The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-23
Decision Expected to Be Reached at Cabinet Meet ing Tuesday, When Scott's Report Will Be Made
TWO COURSES OF
 ACTION OPEN TO
 ADMINISTRATION l-.-~
Must Take Steps That Will Precipitate War or With draw Entirely U Latter Course Likely

Washington, April 22-A decision as to whether American troops will be with drawn from Mexico may be reached by President Wilson and his cabinet Tues it was reported from San Antonio that Major General Scott might be back in Washington in time for his report to be laid before the regular meeting of the cabinet on that day.
 Secretary Baker declined to discuss the possible meaning of General Scotts de cision to hasten back to the capital with out extending his quest tor informa tion beyond conferences with General Funs- ton and his officers. Officials have con- sistently refused to say anything what ever of the problems under consideration the troops came from General Carranza.
 REACH SAME CONCLUSION
 It is known, however, from border ad- vices that General Funston feels that he cannot go farther with the pursuit of Villa unless he is heavily reinforced and his hands freed to some extent at least in dealing with problems of supply and irformation beyond the border. General Scott's decision to return at once gen. erally was taken to mean that he had reached the same conclusion and would so report to Secretary Baker.
 In this connection it is recalled that President Wilson specifically rejected plans for more extensive movement in pursuit of Villa mapped out by the gen. eral staff immediately after the Column bus raid. The scope of those plans never has been revealed but it generally is understood that they contemplated a virtual military occupation of all tha, part of northasn Mexico in which the bandits might seek refuge. A big army would have been required, and the whole territory would have been swept thor oughly so that no Villa followers could escape.
 OPPOSED TO FORCE
 The administration felt, it has been re- ported, that any such movement as this would be certain to lead to war with Mexico. The opposition to the smaller punitive expedition is held by adninis- tration officials to have borne out this. This opposition, they point out, has de- eeloped despite a formal announcement by the President himself, that the sole object was the capture of Villa and that the sovereignty of Mexico would not be imperiled.
 There is no reason to believe the ad- ministration has changed it's viewpoint. If General Scott recommends that the expedition either be freed of the restraints imposed by it's friendly nature and largely reinforced, or withdrawn entirely. there seems little doubt that the latter course would be followed.
 Military officials on the border appar- ently take the same view of the proba- biiities of the situation. They already have estimated. according to press dis patches, that General Pershing's men could be brought out in 10 days with out being exposed to serious danger of attack en route.
 Secretary Baker gave out no dispatches from the border today. Only routine mat ters were reported. The state department also was without advices as to the mili- tary situation. although it received con- firmation of the fact that Carranza cur rency had dropped in value in Mexico City to cents on the dollar. Officials said the financial outlook of the de facto government appeared to be increasingly gloomy