Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-03-13
American Troops Regret Not
Being Allowed to Pursue
Bandits When They Fled
From Border Raid,
PERSHING C0NCENTRATING
SCATTERED COMMANDS
Prisoners Captured Are TO Be
Turned Over to New Mex
leo Courts for Trial. Federal
Law Does Not Apply
ia, .opa,as ,oosr., SPECIAL ,s.pqO wrsi


Columbus, n. NJ, March Ia Re-
ports multiplied here today that Fran-
cisco villa is disintegrating the force
of l,50O to $500 men whom he used
To support or to make the Columbus
raid las, Thursday.
American military authorities said
today thnt if possible It would have
been advisable to 80 after villa Thurs
dav when his raiders fled southwark.
They were then dcmoralized and were
dropping loot and war material before
the attacks of fifty-nino men under
Major Frank Tompkins. Requests OF
Col Herbert Slocum, commanding the
Thirteenth cavalry here, and of Major
Tompkins. to be allowed TO renew the
pursuit Friday with larger force
were denied pending the organization
Of the larger punitive expedition.
Several Days Delay.
Today it was stated that this cxpedi-
ton, owing to inadequate railroad fa-
cilities, anu the widely scattered post
| tion OF the troops necessary TO consti-
tute it, who have been on patrol duty
might require several days prepara-
tion before 1t could enter Mexico, al
least from this point Meanwhile re-
ports from Mexican sources stated thai
Villa apparently was carrying out q
plan to elude pursuit by breaking ~
his force into small bands and hiding
among the mountains. Some of hi.
forces were reported to be approach
| ing the Sonora state border. Others
We're said to be making their way
southward and southeastward today
toward the mountains of the Sar
Geronimo district from which thu
bandit chieftain started March l with
the announced intention of invading
the United States.
Rclnforccments on Way.
General Slocum said he had been
ladvlscd that the first squadron OF the
Thirteenth cavalry also had been or
dered to reJoin the regiment The
Thirteenth, on account of it's exploit
Thursday in beating off an over.
whelming number of MeXicans after q
stiff fight in which they inflicted pos
1 HiulJ lliAiNli tlillNo tlit llhiliOti VI Ah'i'
own casualties. Is said to have been as
signed to the duty of taking Villas di
rect trail. But owing TO the exigen-
cics of the patrol duty to which the
army has been assigned ever since the
outbreak Of the Madero revolution II
/ here only two-thrds Of its strength
| The first squadron, under Lieut.. Col
! T. Rivers has been stationed at Maria
Tex. more than 250 miles east cf here
and assigned 10 patrol a stretch o.
territory cighty-five miles in extent
1t might be several days before thi.
squadron viii bo assembled here.
Widely Scattered Units.
Othor units said to have been des
iignated for service in Mexico are quit,
aa widely scattered because of de
mands for protection and patrols a
various points. Infantry, artillery anC
cavalry deemed necessary for the ex
pedition are scattered at intervals o.
lscventy-five TO 1bO miles from MARTA
Tex, on the east. to Yuma, Ariz., OF
the west There is only one line O
railroad by which the concentration o
these troops can be accomplished
This line is closely guarded to minim
izc any chance that irresponsible per
sons may cut It,
Brig. Gen. John ] pcrshing, at +
Paso. according to military officer.
here is concentrating these wdel5
scattered troops as rapidly as possible
II appears to be the opinion Of mill
tary mon here that when Nl,ia j.
found and pushed on both sides. ht
will not stand and fight This belief I.
based upon the experiences of tn,
American troops In the surprise at.
tack Thursday and the SUBSEQUENT
pursuit Of the bandits by Major Tomp
kins. who described their flight AZ
practically a rout.
Although Villas strength in the bat
tic here was estimated at from 1.50l
to $500 men, Capt Rudolph Smysei
and Capt George Williams, who par.
ticipated in the pursuit. described hi.
retreat as precipitate. Prisoners cap
tured declared that The bandits were
stricken by fear. although when thes
discovered the meager force Of fifty
nine with which Tompkins entered
Mexico Thursday. they made a stand
with 900 men.
State Courts 10 Try Them.
L. y. Stone. special agent OF the de-