Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-17
Villa 100 Miles Ahead OF
Advancing American Troops
BY Associated Press.)


Ell PASO, March 16.-Villa, since the
pursuit of the American army started,
apparently has passed beyond the Amer
lean Mormon colony about Cas2s
Grandes. Reliable dispatches today in
Gicated that 500 Americans there. are
safe These dispatches gave credit TO
Carranza forces about Casas Grandes
for putting up front winch stopped 4
Villa from making his proposed raid on
tire Americans. -r So
Today's information indicated iSIrang~
L. that the bandit leader, with MS sup
ply of swift horses, is again on the
move information concerning ms
movements was closely guarded Casas
(Ilandes is about 100 miles due south OF
the point where the column or Geheeait
Fershing entered Mexico yesterday.
New and powerful army units weef
RAPIDLY forming today along the Mexican
border to fill the gaps left yesterday
when the first expeditionary army en-
tered Mexico from two points on the
New Mexican line
In Ell Paso, Brigadier General Bell,
moving in here on the heels of Brigadier
General Pershing. who led the first
force into Mexico, was busy gathering
a rev organization and attending 20 the
supply problem, and communications
for more than 1900 men who today were
out on a virtual desert rapidly getting
farther from their bases.
ELEvENAH CAVALRY READY,
The Twenty-third infantry from Gal
weston was pitching its tents at Fort
Bliss here. At Columbus, n NJ, the
Eleventh cavalry from Fort Oglethorpc,
arriving during the night, was ready
to move in 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 Pershings
army. Incidents of the spectacle yes
terday as the dust-powdered American
columns went over the International line
reached here today via couriers.
From a hill overlooking the six square
miles where the army was still en-
camped at II o'clock yesterday fore
noon, the organization appeared to civil
ian spectators like a vast confused
swarm of men and horses, gray cannon,
wagons, mule teams and ambulances.
But at 11:40 a. m, when the word was
given to form for the pursuit Of villa.
the apparent confusion disappeared.
In a few minutes each organization
of cavalry, infantry and artillery, am
balances, signal corps and the cooks
wagons, grouped and dove-tailed into a
rapidly lengthening. column. At the
van the red and white guidons OF tne
Thirteenth cavalry snapped in the
troopers who a week ago today, out
numbered five to one, drove Villa back
into Mexico.
Behind the Thirteenth marched the
compact, brown columns of the Sixth
and sixteenth infantry. Next, at trot,
a field battery swung into line and then
d. { pped to a slow pace behind the
dough boys" The deadly machine guns
were packed in commercial-looking bun
dies on mules. Supply trains and am
buances in a long line brought up the
rear.
ANOTHER COLUMN STARTS.
The American expedition which
entered Mexico yesterday spent an
Ineventful night. camped but short
distance across the American line.
Brigadier General Pershing, com
mander of the expedition, accompanied
the force as far as the border and then
and, with another part Of the
troops, entered Mexico 10 the nank OF
the main army.
DESPITE rigorous censorship, which
closed all telephone and telegraph wires
to military movements, il became known
that about 5000 men entered Mexico.
Aeroplanes on motor trucks are be-
lieved to have passed into Mexico vita
the expedition. Flying conditions, owing
to the 'clearness of the atmosphere, are
ideal
When General Pershing gave. the or
der to march at 10 o'clock yesterday
morning the soldiers swept forward
with a shout.
COWBOYS IN THE LEAD.
Cowboys of the ranges, enrolled as
scouts and cavalry, led the way. Two
regiments, some field artillery
and wagon train followed.
The departure was as business-like as
nractice march a long haZV line OF
alkali dust standing out against the
dull white of the plains, and the blaz-
ing light of the sun marked their
progress toward the border.
Colonel Slocum met Colonel DaviIa.
Of the Mexican forces, who promised
that no resistance would be made to
crossing the border.
The entire Mexican population in Pa
lamos, soldiers and civilians without
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