The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-04-07

handle any known Villista bands.
The one problem is:
Can they conquer such bands while
broken into small groups? Thus far
army men are apprehensive What
the next few days will develop is
problematical Three thousand rock
les will soon head for the border;
| they could fill ranks of seasoned men
who might be sent into Mexico, If
need for more forces arose.
| Optimistic FEELING Today.
! SAN ANTONIO, April 7.--Major
General Funston spoke reassuringly
OF the prospects Of capturing Villa,
following receipt Of Colonel Browns
report. Villa, according to Brown, is
/ believed to be hiding between Satevo
and Santa Rosalia and the colonel's
forces are on a "hot trail Both Fun
\ ston and his staff officers were notice
able optimistic after Browns informa-
| ton had been read and confident OF
catching Villa. This was in contrast
to their rather non-commita attitude
OF the last few days
Funston was practically certain, he
said. that the American forces have
penetrated to the Satevo region.
Brown not only confirmed reports of
the fight near San Antonio. but indi-
Gated that the American pursuit may
force Villa into narrowing strip
walled by Carranzistas to the south
and the on-coming American forces
descending from Satevo. In this event
| it was the belief that villa would
choose a brush with the Carranzistas
in an effort to break through, rather
than a stand to check the expedition
airy troops. Carranzista reports de-
clared there were troops of the defac-
to government on the railroad south
OF chihuahua City.
/ The Americans continue to enjoy
] the good feeling of the natives as a
result OF their constructive activities
along the line of march. The soldiers
are building roads, repairing trails and
conserving the country through which
they pass.
American gold for supplies, it was
said, also is having warming effect
on the Mexicans.
The Third Clash.
WASHINGTON, April 7.-Ameri-
cans and Villistas have fought their
third engagement since the punitive
expedition crossed the border.
/ The engagement occurred Tuesday
at Cieneguilla. Ten Villistas were
killed and two captured. Carranzistas
co-operated with the Americans in
the engagement, news of which
reached the war department today.
| The same message confirmed reports
of the fight at Aguas Calientes be-
tween Americans and Villistas last
| Saturday.
In the Cieneguilla fight the Carran-
zistas were headed by General Cava-
EOS. The information given the press
added no further details. The min
| ing company's special train apparent
ly is the one mentioned in press dis
patches as proceeding with army sup
plies. Under Carranza's recent agree
ment the supplies can be consigned
to the mining company and then dis
| tributed to the army.
Too Head or Escape.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, April T.
] Strong Carranzista forces numbering
several thousand men, are placed at
strategetic points south of Satevo to
head Off Villas escape to the south
ward. according to a report from Am
erican Consul Letcher at Chihuahua
City, received today by General Fun
ston.
| Letcher's dispatch also declared a
force Of Carranzistas under General
Cavazos. attacked fifty Villistas at
Cienaguilla and put them to flight
! Villa himself according to information
received from Mexican sources by
Letcher, passed through Cienaguilla
on the morning of April with 200
men,
| Cienaguilla is twelve miles south
east of Satevo near which Colonel
Dodd's foremost forces we're reported
winding through the mountains in pur-
suit of the bandit
| Though Letcher's information did
not contain the exact location of the
lCarranzistas, they are believed to be
before Parral south of Satevo. The
American consul received his informa-
ton from Governor Gutierrez, of Chi
huahua.
| Colonel Brown who reported he was
close on the trail of Villa has halted
at cusihuiarachic, apparently having
run short of supplies. A big American
column, however, reached Cusihu1arc-
| hic on April 5, 1t was known at head
quarters, and this probably Is tho
force Brown referred to as following
Villa. One aeroplane has reached the
extreme front for scout duty.
| Funston today received a specific
report reassuring him Of the loyalty
of Colonel Cano, Carranzista COM
mander at Guerrero.
While much of Letcher's informa-
ton was from Mexican sources, Fun
ston was inclined to regard them as
authentic He was making full use OF
Letcher's dispatches, forwarding all
the information to General Pershing.