The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1916-04-20
FAIL TO CONFIRM
DEATH OF VILLA
Bandit Fled Toward Place Where
Body Is Reported.
SIX MORE RAIDERS TAKEN
Mexicans, Who Confessed They Were
in Gang That Attacked Columbus,
Captured and Taken TO
Town for Trial.

Washington, April discrimination
CT the death of Francisco Villa is still
lacking, both at the state and war
departments and at the Mexican em-
bassy.
The only dispatch from American
sources in Mexico tending to lend
color to the report was brief state
ment from Major Howe OF the Elev-
enth cavalry, now near Iarral, that
he had information which led him to
believe that the bandit and small
party Of his followers had fed some
days ago toward Borja, which is close
to the place where unofficial Mexican
reports say the body was found.
The outstanding feature of the days
message from the border were re-
ports to the war department that six
MeXicans who confessed to having
taken part in the raid on Columbus,
n. NJ, had been captured and sent to
Columbus for trial by the New Mexico
state authorities.
Another official report relieved anX-
iety as to the supply problem for the
troops at the front. 1t said the forces
now were fully supplied, with the eX-
ception of small shipment of horse
shoes and clothing, which would go
forward today.
An ample supply of gasoline was
on hand, the message said, for the
motor trucks and aeroplanes.
Body En- Route to Chihuahua.
The body supposed to be that of
Villa was said by the last Mexican
reports to be en- route to Chihuahua
City.
1t was pointed out at the war de-
partment, however, that the point
where it was found was nearly two
days journey by wagon from the rail
road. That may account for delay in
obtaining confirmation or denial of the
report that the bandits career has
ended.
If General Funston and General
Pershing have taken any steps to
make certain the identification of the
body they have done so on their own
initiative.
No instructions to that end have
been sent from Washington, either to
consuls or military commanders
Senator Stone, chairman of the for
eign relations committee, after a brief
conference with Secretary Baker. eX-
pressed the view that the Carranza
authorities hardly could have any OBJ
ject in circulating a report of Villas
death unless they believed it to be
true.
He agreed with Secretary Baker
and other officials however. in accept
ing the reports of the finding of Vii
las body with utmost caution.
The attack on Major Tompkins'
command at Parral came after cordial
relations had been established with
the Carranza military commander
ere
Letcher Lacks News
FL Paso, Tex, April 1S.--In an
swer to a telegram asking if he could
verify the report that the body OF
Villa had been found, American Con-
sui Letcher at Chihuahua City wired
Nothing heard of matter here"
Consul Letcher's message was filed
at chihuahua yesterday.
The forty Americans, p incipally
newspaper men and moving picture
camera operators, who started for Chi
huahua City to view the body also
were delayed. Their special train was
stalled after covering ten miles. 1t
was pulled back into Juarez for new
engine but still remained in the Mex
lean Central yards in the afternoon.