Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-12
SENDS MORE MEN
FOR PATROL DUTY
Gen. Scott Orders Three Regi-
ments to Guard Along
Rio Grande.
SURPRISES DISPATCHES
RELATING TO ARMY PLANS
Brig. Gen. Pershing Believed to Be
Picked to Command Force to
Capture Bandit.

With heavy reinforcements of
cavalry ordered to the Mexican
border. Maj Gen. Funston is
moving his troops against Pancho
Villa under veil of strict secrecy.
Secretary Baker said late last
night that the War Department
has not been advised that .any
troops have crossed the border.
Several dispatches described
border movements of troops, but
these were suppressed, as they
might give some inkling of the
direction in which Gen. Funston
is moving.
Four Regiments for Patrol Duty.
Gen. Funston last night asked the
department for four additional regi-
ments of cavalry for patrol duty
Gen. Scott. chief of stan, Immediately
issued orders for the LIST Cavalry. Mon
terey. CAL: the 11th Cavalry, Fort
Oglethorpe, Ga, and the 18th Cavalry,
Robinson, Neb.. to proceed at once to
the border.
The 5th Cavalry, which is divided
into three sQuadrons, stationed at Fort
Myer. Va: Fort Sheridan, ILL.,, and Fort
Leavenw0rth, Kan. was ordered to hold
itself in readiness.
AxysAA tha
that this fourth additional regiment
is not Immediately needed.
Are Ready at Fort Myer.
We are as ready now as we ever will
be-" said Col. Wilder. in command of
the Fort Myer squadron. last night
There has been no excitement. but
naturally the men are eager to get to
the border as soon as possible. About
320 men will go il the call comes Two
battalions of the Sd Field Artillery are
also in readiness"
Gen. Funston reported various troop
movements along the border, but the
dispatches were not made public.
The generals requests az to supplies
and auxiliary troops of the special
corps were promptly complied with,
but details of these requests were kept
secret, too. since it was thought possi-
BILE they might indicate the route of
the expedition into Mexico.
Army officers estimated it would take
| from three to five days for the three
cavalry regiments to reach the border.
| The regiments from Monterey, Cal.
probably will be the first to arrive.
For Detail Near Columbus.
While no announcement was made, the
order was construed to mean that Gen
Funston intended to employ the four
cavalry regiments now on duty along
| the border both to the east and west OF
Columbus as part of his expeditionary
force. which. it is Understood, will be
under the direct command of Brig
Gen. Pershing. A regiment of noun
| tain artillery. with it's twenty-four guns
that district, and this force. with neces-
sary engineers to repair railroad
bridges destroyed by the bandits. and
possibly with aeroplane scouts. proba-
bly, will constitute the expedition.
The force would number, II composed
| of four cavalry regiments and bat
! talon of mountain artillery. approx
| mately 1000 fighting men. exclusive OF
| engineers and other auxiliary troops.
In a recent report to the department
Gen. Funston estimated Villas force at
5000. although some officers here have
placed the figure as high as 5000.
| Villa Bands Have Scattered.
| 1t is taken for granted by officers
here. however. that the Villa bandi
have already scattered among the
hills. and they do not look for pitched
battle. which. they say. would NEAR
| certain annihilation of the bandits.
Any movement the American troop,
i
west of Columbus. into which the raid
ers fed. will be Influenced by the loca
tion of waterholes. pumping stationl
| and other places where horses and mel
can obtain water in a dry and sand,
country. 1t was said here that the com.
| mander of the expedition probabl,
| would station guards at the waterholei
| to protect them and also to prevent tn,
bandits from making use of them.
War Department officials. who has
given the border commander fre,
hand in working out details of the ex
pedition. made II clear that they re
garded II imperative to success that al
information which might aid Villa IL
eluding the American forces must b,
guarding scrupulously.
Drive to Be Quick and Certain.
II was apparent only that the mill
tary plans contemplated a drive int,
Mexico that should be both quick an,
} certain. The War Department is will
ing to take no chances by weakening
the border patrol and Gen. Funston
} orders were not to move until he wa
fully prepared.
Secretary Baker and his chief subor
! dinates remained at the War Depart
ment until late last night, receiving
! dispatches from Gen. Funston and do
! ing everything In their power to bacl
up his plans. Many of the dispatche
were forwarded by wireless to Presi
! dent Wilson. down the Potomac on tn
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