Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1916 — U. S. ARMY IS SAFE [ARTICLE]

U. S. ARMY IS SAFE

FUNSTON SAYS TROOPS CAN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. General Asserts Pershing Has Strong Force and Plenty of Artillery If Attacked. San Antonio, Tex., April 14. —"No apprehension need be felt about the ability of General Pershing and his advance columns to take care of themselves,” General Funston said. As in any similar condition the advance columns will fall back if they have met serious opposition and concentrate, and if pressed further will fall back on their supporting columns. General Pershing has several thousand men below Namiquipa. I do not care to disclose how many. He is especially strong there in artillery, and against any force of Mexican troops that can be concentrated quickly in that region he will be amply prepared not only to protect himself but to dominate the situation. Of course his troops will stay out of such cities as are near the line of retirement of the advance columns —if retirement is necessary—and thus avoid any instance of fighting both soldiers and populace. “While I cannot discuss my orders nor disclose our troop movements I will state this, that we have taken careful steps to know what Gomez's Sonora troops are doing. The line of communication is protected. Beyond that General Pershing must be left free to handle his troops as the situation demands.” Until ordered to act otherwise, General Pershing will continue uninterruptedly and without material change of plan, his pursuit of Villa, but he also will be expected to carry out General Funston’s orders issued today to look closely after the guarding of his lines of communication and investigate carefully all Mexican troop movements in his vicinity.