The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1916-03-13
DANCER DELAYS
PURSUIT OF VILLA
Situation A.:c3y BoT1ar flinders
Troop Concentration
PEOPLE FEAR An UPRISING
General Funston Says Task Will be a
Long Ore and Time Will be Taken
for Sufficient Preparation.

Long ore ana ime VIII pe dNen
for Sufficient Preparation.
San Antonio, Tex, March 13.-It be
came known that the plans for the
campaign against Francisco Villa
| have been affected by the border situ
| alton elsewhere than at Columbus. N.
M.
The situation, it is said, is so impor.
tant as to have hindered rapid con
| centration of the punitive expedition
that will go after the perpetrator OF
| the Columbus outrage.
Great excitement has been noted, Ii
lis authoritatively stated, in the Car
| the Arizona border town Of that name,
and at Piedras Negras, which fronts
Eagle Pass, Tex, from across the Rio
Grande.
1--WE do not ourselves know just
| when the expedition that will search
for Villa will start into Mexico, al.
though, of course, it will be soon.
at will go forward just as soon as a
sufficient force with an adequate com.
| missary can be organized. 1t will not
be held back, however, until all the
troops now ordered to the border have
arrived"
This was the statement of Major
General Frederick Funston, while he
! was outlining at Fort Sam Houston
as closely as military expediency
would permit plans that will be direct
ed against the Mexican leader.
He added there is no use going at
this thing half-cocked. The task ahead
of us will be long and anxious one.
The uneasiness along the border has
extended to the large Mexican popula-
tion on the American side. Troops
now stationed on the border towns
are sufficient to cope with any situa-
tion that may arise, General Funston
says. However, as it is his intention
to use these troops in the search for
Villa, and as they cannot be moved
until other detachments arrive to sue.
ceed them on the border patrol com.
plete organization of the expedition.
ary force has been delayed.
Army circles feel bound to respect
the fear of residents in American bor-
der towns that, Notwithstanding as
surances from General Carranza's rep
resentatives uprisings may follow the
actual occupation. of Mexican territory
by American soldiers. 1t Is felt that
the welfare of the border cannot be
sacrificed to the doubtful success of
a hasty and, therefore, unprepared
pursuit Of the fugitive Villa.
Speaking regarding the course the
campaign will take, General Funston
said:
There will be more than o~n ex.
peditionary force, although l not
at liberty to say how many Or from
what points they will start They
may make simultaneous entries into
Mexico, or they may be sent forward
at intervals. They may all leave from
the same. point or they may depart
from different points.
"All this will be left to the discre.
ton of the expeditionary command.
er, who will have complete charge of
all the forces in the field I don't be-
Heve in swivel chair campaigning.
Necessarily, the campaign will de.
velop new situations and the disposal
Of the troops is contingent upon these
developments.
"Of course, the expedition will not
await the arrival at the border Of I'll
the troops now being despatched from
other department stations. 1t will be
gotten under way just as soon as pos
sible and as other troops arrive they
will be sent forward as reinforce
ments.
''El Paso, naturally, will be the base
of supplies for our army. Ell Paso will
be supplied through Fort Sam Hous-
ton, San Antonio"
The general explained that the first
aero squadron and the regular scouts
of the army will not do all of the
scouting for the expedition.