Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-04-04
VILLA RETREAT|NG
! TOWARD S|ERRAS
BANDIT is DRIVEN TO FOOTHILLS
BY RAPIDLY MOVING
U. S. TROOPS.
EARLY CAPTURE IN DOUBT
II Is Feared Outlaw and His Followers
Will Have Little Difficulty in
Keeping Ahead of Pur-
suing Americans.

(By wireless to Columbus, n. NJ,
March 28.-Villa is flying southwest
toward the foothills Of the Sierras.
According to army reports received
here on Monday, the rapidity of his
flight is precipitating the American
pursuit. All arms of the service are
being used in an attempt to force the
bandit into a corner.
The Mexican residents of this sec
tion, which has been ravaged time
and time again by Villa bandits, are
freely giving information concerning
his flight, supplies, armament and
strength, to the American military au-
thorities. While much of this lnfor-
nation has been too indefinite to be of
value it is presumed that the knowl-
edge that the Americans are kept in
formed as to his movements, has in
fuenced the bandit chieftain to the
greatest haste in his retreat.
Although he United States troops
are following closely in his wake, so
far, it is stated, no fighting has taken
place.
meEtCanS Ala villa.
Sen Antonio, Tex, March 28.-Fran-
cisco Villas escape from the region
about Namiquipa was preceded by
smart defeat administered by him to
a part of the Mexican government
troops and was unopposed by other
attachments of the de factO govern
ment forces, according to the unOffi-
cial but credible reports reaching here
On Monday.
The Gordon of Mexican troops that
the Mexican authorities announced
had been drawn across his path, gave
way, according to these reports, with
a willingness that indicated their CO.
operation with him rather than with
the American forces.
Army men at department headquaT-
tiers were inclined to believe reports
of inefficiency and half-hearted coop
Grafton and on Monday contemplated
with speculative eye the probable flu
ture of the second phase of operations
just inaugurated by the commander
of the punitive expedition.
Chief Has Advantage.
1t was realized here that the early
capture of Villa would be little better
than an accident With their knowl-
edge of the country and with the as
sistance they can obtain along their
route, Villa and his followers, it is
feared will have no difficulty in keep
ing ahead of the pursuing Americans.
That Villa will be able to effect
juncture with a considerable force be-
fore he is brought to a stand again is
regarded at headquarters here as
probable. Canute Reyes, one of his
generals, who has been operating in
the vicinity of Torreon, is known to
have an exceedingly mobile force that
is by no means negligible and in the
state of Durango it is said the Arrieta
brothers are in position to move
northward to his support.
Unofficial observers have offered a
theory regarded as somewhat fanciful
by American military men, however,
that Villa, after joining these and 9th
ers, will continue his movement to
the south with the hope of gathering
strength as he goes, and, with Zapata
and other enemies of the CarranZa
government, attempt once more to
gain possession of Mexico City.
Want Rail Facilities.
FL PasO, Tex, March 2S.-With the
conviction that the chase of Francisco
Villa was going to prove a long and
tedious one, attention here was turned
once more Monday night on the rail
road 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 Gen. Carranza for the use of the
Mexican railroads, 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 mat the
present system of motor transporta-
tiOn across the Chihuahua desert has
proved entirely inadequate ana as
Gen. Pershings columns push further
into the desolation of western Chihua-
hua the problem of getting supplies is
growing acute.
The advance corps of the expedi-
tionary force is now we'll over $50
miles from the frontier and every day