Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1916-04-27
TROOPS WILL REMAIN
UNTIL BETTER time
TO PROTECT FRONTIER AGAINST
VILLISTAS
Washington Determined Not to Move
Them Until De Facto Govern
ment Shows Power.
Understood That Carranza VIII BE
Invited to Cooperate More Free
ly in Suppression of Banditry.
RedispOsitiOn of Forces
Recommended by Funston.

formal announcement today that
President Wilson has approved q plan
for the redisposition Of the American
-uI uIBId sBM eI9p oo!X0V II! sdOOq
timation tonight that the Washington
government had determined to maintain
military status qquo beyond the
border until the Mexican de facto gov
erment had demonstrated its ability
to capture or crush Villa and his ad
herents and prevent reppeptltions ot
the Columbus raid.
In the interim it is understood tic
American troops will be so placed as
TO safegard the border towns by VIZ
tually policing the area sou,n oI tnc
line where Gen. Carram~l mas been
heretofore unable to check bandit Op-
erations.
Secretary Baker announced the ap-
proVal Of the redispositiOn plan al
ter consulting with the president to-
day over joint report submitted Dy
Maj. Gen. Funston and Maj. Gen.
Scott, chief Of staff, i'll conference OH
the border. The plan was proposed
by Gen. Funston and concurred i'll by
Gen. Scott. The secretary announced
the Administrations decision as OIL
lows:
For Shift in Lines.
Gen. Funston has recommended a
redisposition Of the forces i'll Mexico
/ for the purpose Of recuperatiOn ANA
pending opportunities for further CO.
operation with the forces OF the de
facto government Of Mexico. The re-
Recommendation ha>-beerT "nnprcycG and
its execution left to his discretion" b"
Later the secretary dictated the fol
lowing:
The statement l have made indi-
Gates nothing whatever Oh the sub
| ject Of when the American troops Will
be withdrawn from Mexico. 1ne
whole subject Of withdrawal of the
forces is under arrangement and ne-
{ gotiation by the state department"
Mr.. Baker declined to say whether
cluded his previous suggestions that
the border base be shifted from Co.
lumDuS in order to- shorten the line
Of communication. He stated posi-
lively, however, that no additional
regiments had been ordered TO the
border and that no such order WaS IL
contemplation. The secretary made
it clear also that military officials OF
the government were not considering
the question Of withdrawal IrWu
Mexico, that matter being solely III
the hands Of the state department.
1t was announced tonight that Gen.
Scott had completed his mission to
the border and would return 10 Wash
ingtOn in few days.
Pursuit at StandStul,
The new military plan leaves the
pursuit of Villa ut staudstilL buy
frees Gen. FunstOns hands 10 make
the position of the forces III Mexico
secure by grouping them i'll posts -
such strength as 20 protect them from
attack by irresponsible clements oI
the de facto governments forces. Il
also will serve as n palm warning to
Gen. Carranza that lie must bend
every effort toward getting complete
control of the territory south Of the
most advanced American pos. il lie
hopes to have the troops recalled.
During the rearrangenieut ii the
line, at least, there will be opp0rtuni-
ty for the state department to make
counterproposals to Gen. CarramZa urs-
ing greater cooperation as means
to sause early withdrawal. The hall
will also give the men and horses Ot
the American flying columns cDahce
for much needed rest.
With the troops concentrated III
positions where they can cOntlUl the
entire situation in the territory around
them if the need arises, it may De
argued to Gen. CarranZa that they
form wall against which he can
drive the bandits form the South,
The intimation would be that either
this must be done or Carranza forces
themselves must crash out all brigan-
dage before withdrawal of the Amer
lean force could be arranged for.
To Withdraw Somewhat.
1t is possible that to avoid the pos
sibility Of clashes such aS that 4 Par
al the new American bases will be es-
tablished at points somewhat north Of
the pserent most advanced positions.
A minor withdrawal, il was said, might
aid Gen. Carranza In granting the ad-
ditional cooperation which will be SUI
sestsd.
It is know that the possibility Of
asking Gen, Obregon, Carranza war
minister, to come to the border for q