The midland journal., 1916-11-03
QUITTING MEXICO
OUT OF QUESTION
New Villa Moves Check on Work
of Joint Commission.
TROOPS TO REMAIN ON DUTY
Removal OF carranza To oueretaro
Is Declared Sign OF Breaking Up
Process-officiaIs Send Fam
lilies Out OF Country.

Washington.-Cond in North.
ern Mexico, revolving on the new
ascendency of Villa as military lead
er, are commanding more attention
than at any other time since the bor-
der raids, which resulted in the dis
patch of the American punitive expe-
dition.
Administration officials made no ef-
fort to disguise their opinion that the
American-Mexican Commission, sitting
at Atlantic City, cannot be expected to
arrive at satisfactory solution of
border problems until the situation in
Chihuahua has been clarified. Any
agreement for the early withdrawal Of
General Pershing's forces from Mexico
apparently is considered now as out
of the question.
Moreover, the impression stood out
clearly from all the views expressed
that while the present situation exists
there is little possibility that the forces
of the regulars or national guardsmen
indicated that no chances would be
taken of another raid into American
territory.
carranza Failing.
Coupled with ugly reports, which
disparage the stability of General Car
ranza's regime and interpret his re-
moval from Mexico City to Queretaro
as sign of the breaking-up process
which his enemies have repeatedly
predicted, the military movements of
Villa, now making formidable cam
paign in Chihuahua, are regarded here
as menacing the de facto's control of
the whole northern country.
Prominent in the whole situation
are apparently well founded, but in
definite, reports of the connection of
the so-called Legalista movement with
the whole train of events, which are
expected by those familiar with the
Mexican situation here to develop
within a short time.
The Mexican Embassy declared that
Villas forces consist only Of a few
hundred men claiming Villa as their
leader" and branded reports of in
stability of General Carranza's govern
ment as "a food of misrepresentation
that might be expected from enemies"
when the Mexican-American commits
sion began its work
At the same time reports came to
the War Department that Villas
campfires were in sight of Chihuahua
City and that General Trevino, the
ola
plentifully supplied with arms and re-
ceiving reinforcements, was short of
ammunition and considering evacuat-
ing the capital.
Commanding Point.
Department officials said they had
not heard the report reaching the bor-
der that Chihuahua actually has fallen.
AS a matter of military strategy it
was pointed out that Villa, once oc-
cupying Chihuahua, could compel the
surrender of Juarez, as he did easily
once before, and at another stroke
might take Torreon, Monterey and
Saltillo, when he would be military
factor somewhat different from the
bandit for whose life an American
military expedition was dispatched.
The Mexican Embassy's explanation
of General Carranza's move to Quere-
taro was that he had gone to prepare
for the meeting of the Constitution
alists' Assembly, for which deputies
lust have been elected. The arrival Of
the families of Generals Carranza and
Obregon in the United States are de-
clared to be without significance.
"The rumors that this visit has any
political significance, or that the fam
lilies of the leaders are abandoning
the country, are absurd" said ain en-
bassy statement.