Bisbee daily review., 1916-12-31
Bandits Infest Whole Country Capturing Towns at WAl and Disorganizing the Car ranza Army.
 MEXICO CITY MAY
 SOON BE CUT OFF Strong Forces Are Marching Toward Capital from Two Directions---Villa Is Rapidly Gaining Big Army.
(By Review Leased Wire)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 90. - h. creasine evidence that General
 Carranza's government is being
 menaced by bandits, coupled with
 the prospect that the first chief
 will not accept the Atlantic, City
 protocol has brought the Mexican situation to stage that is causing
 growing concern.
 Officials admit that the conditions are embarrassing. Some high army officers are urging that. Pershing's men be withdrawn as a military step and regardless of conditions, but it is insisted that so far there has been no change in the administration policy The American members of the Joint commission which drew the Atlantic City protocol, will meet here Tuesday to discuss Carranza's reqr st for modi- fication and consiS JScther any nasis is offered Tor fafther conferences with the Mexican commissioners. Charles Douglas, an attorney for the Carranza government, saw Counsellor Polk, of the state department, today and is understood to have made a further plea for withdrawal of the troops.
 Army Urges Withdrawal. Several army officers of high rank are no longer attempting to conceal their impatience over the joint com mission's failure to secure ratification of an agreement, and openly are urs- ing that the altered conditions in Mex ico make it imperative to bring the 12,00O men now in Mexico to positions on the border where they could be handled to better advantage if it be- comes necessary.
 VILLA IS MENACE.
 Reports to the state and war de-
 partments today supported unoffI-
 ciaI reports indicating that Villa
 is rapidly gaining strength in
 northern Mexico that it makes his
 suppression by the Carranza army
 appear doubtful.
 DIAZ GAINING.
 At the same time followers of
 Felix Diaz are said to be making
 trouble in the south while Manuel
 PaIez and other rebel leaders are
 gaining ground in the central DOT
 tio IS of the republic.
 Tn official advices indicate that the Carrs nza forces in Saltillo two days ago were anticipating an attack by Villa forces. The governor of the state had declared that the govern ment archives be prepared for removal and many prominent civilians and Of ficials had sent their families to the border. Successes of the Villa forces about Torreon were confirmed by the advices.
 Villa Just Starting.
 Villas operations in the past few weeks have convinced army men here that he and other leaders of the reac- tionary movement are following d plan of campaign having for it's immediate object the recruiting of an army and the collection of equipment rather than the occupation of territory. It is pointed out that Villa has entered towns of importance in northern Mex ico eight times since he resumed opera tions in larger scale only to surren- der them again without struggle. The net result has been to add to his fight ing strength materially through the conversion of Carranza soldiers, cap tured and deserting into rebel troops. and through captures of arms and ann intuition. including about 30 pieces of artilleyy.
 Unofficial reports that the bandit leader was on his way to Chihuahua again caused no surprise here since it is known that General Murguia's force there is not we'll supplied with ammunition and many stories of dis affection in his army have reached government agents on the border IL is expected that Villa will make every effort to dispose of the Murguia force ' (Continued on Page Five.)