The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-25
Will Show L. S. Ability to Sup
press Bandits.
FUNSTON ORDERED TO ATTEND
Will Accompany Gen. Scott to
Oregon Conference.
Pershing Has Supplies for Full
Month in Mexico.

Qbregon, minister of war of the de
facto government departed from San
luis Potosi today for Juarez for his
conference with Mai. Gen. Hugh L.
Scott. and Brig. Gen. Fred Funston
of the United States army, on the mill
tary question now pending between
the United States and Mexico. A dis
patch was received today by General
Gavira commander of the Juarez gar
rison from General Obregon. stating
he "had started on his journey and
hoped TO see him SOON
General Funston's participation in
the border negotiations was ordered
hy the war department and is in line
with the wishes of the chief-of-staft,
who believes that the purpose of the
conference will be better served II he
has with him one who is more intim-
ately acquainted with the details OF
the situation. General Scott said he
was not certain just where the confer
ence would take place but both he and
General Funston have taken 1t for
granted that it will be either at Ell
Paso or Juarez.
Obregon Confident.
FL Paso. April 25.-Assurances that
the defacto government of Mexico Is
prepared to cope with Villa bands in
northern chihuahua are expected TO
he made by General Alvaro Obregon'
minister OF war of the Carranza gov
ernment at his coming conference
here with Major General Hugh L;
Scott. chief of staff and General FREQ
Funston of the United states army
General Obregon, it was learned IN
Mexican official circles here TO-DAY
will describe his plans for pollclng the
northern Mexican country IN detali
with the hope that they Will prove &C
cepta bile to General Scott. should the
plans be deemed adequate by General
scott who will make his report 10
Washington, the de tacto government t, I
will again renew it's request of the
American government that its troops
be withdrawn from Mexico
In defacto circles it is generally
credited that Obregon's snow OF
strength in the border region is Tor
the purDose of impressing upon the
u $. authorities, the fact that the
defacto government has power to sup
press the bandit bands. rather than
against the United States forces IN
Mexico.
Conference Last Several Days.
Andreas Garcia. Mexican consul. has
not been informed when General
Obregor will reach Jaurez. Garcia
thought the conference might last seV-
eraI days as il was understood details
Of the proposed protocol relative to
the disoatching of armed forces OF
either government into the other TO
run down outlaws would also be care
fully discussed.
That several weeks at least will
elapse before the troops are with
drawn from Mexico appears evident
from the amount of food and forage
sent south from the Columbus base
Supplies sufficient to last the entire
expedition from thirty to thirty-five
days are now at the front General
Pcrshing also has received sufficient
clothing and shoes to completely re-
outfit the men who suffered so badly
in the hard drive to Parrel. All of the
1900 troops ordered to Columbus &c
reinforce the line of communication
have arrived at their destination.
Sending 10000 North.
san Antonio. April 25.-Added in
terest was given the coming confer
ence between General Hugh L. Scott
chief of staff. and General Aware
Obregon minister of war for the de
facto government of Mexico, by the
receipt of news that more Mexican
troops are being concentrated il
northern Mexico. Army officers herr
were not alarmed by the information
concerning troop movements but 1
was realized that General Obregon, al
minister of war has so disposed hi
forces that by the time he meets Gen
Scott. in a diplomatic engagement HI
viii have behind him within cas-.
reach not fewer than 10000 men.
The concentration of Gen. Perish
fn-'s men has continued and toda.
the punitive forces are backed to
rether in a much shortened line, tn
Casas Crandes and Namiquipa. Scout
and other agents of the army re
ported that the movements of the d
facto government troops are bein
continued and official information
placed the number of those in an
about Torreon at about 10000. Mil
ftary estimates of those in Sonora tina
could be used against the American
are approximately $4,000 while an
other 5000 are in the state o
chihuahua.
Can Obregon. Convince Scott.
Failure by General Obregon to con
vince General Scott of the soundnes
Of his diplomatic arguments could b
followed. army men here asserted, b
very practical use of this combine
force. The disposition has been s
made that greater part of the 1000
troops could be turned against Gen
Grad Pershiug's force within less tina
weeks delay.
Villa Pursuit Now Passe.
E,l Paso, April 25.-Interest in tn
entire Mexico situation has narrowe
here today to the forthcoming con
ference between General ObregoT
Carranza's minister of war and Gen
eral Hugh L. Scott, chief of staff c
the United States army. With tn
American eXpeditionary force prac
tically concentrated at two isolate
points near NamiQVipa and at Coloni
Dublan. where it is marking tim
pending the diplomatic exchanges be
tween Washington and General Car
rama, the pursuit of Villa has cease
TO be a main factor.
Ell Paso has already been the seen
OF several MeXican-American confer
ences. notably those of former Presi
dent Taft and POrfirio Diaz, Genera
OhreQon and General PerShinP an