The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-03-15

stration this morning when four COM
panies OF the Third cavalry left over
land for Rio Grande City.
Thousands lined the streets and
cheered the departing soldiers. who
will be engaged In border patrol
service.
Funston Predicts Long Siege.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, March Is
Il hope the American people appre-
ciate that this is going to be hard
and very difficult campaign. 1t may
be long one Also
This was the fashion in which Cen
eral Frederick Funston, in whose
hands unreseryedly has been placed
the task Of capturing the Mexican
bandit, "Pancho'' Villa, summed up
the campaign today for the United
Press.
General Funston intimated that
General Pershing has his orders and
move when ready.
"One of the best features OF the
business is the fact that the troops are
in splendid shape for the work. From
a physical standpoint they could not
be better. The time that most OF them
have had on the border has harden
ed and toughened them for just the
character of campaign that they Will
have to undergo. But it Is going to be
q hard Job.
villa has fed to one OF the natur-
ally most desolate countries in the
world. What nature did not. do for
It in this respect, the fighting factions
III Mexico have done. Unless we go
in there sufficiently supplied with
food and fodder to take care Of the
- bcS- ontfra1v wa
would be defeated by nature long be-
fore we met Villas forces. There is
nothing left in all that vast and naked
region for US to buy or take. our
prisoners, taken in the Columbus raid,
tell us that Villa and his men are
living off "jerked" beef. They have
no other food supply of consequence.
Il believe that our aeroplanes are
going to be Of great value to us In
scouting work in this campaign. 1t
will be the first time that We have
ever used our planes under these con-
dluons and have great hopes II
their success.
. II hope that the American people
understand the reason for the appar-
emit delay In crossing the border ana
starting the chase. It would have
been sheer folly for us to have con-
tinued the chase the day of the raid.
We had but about $50 men against
Villas 1900 and possibly more. Our
men had no supplies with them. They
might have continued a running fight
and killed few more Villistas, but
unless they could have actually cap
tured villa, no particular military ad-
vantage would have been gained. The
fact that Villas forces 80 far over
powered ours, made pursuit danger
Gus. Had our troops been surround
ed. as easily might have happened. an
other Custer massacre would have re-
suited.
From all + have learned, believe
that Villa made the raid as the result
of one Of his characteristic brain
storms These fits OF blind, unreason-
ing anger of his are we'll known, ana
while in them, he'll do anything.
Back OF all this was the hope, pre-
sumo that Intervention might result
| in swinging the tide Of popular Mex1-
can favor his way and bringing TO MN
large bodies of Mexicans end SO make
him q aerious factor In Mexican at
fairs again.
at may be long chase and hard
one before the end we seek to attain
ts secured, but we are ready for 1t
and Will attain It."
Camp 10 Broken.
DEMING., N. NJ, March 15.-(By
telephone to Ell Paso.)-U. 8. troops
have not yet crossed the border, &C
cording to automobile parties arriv-
liz here from Columbus at noon to-
day. Pershing's camp there has been
broken. however, and the expedition
was ready to move at moments
notice.
The Carranza garrison at Palomas
reyolted and declared for Villa, &C
cording to unconfrmed reports reach