Believed Safe.

Definite information that the Mormon settlements, with their 600 worn en and children, were safe and unmolested was received at El Paso through Daniel Hurst, sen of P. H. Hurst, the Mormon bishop resident there. Mr. Hurst had news, understood to Be of much military Importance, which was forwarded to General Pershing. Mr. Hurst refused to make public its nature or details.

According to ..Mr. Hurst, Villa has at most 400 men. some of whom are wounded. He said also that it was not believed in the Mormon colonies that the bandit chief had ■ more than 600 men with him when he raided Columbus.

Villa Disbands Force.

Andres Garcia, the CarrariV.a consul In El Paso, asserted that from information in his possession he was satisfied that Villa had disbanded most of his men and intended to take refuge in the heart of the Fierre Mad res with only thr.c or four trusted companions. The campaign is being conducted on the assumption that the de sac to gov ernnient’s troops will co-operate in the efforts to destroy Villa and his fol lowers, but with the exception of the support given by part of the small garrison at Palornqp. opposite Colum bus, that joined General Pershing’s column as scouts and guides, military headquarters here was without evidence that active aid would be given by Carranza’s army. Note Mexicans' Attitude, , The statement of General Gavira, commander at Juarez, that white he had given order for co-operation in accordance with instructions from his government, lie personally did not fully indorse sui h action, was the basis for comment by army men By some of them Gaviras attitude was taken as indicative of that of many of Carranza's officers, but those high in authority expressed the hope that discipline would prevail in all :ases over personal opinion as it had In the case of General Gavira. j No concerted plan of action belt ween the military men of the two countries has been agreed upon. Neither General Pershing nor General Funston has been given any direct promise of supiiert. . Will Bar Villa's Retreat. General Calles, commanding th® Mexican troops in Sonora, is reported to have placed at stra egic points in the eastern part of that state some 6,000 men to prevent the entry of ,r illa, and Gen. Luis G utierrez - ft supposed* tb be directing sv# columns in

Chihdhhua to ('prevent the fugitH _ rebel from making his escape over the trails lo the south or east. A clash between any of the Carranza troops and the Americans is not anticipated by the American army officers, but the danger that some small mutinous band might attack a detachment of th„e American punitive forte has not been ignored.

Two Armies Plan to Unite.

Secrecy is maintained as to the exact disposition of the punitive force, its compo-itlon and future movements. In general, it is admitted that Juncture of columns now heading south will be made before-the end of the week, perhaps Saturday, when they, will be some fifty miles south of the international boundary line. General Pershing will maintain his communication, 1 y meanß of wireless and courier, automobiles and aeroplanes being at his disposition for the latter.

The censorship at the border is being maintained. Here no censorship has been established, but other precautions have been taken to prevent unauthorized publicity of militia news.

El Paso and all the rest of the northern and western border continues to see the wild and fantastic rumors which can never be so fantastic as not to gain believers. How most of these rumors start is a mystery, but they are generally credited to Villa sympathizers who wish to provoke trouble for the Carranza government and stir up hostility toward it among Americans.

* Add to Border Patrol. New and powerful army units were rapidly forming along' the Mexican border to fill the gaps left when the first expeditionary army .entered Mexico from two joints on the New Mexican line.

In El Paso, Brig. Gen. George Bell. Jr., moving in here on the heels of Brig. Gen, J. J. Pershing, who led the first force into Mexico, was busy gathering a new organization and attending to the supply problem, the food, water and communications for more than 4,000 men, who today were out on a virtual desert rapidly getting farther from their bases.

The Twenty-third infantry from Galveston was pitching its tents at Fort Bliss here. At Columbus, N. M., the Eleventh cavalry from Fort Oglethorpe, arriving during the night, was ready to move into Mexico after the first army, but it was not known here when the Eleventh would go or in which direction. Columbus was today the immediate base for Brigadier General Pershing’s army. Identify Dead Mexican. The body of a Mexican found near the border at Columbus, N. M., was identified as J. Pereyra, personal representative of the Mexican consulate in El Paso. Pereyra had gone to Columbus prior to Villa's raid with instructions to watch Villa’s movements. At the consulate here belief was expressed that Villa's men had captured and killed Pereyra.

Washington in Dark. Washington, March 17. —An impenetrable wall of secrecy surrounded the movements of, American troops beyond the Mexican border. So far as official Washington was advised, the columns virtually might have vanished intothin air when they crossed the international boundary in pursuit of Villa. Even the commander in chief, President Wilson; did not know where General Pershing’s me* were. Officials displayed some concern over the-situation in the Tampico district, however, where there are signs of unrest. The battleship Kentucky was ordered back to Vera Cruz from New Orleans, Secretary Daniels explaining that navy vessels now on the Mexican coast did not have radio equipment powerful enough to insure uninterrupted communication with Washington. With the Kentucky at Vera Cruz reports from smaller vessels along the coast can be relayed, quickly to Key West and Arlington. Strengthen Border Guard.

Douglas, Ariz., March 17. —With Mexicans here and in Agua Prieta. greatly excited over the American entry into Chihuahua, eight troops of the First cavalry were placed near the border line facing Agua Prieta. ,

Carranza soldiers mobilized at Cabtillona, eighteen miles south of Douglas, were reported to have informed Gov. E. P. C’alles oP Sonora that he has sold out to the Americans. Messengers from GaJi**iTma stated that the 3,0.00 troops there had ordered Calles not to visit their camps and were actively entrenching and placing batteries facing northw'ard. Subscribe for The Democrat.