Arizona republican., 1916-04-11
Senator from New Mexico
After Personal Investi-
cation of Conditions
Makes Sensational Report
to Officials In Washington
MEXTCANS COULD
HAVE TAKEN VILLA
Says On His Retreat, Villas
First Camp Was Within
Five Miles of Carranza
Soldiers Who Refused to
Attack Him
Republican A. p. Leased Wire1

Republican A. p. Leased Wirel
WASHINGTON, April 1o-sen-
ator Fall Of New Mexico, who, at
the request Of republican senators,
went to the border Immediately
after Villas raid on Columbus to
investigate general conditions
there, declared in a letter received
today by Senator Gallinser, the
minority leader, that Carranza
troops were not cooperating with
the American expedition in any
way or making any attempt to
attack Villa. He complained that
the border patrol was not being
maintained in adequate force, and
said an unauarded gap of nine
miles had made the Columbus raid
possible.
The letter was written in Ell
Paso, April IA. It quoted an un-
named authority as saying that
unless more satisfactory use of
the Mexican railroads were made
possible within one week, the
American troops must withdraw.
ard said reliable information had
reached the senator that Villa had
not been wounded.
"The Mexicans," said the letter,
shave made no attempts to at
tack Villa at all, and have not in
any way been cooperating with
our forces or attempting to check
Villas retreat or to assist in his
capture. On his retreat Villas
first camp was within five miles
of 700 Carranza soldiers to whom
Ramon Reyes reported and whons
he pleaded with to accompany him
to attack Villas 800 men. The
Carranza force refused"
Describing in detail the Columbus
raid from information gathered from
Columbus officials, Senator Fall said
the bandits had made their way into
tie heart of the town, looted two
stores, and set fire to several build =
ings before an alarm was given. With
the aid of a machine gun placed
within 20 feet of the American army
hospital. he said, the Mexicans then
fought with the citizens of the town
for so minutes before the troopers
stationed behind the hospital, ap-
peared.
The letter referred to the Mexican
trenches near the border facing the
border at Juarez and other border
towns He said stories of concentra :
ton of Carranza troops along the
border had been exaggerated. but that
he was reliably informed that thz
Carranza commanders could put 5000
men into Agua Prieta. within five
hours and that virtually all the Car
rama troops in the state of Chihua-
hua We're stationed along the Mexican
central railway within one to ter
hours from JuareZ.
Il. however, have absolutely no feai
of an attack from Mexicans," Senator
Fall added, under any circumstances
except through Indian tactics such as
pursued by Villa at Columbus oil
where the MeXicans are in overwhelm-
ing numbers
The senator said that at the time he
wrote there was no border patro
west of Douglas, and had been none
between the Gibson ranch and Hachi-
ia. so miles to the west. He declared
Villa sympathizers We're overrunnins
virtually all of northern Mexico ant
that Villa easily could capture Chi
huahua, where the garrison wa.
friendly to him.
''In the Torreon, Parral and SAINT,
Sosalia DISTRICTS Aid the letter
villa has many friends and one Q
his leaders. Canuto Reyes, is said t,
have 1900 armed men constantly cut
ting communications and threatenin,
the Garrison at Torreon''
The districts mentioned are amon
those in which American troops nov
Continual ON pauo tNlrooN