Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-23
AWAITING RETURN
Of HEAD Of ARMY
Secretary Baker Expects Him
Back Tomorrow Night or
the Next Day.
CABINET TO CONSIDER
QUESTION ON TUESDAY
Extensive Plan to Capture Peon
Brigand Might Lead to War With
the Carranzistas.


lean troops will be. withdrawn
from Mexico may be reached by
President Wilson and his cabinet
Tuesday. This was indicated last
night when it was reported from
San Antonio that Maj. Gen. Scott,
sent by Secretary Baker to in
vestigate the military problems
confronted by Gen. Funston and
his men, might be back in Wash
ington in time for his report to be
laid before the regular meeting
of the cabinet on that day.
Secretary Baker declined to discuss
the probable meaning of Gen. SCOTS
decision to hasten back to the capita
without extending his quest for infor.
nation beyond conferences with Gen
Funston and his officers at department
headquarters. Onicials have consis.
tently refused to say anything what.
ever about the problems under con-
sideration since the request for thu
withdrawal of the troops came from
Gen. Carranza.
Funston Wants Reinforcements.
1t is known, however. from border
advices that Gen. Funston feels that he
cannot go farther with the pursuit OF
villa than he already has gone unless
he is heavily reinforced and his hands
freed, to some extent at least, in deal
ing with problems of supply and infor-
nation beyond the border. Gen. SCOTS
decision to return at once generally
was taken to mean that he had reached
the same conclusion and would SO re-
port to Secretary Baker.
In this connection 1t is recalled that
President Wilson specifically rejected
plans for a more extensive movement
in pursuit of Villa mapped out by the
general staff Immediately after the CO.
never has been revealed, but it gener-
ally is understood that they contem-
plated a virtual military occupation OF
all that part Of northern Mexico In
which the bandits might seek refuge. A
big army would have been required
and the whole territory would have
been swept thoroughly so that no Villa
follower could escape.
Might Lead to Mexican War.
The administration felt, it has been
reported. that any such movement as
this was certain to lead to war with
Mexico. The development of opposition
to the smaller punitive expedition is
held by ministration officials to have
borne out this view. This opposition.
they point out. has developed. despite a
formal announcement by the Presi-
dent himself that the sole object was
the capture of villa. and that the SOW
ereignty of Mexico would not be imper-
lied.
There is no reason to.believe that the
administration changed its viewpoint.
If Cen Scott recommends that the expe-
dition either be freed of the restraints
imposed by its friendly nature and
largely reinforced, or withdrawn en-
tirely, there seems little doubt that the
latter course will be followed.
Could Be Brought Out in Ten Days.
Military officials on the border appar-
entity take the same view of the prob
q bilities of the situation. They already
have estimated. according to press dis
ma tches, that Gen. Pershing's mon could
be brought out in ten days without be-
ing exposed to serious danger of attack
en- route.
Secretary Baker gave out no dis
patches from the border yesterday.
ONLY routine matters were reported.
The State Department also was with
out advices as to the military situa-
ton, although 1t received confirmation
of the fact that Carranza currency had
dropped in value in Mexico City to .
cents on the dollar. officials said the
financial outlook of the de facto gov
ernment appeared to be increasingly
gloomy.