Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-03-14
TWELVE THOUSAND
TROOPS MASSED ON
MEXICAN BOVp ,..,,' !
That Many Soldiers and Nearly Fifty
Mountain and Field Guns Are
Strung Along 200 Miles
of Border.
FROM Ell PAsO TO COLUMBUS
Two Columns Will Follow Rail Lines
While Third Will Strike
Across Desert.
ARE BEING RUSHED
BULLETIN.

BULLETIN.
Ell PAS0. Tex, March 18.--Brig-
adler General ]. J. Pershing and his
netire staff left here late today for
Columbus.
General Pershing went on a spe-
cial train leaving his personal bag
gage to be sent after him.
COLUMBUS, March 13.--Approxi-
nlately 10000 troops with forty
eight mountain and field gun bat
terIes were on the border tonight be-
tween Douglas, Ariz.. and El Paso,
Tex, a line about 200 miles long. A
little more than one-third of this
fierce was cavalry.
From a camp of a few hundred
men, Columbus, overnight and today
grew to a military establ shment Of
nearly 1900 with indications that
about 1000 men are to be concen-
trated here Immediately. Further
evidence that this point may be the
starting place of the largest column
in pursuit of Villa appeared in the
erection of headquarters for Briga-
dier General John ]. Pershing, who,
Major General Funston announced
today, would be the leader of the ex-
peditionary force.
Talk of Straight March.
Officers here talked Of a march
straight southwark in pursuit of villa
Troop movements seemed to bear out
reports that while the Columbus column
is striking south, another movement will
be made from the vicinity of El Paso
and third from the Arizona line some
where near Douglas. Both the FL Paso
and Douglas movements would be able
to follow rail lines. while the central
column from here would have to go over
land across a desert.
Belief here tonight was that the Column
bus column would be ready to start by
Thursday or Friday. Intelligence depart
ment officers secured maps and topo-
graphy charts OF the mountainous Chihua-
haa-sonora border into which it seems
possible fof villa to enter with his
present start.
Villas position today. according to re-
ports received by General Pablo Bertani
in command Of 2o00 Carranza soldiers Just
across the Mexican border from here.
was still near Corralitos. where he
stopped more than two days ago.
Troop Trains Unload.
Troop trains bearing cavalrymen, in
fantrymen. artillery, signal and hospital
detachments and several trainioads OF
freight unloaded here today LAUNDERING
gray army wagons rumbled all day
through clouds of dust. each wagon pied
high with supplies. such as arms. muni-
tions. knapsacks. boxes of uniforms.
shoes. blankets. forage and food.
In the town of Columbus. the conduct
OF Mexicans who were strangers was
closely watched This work was rem
dered delicate by the large numbers of
Mexicans who are American citizens by
birth and among whom the Mexican new
comers were difficult to distinguish. One
prosperous American ranchman of Her
manas. who comes of a Mexican family.
was taken into custody before his iden-
tity was established.
General John ]. Pershing will command
the expeditionary forces from this point
into Mexico in person. Lieutenant Colonel
d. c. Cabell of the Tenth cavalry, who, It
was expected, will be assigned to duty as
adjutant general of the force. arrived to-
day from Douglas and began prepara-
ton for the arrival of General Pershing.
Buildings are being erected for the use
NJ the staff haadoua rfara