The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-27
LACK OF SUPPLIES
Road Almost impossible.

wheels to the front. Speaking of
transportation difficulties, General
Funston said:
Road Almost impossible.
1.-The road between the border and
Casas Grandes has become well nigh
impossible. Torn up by thousands of
trucks, motorcycles and horses, the
sand has become SO deep as to make
this means of supply transportation
too slow to be of much Value
General Funston reported members
of the expeditionary forces suffering
from cold. "Clad lightly for the desert
heat" he said, "our troops are now
actually suffering from the extreme
cold of the mountain country"
In Race With Villa.
Ell Paso, March 27.-Pursuit of
Francisco Villa had developed today
into a race between cavalrymen of
the United States and the fleeing ban
can ponies. According to dispatches
from the front, Villa has completely
broken through the Carranza troops
and is fleeing southwark with the
American troopers straining every
nerve to catch up with him before he
reaches the forbidding mountain
wastes of his haunts in the Guerrero
district.
The one hope of a speedy termina-
ton to the chase is that the flight of
the bandits will be checked by starva-
ton and exhaustion of their ponies.
Villa is almost destitute of both sup
plies and ammunition. Dead and dy-
ing horses found along his trail give
mute testimony to his desperate haste
and need.
Once safely in the midst of Sierra
Tarahumares the task of running the
bandit to his lair will have become one
of tremendous difficulty. This coun-
try is inhabited by Tarahumare In
dams, one of the most distinctive
tribes in Mexico. An American who
owns a ranch at Onaro in the heart of
the district and who has lived there
forty years gave this description of
Tarahumares today:
Describes Desert
These Indians" he said, have
some of the finest and worst qualities
of any Mexican aborigines. If you
treat them fairly they will stand by
you to the last gasp. They are
punctiliously honest and very indus
trious. The country in which they live
is one of the widest on earth. The
peaks of the Sierras rise in con-
fused tumble with no roads and only
the vaguest of trails. Well as l know
that country 1 never ventured far from
the trail from my ranch to the rail-
road without an Indian guide. The
mountains are all of volcanic origin
and devoid of vegetation. Here and
humares farm but they are hidden
away at the entrances to mighty can
yons and a man might wander in the
wastes until he died of exhaustion Ind
thirst before he found one.
Trust Indian Guides.
"As an indication of the honesty Of
the Tarahumares ' might mention
that no bullion tram ever leaves the
Guerrero region without a Tarahu-
mare guide and guard. The mining
men will trust no others. They rely
on the honor of the Tarahumares AMI
their faith has never been betrayed.
sfBut there is another side of the
Indians To the man who Injuries or
betrays them they are most savage
and relentless foes. They will fight
like fiends and have the most extracr-
binary powers of endurance and when
their passions are aroused are devil
ish in their cruelty
ut is among these people, among
whom his early days as a bandit we're
passed, that Villa hopes to take refuge.
among them because at the outset of
his career he enacted a Robin Hood
role. only robbing the rich and posing
as the friend of the poor peon with
whom he divided his spoiis.'
Carranzistas Desert?
The most unwelcome news that has
reached the border since pursuit of
the bandits began was contained a
half the Carranza garrison at Nami-
quipa had disappeared and that it was
expected some of them at least have
Joined Villa The fact that this news
was passed by the censor was regarded
as significant.