Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-03-30
FLEES
TRAP SET By
HIS ENEMIES
Silence Of General Pershinq
About Operations In Casas
Grandes Region Is Pro-
found Mystery.
CENSORSHIP is RIGOROUS
Mexican Sources Declare That
Outlaws Are at Bay, But
Contain No Mention of
u. S. Troops.

oueretaro, Mex, (via Mesic
ranza's reply to the latest note o,
the Washington government wa.
handed today 20 James l.. Rodgers
the American special representa-
tive here for transmission to-
Washington. The reply agrees in
the main to the American proposals
but a few ~unimportant changes
are suggested.
Ell Paso Tex. March 2T.--Pancho
Villa was reported today to be fleeing
west IN the San Miguel country, HAVING
successfully eluded the encircling I
that was being drawn round him oy
American and Carranza troops. News
of the outlaws retreat westward was
brought here from Ell Vale, but could
not be confirmed at Fort Bliss. or IN
Mexican official circles.
Several thousand American soldiers
are known to be ranging the country
south Of Casas Grandes in every d1rec-
ton trying to locate the bandits, put
have not come into contact with MINI.
Bandits Gut Wires.
Wire communication out OF Ell Paso
Into Mexico, is still interrupted. and IL
is believed that rowing bands OF Wins
tas are responsible for the wire cutting
having been detached from the main
Villa command for that purpose. Next
can Consul Garcia, was still without
further word of the reported fight thai
the C~arranzaistas soldiers had Win
Villa at Ell Oso south of Namiquipa.
Dispatches received at Mexico CITY ana
Douglas, Ariz., apparently confirm the
reports to Ell Paso from General Der
tani in the field, that the troops OF the
defacto government had come into con-
k,,+ ,,,;t1, Villo In tho Santa Clara cam
Won. General Pershing had made no
mention of this battle and army offl-
GERS here incline to the belief that IL
was probably little more than an out
post engagement.
Report Border Raid.
Major Sample in command of the
United States army base at Columbus
has been asked to verify the report
brought into Douglas, AriZ., that Villa
bandits had crossed the border eight
miles west OF Columbus and murdered
three Americans, two women and one
man. The bandits, numbering 100 or
more are said to have recrossed into
Mexico after the killing. The presence
of such a body of Viliaistas in the up
per Galena district would be a threat
to the line Of communication TO the
base Of the American expedition at
Casas Grandes. Transportation over
this line from Columbus southwark is
troublesome, the trails being badly cut
and the heaviest motor trucks negotl-
ating the desert with difficulty.
Taking No Chances.
Juarez was quiet today and there
was no surface indications that n
trouble was impending. United States
troops constantly guard the interna-
tional bridges, power houses at FL Paso
and railroad tunnels. while General
Bell had a reserve in readiness to quell
any uprising in Mexican quarters.
Sheriff Edwards. OF Ell Paso, was on
duty at his office all night, but no trou-
bic was reported in the city.
San Antonio, Tex, March 25.-With
the wireless working satisfactorily for
almost the first time since the Ameri-
car troops have been in Mexico, Cen
eral Funston is today awaiting dis
patches from General Pershing to con-
firm persistent reports that United
States troops AVE engaged Villa forces
near Namiquipa. In the messages re-
ceivcI yesterday from field ~headquar-
tors at Casas Grandcs, two of the ad-
yanced columns were reported to be IN
the district OF Namiquipa, but no men
ton was made of an engagement.
The reported killing Of three Ameri-
ans near Gibson's ranch, Is miles west
of Columbus, presumably by Mexican
badits, was received with deep on
Germ at department headquarters early
today.
No explanation was offered Of the
report from FL Paso that two com
panies Of the Seventh infantry were on
duty at police headquarters last night.
Brigadier General Bell, in command of
troops at FL Paso. has authority to
employ his troops for the best protec-
tor Of the border town.