The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-17
AMERICAN TROOPS
 ID RE WITHDRAWN 1. F BANDIT IS DEAD
State and War Officials View With Great Interest
 Reports of Death of Pancho Villa

| Washington, April l6. = American troops will be withdrawn from Mexico
 immediately if Francisco Villa Is dead.
 Admfnistration officials made this un-
 qualified statement tonight. comment
 ing on reports from Mexican sources l that the bandits body had been dis icovered and was being taken from 1 Cusi to Chihuahua city by special train. Neither the state nor war department
 had any cOnfrmatOry advices on the subject from American sources. Re-
 ports reaching EI Paso and other bOr-
 der points were forwarded for infOr-
 nation, but neither American consul
 nor military authorities in Mexico were heard from.
 l There was no attempt here to disguise l ing of the bandit. Every message received 1 was closely scrutinized at lne state de partment and sent to the White House.
 In some quarters there was a disposi-
 tion to credit them, despite the fact that 1 border reports generally have been viewed with so much suspicion since the l pursuit began.
 WILL NOT DISCUSS PROOF l Officials would not discuss what proof i they would deem necessary to estab-
 fish the fact that the body mentioned in these reports is that of Villa. It is cer-
 tain, however, that every effort will be
 made to obtain so complete an identifi- i cation as to make sure beyond reason able doubt that the man who waged war
 with a few hundred bandits against the 1 United States and the de facto govern
 ment of Mexico simultaneously. has paid <-t-. T ot1l,> I, ltrs, | hua should be able to make the dentfi- cation.
 l Villas death would put an end to the diplomatic complications with the de l facto government over continued pursuit of the bandit by American troops. State 1 department officials, while willing to ne-
 gotiate for the recall of the troops as General Carranza suggested, have made 1 no secret or the fact that they did nor
 believe there would be a withdrawal for ] considerable time. The pursuit would ]; have been kept up vigorously during the negotiations, with the hope that the cap i ture or death of the bandit would at
 any time terminate the whole discussion. 1 If Villa has been killed officials are satisfied that every object sought by the l expedition has been attained. They feel certain that there would be no more raid- l Ing by Mexican bandits across the Mex l ican line. The American cavalry al- ready has taught wholesome lesson. | Preparation of the reply to General Carr ranza's note suggesting the recall of the American forces will go forward without
 regard to the reports as to the death of the bandit Until official confirmation | is received no change will be made in the present plans. The reply already has been outlined it is understood, setting 1 forth clearly the attitude of the Wash- ington government and its req sons for believing that it acted under definite and fully ratified agreement when 1t or dered the expedition across the border. The reply will contain also state
 ment of the things the administration holds it will be necessary to establish be- fore a retirement toward the border can be started The vital element of any understanding reached will be the abil- ity of the de facto government to insure protection of American sborder towns in
 future, and the complete elimination of
 Villa and his bandits from the situa-
 ton,