Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-03-14
STRONG FORCE IS
BEING PREPAREDfOR
MEXICAN MISSION
General Funston Refuses to Di.
vulge the Number Of
Troops.
GENERAL PERSHING WILL
LEAD THE EXPEDITION
Motor Train Being Prepared to
Handle Supplies of the
Army.

San Antonio, Tex, March Ia
sufficient force is now gathered at the
Mexican border under the command
of Brigadier General John J. Pershing
to begin the pursuit of Francisco
Villa, it was announced tonight by
Major General Frederick Funston.
The general said that only the COM
pletion of plans for backing up the
eXpeditionary force now was needed.
He was nOn-committal, however, as to
the time needed to accomplish this.
General Funston declared reports
that American troops had been order
ed to cross the border in pursuit of
Villa were untrue. Reiterating previ'
GUS statements, he said it would be
useless to send anything but strong,
well-prepared force into Mexico.
To75e Strong One.
That the expeditionary force will
be a strong one was indicated by q
statement of the general that when
the expedition was fully organized.
there would be only six or eight regi-
ments other than those on the border
left in the United States. This did
not take into account troops in the
canal zone and the Philippines.
Outside of mentioning two or three
scattered movements, the general re-
fused to give any definite idea of the
size of the expedition, by stating
what regiments had been ordered to
the border.
General Pershing Commands.
General Funston's announcement
today that Brigadier Pershing would
command the, punitive expedition was
the first official statement that Cen
eral Pershing would be given the as
signment, although it had been sup
posed he would get it. ...5...
TO General Pershing will be left
the final disposition of the force.
The expeditionary force into Mexi-
co is to be equipped with a complete
motor supply train, an innovation IN
the United States army, it was an
nounced today. Motor transportation
of supplies was deemed necessary ~
General Funston, as after the expedi-
tion gets we'll on it's way, 1t probably
will get far from any railroad. Word
was received today that the war de-
partment at Washington had author
lied the purchase of 81 trucks, to be
organized into a complete supply
train. For the present, the train will
be manned with civilians.
Long Motor Train.
The motor train carrying supplies
will have an important bearing on
the expeditions success, General Fun
ston said.
1t became known today that lack of
rolling stock, particularly in Arizona
and New Mexico, has hindered troop
transportation
Reports reaching General Funston
late today indicated that difficulty OF
TRANSPORTATION might be added to by
efforts of Villas followers along the
border to destroy the lines of com.
munication.
Word came from Alpine, Tex, that
an attempt had been made to hold up
train bearing Ambulance Company
Z and Hospital Company No. from
Fort Sam Houton, on their way to Ia
Paso by six Mexicans last night. The
attempt was frustrated because the
engineer sighted the Mexicans along
the track and stopped his train. The
Mexicans fled, but three later We're
captured.
Reports from the border laid be-
fore President Wilson by Secretary
Baker during an hours conference to-
night indicated that such progress
had been made in the mobilization Of
American troops that the first force
of American troops were ready to
move against Villa at any time. Pres
ident Wilson was said tonight to re-
sent deeply persistent reports that
the United States expects trouble
from Carranza. There was serious
discussion in official circles today to
stop publication of alarmist'S reports.
MEAT is SHIPPED.
Chicago, March 13.-Orders to ship
100000 rations of meat. weighing
$40, 900 pounds, to the Mexican bOr-
der. were received by Col. A. ID.
Kniskern, acting quartermaster Of
the Central department, U. S. A., here
today, and the first shipment was
made ready with remarkable speed
and shipped tonight.
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! THE WEATHER. .
! For North Dakota: Partly .
:. cloudy Tuesday and Wednes- =