South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-07
Bandit Said to Have Gained
Force of 1000 and Now
Awaits to Give u. S.
Men Battle.
BELIEVE PERSHING WILL
AVOID MEXICAN'S TRAP
RumorS That Caranza Will
Demand Recall of Troops
Not Officially Con-
firmed.
International News Service:

4 international news SeTNlCN
Ell PASO, Texas, April T.
Francisco Villa has selected his bat
tie ground near Parral and is await
= ing there with 1000 Of his bandit
followers the American troopers sent
TO effect his capture. This informa-
ton drifted over the border today
while persistent reports were circu-
lated in Fl Paso that the Carranza
government would in the near future
demand the withdrawal of the United
States forces.
The force which Villa joined after
his dash southwark from San Gero-
nimo ranch in the Guerrero district
after his raiders had been soundly
| trounced there by the 7th cavalry.
| is said to be we'll equipped with
rifles and machine guns and to have
! plenty Of ammunition. It is the opin-
ION of military men on the border
that Villa has been attempting to
| lead the American troops into a
trap, but the commanding officers in
the punitive expedition are seasoned
campaigners who won renown in
conflicts with the willy Filipinos and
it is not believed that they will at
tack villa. without sufficient men to
make victory certain
| Reiterated assertions from Car
ranzista officers that they will cap
ture Villa are accepted at their face
value. Villas flight was made
through a district in which Carranza
is supreme. but his troops failed to
prevent the bandits escape.
DissensiOn i'm Ranks.
The Carranza folk themselves ap-
pear to be suffering from internal
dissension. The appointment of Gen.
Pablo Gonzales TO command the Car
ranzistas in the north is held to be
evidence Of this fact. Many Of the
first chiefs other generals have been
jealous Of the growing power Of
Gonzales at Mexico City.
The rumors that the Carranzistas
would ask the withdrawal Of the
American forces were without any
official confirmation. Consul Garcia
| who yesterday advocated such action
/ explained that in his interview he
gave only his private views and did
not speak for the de facto govern
ment. The announcement at Wash
ington that the hunt for Villa would
continue relieved the fear that spread
along the border when Consul Gar
cia's views became known.
Life on the border would be in
tolerable If our troops came back
without getting Villa" said a prom
inent citizen OF Ell Paso today. BE
fore the Columbus massacre the
Mexicans raided our ranches with
impunity and If the murderous ban
dts and their leader escape. con
ditions would become much worse
Americans would be no safer in the
territory near the border than they
would across the line"
Arrest Alleged Spy.
Word reached Fort Bliss early to-
day that '"Tandy'' Sanford, alleged
TO have given TO Villa information
as TO disposition Of the American
troops at Columbus, had been ar
rested in Ascension and that he
would be tried as a Villa spy. Sam
ford lived at Columbus, but is said
20 have crossed the border before
the raid. met Villas band and then
proceeded TO Ascension. where his
fathers home Is located.
| Washington's decision 10 send 10
the Texas border for training the re-
cruits added to the army was re-
ceived with approval at Fort Bliss
AS soon as the rockies" are capable
OF protecting the border the pres
ent regulars protecting the long line
OF frontier will be freed for service
in Mexico Unless Villa is taken at
Parral the forces now in Mexico viii
be too small 10 continue the hunt
and at the same time guard effective
ly against surprise attacks.
villa has been headed straight to-
ward the TorreOn &strict OF Dur
ango. his native state, ever since he
left the border. The Carranza Of
fcials at TOrreon claim that Gen.
Canute Reyes. Villas chief support
er in that region. has offered 20 sur
render. but this statement is re-
ceived with great reservation on the
| border.