Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-03-28
Military Authorities Do Not
Attempt to Conceal Their
Anxiety Over Situation That
ConfrontS Troops,
CARRANZA IS SILENT
ON USE OF RAILROADS
Violent SandStorms 0bliterate
Roads and Line of Commu-
nication Is Getting More
Difficult to Maintain.

MORNING
Fl Paso, Tex, March 27-With the
conviction that the chase of Pancho
villa was going to prove a long and
tedious one attention here was turned
once more tonight on the railroad
situation. Dispatches from Wash
ington and San Antonio showing that
the United States military authorities
were becoming increasingly impatient
for the completion of arrangements
with General Carranza for the use of
the Mexican roads confirmed the be-
lief held here for the last week that
the railroad problem was the present
cruX of the situation.
Army officers here privately admit
that the question of getting adequate
supplies to the forces at the front is
growing serious. They say that the
present system of motor transporta-
ton across Chihuahua desert has
proved entirely inadequate, ana as
General Pershings columns push fur
ther into the desolation of western
Chihuahua the supplies problem IS
growing acute. The advance corps OF
the expeditionary force is now well
over $50 miles from the frontier ana
every day presumably adds many
days to the thin line of cOmmunica-
tions
The sandstorms which sweep across
the Chihuahua wastes are similar to
the simoons which have again and
again wiped out caravans in the Sa-
hara desert Mormon colonists ana
American ranchmen agree that moth
ing but a railroad can cope with ma
ture in this dread region. Even II
wagon roads were constructed their
life would be brief.
VIII Ship From FL Paso.
There has been some speculation
here as to the manner in which goods
would be shipped from El Paso. IL
has been suggested that to avoid con-
tact with the Carranza troops in
Juarez, supplies would be taken in mo-
tor trucks to a point on the Mexico
Northwestern six or seven miles south
of the boundary and there loaded.
General Bell ridicules this idea lie
saws that If the railroads are used, all
supplies will be loaded in El paso,
sent over the river to Juarez and
thence dispatched south.
Thousands of tons of foodstuffs,
clothing ammunition, hospital sup
plies and forage are in warehouses
here ready for shipment south the
Carranza has granted the right to
use the Mexican railways.
a few hours after such information
comes-if it does come-several heav-
lily loaded trains will be started for the
Casas Grandes district.
If permission to use the Mexico
Northwestern railroad is granted ny
the de facto government, General
Funston will provide his own equip
ment for the forwarding of supplies
The present rolling stock of the rail-
road is said to be inadequate, so very
little of it is available here.
United States army headquarters in
El Paso already has arranged with
railroads entering here to provide en-
gines and cars to make up supply
trains. Scores of trainmen, including
engineers, conductors and brakemen,
who already have seen service IN
Mexico are ready to make up the
crews All that is needed is the com
mand to move.
People Are Hopeful.
While public opinion on the nor-
der is openly pessimistic regarding
anv speedy termination to the pursuit
of villa. there is one ray of hope that
persists II is pointed out that the
bandit has never had to match his
generalship against a force of Amer
lean soldiers equipped with every ap-
pliance and device that modern
science has contributed to the art or
warfare. The optimsts are especial
ly insistent on the possibilities Oh
aeroplanes with General Pershlhs
columns. The scouts of the air nave
had little opportunity up to the pres
ent to demonstrate their worth on
account of weather conditions. AZ
this time of the year the Sierras OF
northern Mexico are swept continual