Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-28
GEN. FUNSTON ASKS FOR
81 MORE MOTOR TRUCKS
Stores Are Now Being Sent $50
Miles Through Barren Waste
From Border Bases.
MAY HALT PURSUIT OF BANDIT
Because of Imperative Need of Lines,
Army officials Hope Way Will
Be Found to Get Favorable
Carranza Answer.

FIELD HEADQUARTERS.
American Expeditionary Force,
Colonia Dublan. Chihuahua.
March 28. by Wireless to Co
lumbus, NJ M.-Preparations for
closing in on Francisco Villa in
quick cavalry drive were being
pushed forward rapidly today at
the field headquarters of Brig.
Gen. Pershing. expeditionary
commander.
Ell PASO. March 2S.-The
pursuit of Francisco Villa may be
fampered, if not actually halted.
unless Mexican railroads are
made available as the main line
of communication for the Ameri-
can army in Mexico
Military men expressed that
view today after studying dis
patches from the front that Villa
was still in full fight southwark
and meeting with little if any op-
position
The American forces are more
than 200 miles below the border.
Difficulties Are Increasing.
Every mile the Mexican bandit ad-
vances into the interior increases the
difficulties of maintaining the already
attenuated line of American communi-
cations Motor trucks are being rushed
to the army base at Columbus, y. NJ. to
help keep up the necessary movement
of supplies to the field headquarters at
point near Casas Grandes.
Every effort is being made. to con-
tinue the line of transport in full oper-
alton over the rocky and sandy trails
from Columbus until the de facto gov
ernment gives permission to use the
railroads.
cles over the prospects of capturing
Villa and il is felt that unless he is
cornered within the week the bandit
will have outrun his pursue"s and that
many months may pass before he ana
his band can he ferreted out of their
hiding places in the mountains.
Make No Mention of Villa.
Dlspa tches from the advance flying
columns, pressing Villa closely. ma Ike
no mention of having come in contact
with any of the bandits men.
Juarez continues qviet and there has
been a subsistence of reports that
trouble impends along the border.
The sound of shooting in the down.
Town section of FL Paso early today
aroused little attention. as the streets
were practically deserted. Five soldiers
were taken into custody by the provost
guard, charged with having fired the
shots while intoxicated.
Supply Problem overshadows.
SAN ANTONIO, Tex, March 2s.-The
supply problem continues to overshad-
ow all other matters having to do with
the punitive expedition in Mexico
Indications from Washington that
railroads will not he made availab BILE in
the immediate future came as unwel-
come news to department headquarters
today Because OF the imperative need
for rail lines it had been hoped by
officers that officials in Washington
would find way of securing a iaVor-
ahle answer from Gen. Carranza.
With the railroads closed to HIM,
Gen. Funston faces the problem OF sup
nlying Gen. PershiBg's force for a con-
siderable period by means OF motor
TRANSPORTATION and wagon trains.
Long Trip for Motor Trucks.
This means he n ust send great guam
titles of supplies distance OF 25o
miles south of the border in trucks
and wagons-through a country that is
a hsrren waste of sand.
In order to meet the situation he has
,sl.ad for fifty-seveu additional motor
trucks two companies. -Four companies
a total of lO7 trucks. are already IN oper-
ation and two additional companies VIII
he added az quickly as cars can be Pur-
nh,sed and sent 10 the border.
Cen Funston is expecting dtspatch
today from Gen. Pershing giving the lat
est information concerning the pursuit OF
Villa According to unofficial reports.
American cavalrymen are twenty miles