The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-19
GENERAL PERSH|NG WILL CHANGEPLANS + II IS NECESSARY Will Alter Methods of Pur- suit if Villa Continues
 His Flight
TENSION LESSENS AT
 FUNSTON'S QUARTERS
Had Anticipated That Pershing Would Not Pass Through Mexican Town Unless OrcedTo-UnusuaI Quan-
 titles of Ammunition Imported

San Antonio. March 1S.-Failure by than 1000 troops are marching, to make a stand and fight before the end of next week will radically alter the methods so far employed by Gen. John J. Pershing, commander of the expedition
 This was learned at Fort Sam Hous- ton here today, but what General Pershing's plan is has not been re- vealed and will not be if Gen. Fred erick Funston, department commander, can prevent it.
 When General Pershing led the ex- peditionary force over the boundary line into Mexico the juncture of troops which has taken place near Casas Grandes was planned with little ex- pectation that Villa would be sighted before this time. It was realized that the only chance for the Americans to catch him at that stage of the oper- ations was that he would gather his forces and resist their advance.
 NOT SHOT FIRED .
 l., according to General Funston's reports. not shot was fired at the invaders.
 If General Pershing's scouts have brought him information as to Villas exact location it is said that the fact is not known at general headquarters here. There is reason to believe how ever. that Villa has retreated as the Americans advanced and that now he is somewhere in the Ga1eana district south of Casas Grandes, in the en- Virons where a cavalry force under Colonel Dodd rested today One report received by General Funston from Chi huahua indicated that he was at Col onia Gracias with about 400 men, but most of those reporting contented themselves by placing him fin the mountains from 50 to 100 miles south of Casas Grandes."
 Unofficial reports that General Pershing did not insist upon sending his advance cavalry force into Casas Grandes after General Gavira had in timated such entry would meet with resistance lowered the tension at Gen eral Funston's headquarters General Funston was convinced that General Pershing would not pass his troops through any Mexican town unless he regarded it as a military necessity.
 General Pershing continued his re- ports of routinte development of the plan, none of his reports dealing with any unexpected or unusual incident
 SUGGESTS HOME GUARDS
 General Funston has replied to pe- ttoners from scores of towns in Texas where the inhabitants wanted troops for protection. that it would be impossible to grant their wishes. In all cases he suggested that if they felt the need of protection it might be well if they were to organize local defense forces
 Unusual activity displayed by the de facto government of Mexico in adding to it's stores of ammunition is shown in reports from customs offices at bor- der ports of entry. According to these reports and to information secured by army officers, shipments of rifle am intuition in carload lots by express have become common in the past three weeks. Much of the new ammunition entered at points on the New Mexico and Arizona border and was supposed to be intended for the troops in So- nora. Since the Columbus raid 3,0O0,- 900 rounds passed through the GUS tom house at Laredo and it is esti- mated that there now is more small arm material in Mexico than there has been for many years.
 Members of the local automobile club called a meeting for next week to as- certain how many members will prom ise to turn over their automobiles and provide drivers in case desired by the war department.