Norwich bulletin., 1916-03-30

army's most serious problems in
hunting Villa was solved today when |
General Carranza promptly granted
the renewed request Of the state de- |
partment for permission to use the
Mexican Northwestern railroad in car
rying out the pursuit.
carranza's Answer Was Prompt.
General Carranza received the new
request this morning; his answer was
in Washington before dark 1t was
contained in a brief message from
John L Rodgers, special agent Of the
United states at Queretaro. saying the
mead OF de facto government agreed
TO the commercial use Of the line. Of
ucialS here assumd he would be equal
ly prompt in notifying his officers on
the border and that General Funston
might begin shipment tomorrow.
Pay Commercial Rates.
Although the army will proceed to
use the railroad on a commercial
basis, which is construed here as
meaning that all service shall be paid
IoF at regular rates. the state depart
ment will negotiate further with Car
rama to bring about a more complete
understanding as to just what he has
agreed to- Today's response is re-
garded as being satisfactory in a
measure, but It is not suficiently def
mite II may be, too, that in order to
assure the arrival and delivery of sup
plies shipped TO points along the line
General Funston will desire to place
guards on the trains.
War department officials were Creat-
ly relieved by the removal Of the ne
| eessity of maintaining a motor truck
supply line over desert roads for a dis
A cloudburst or great storm might
A coludburst or great storm might
render the roads impossible for n
| considerable space of time cutting Off
| the troops from their source of sup
plies at the border.
While the physical condition Of the
Mexican Northwestern is not good
many bridges having been DESTROYED
| during the years of revolution in Mex
| leo. army engineers should have little
difficulty in keeping it open.
Details of Protocol to be Worked Out
Aside from the railroad problem,
| details OF the protocol suggested by
! General Carranza remain to be worked
| out through diplomatic channels State
| department officials indicate, however
that there is no reason for haste in
| this cOnenction. AS vas the case when
| American troops crossed into Mexico
| in pursuit of Geronimo, the Apache
| outlaw, years ago, the formal agree
ment may not be completed until the
| eNpecluOn has accomplished its pur-
! pose and returned. II will serve, how
| ever. as the legal basis for the adjust
ment of all claims arising out of the
use OF American troops to pursue Villa
| In Mexico the agreement is under
| stood to have another object. General
CarTanza is said to desire its perfec-
tion as a definite and binding under
standing with the United States
which he can show to his people in
support of his statement that no SOW
ereign right of his country has been
surrendered or violated.
No Military News From the Border.
There was nc military news today
from the border or from the expedi-
tionary columns General Pershing's
reports to General Funston have been
very brief and IL has been only the
important dispatches from the front
that have been forwarded to the war
department. Officials viewed with
satisfaction, however, press reports
saying that American troopers were
pressing close on the bandits heels.
| No officer, here would hazard an
opinion as to how long the chase
might take. Lacking knowledge of the
local conditions or of General Per-
shinE's plans, they said il was i'm
possible to predict when or where it
might end.
Medical officers were inclined to
discredit reports of extensive sickness
among the troops at the front. The
region in which they are operating is
described as healthful and the men OF
the expeditionary force are thoroughly
acclimated- No reports of casualties
or epidemics have been received be-
yond the terse messages today saying
that a trooper OF the Tenth Cavalry
had died as a result of injuries re-
ceived in n train wreck
| General Funston has not asked for
any extension of his base hospital IA
cilities. Plans for addition wards for
the hospital at Fort Bliss have been
prepared for some time, but the work
has not been authorized. It was said
remodeling of barracks at the fort
might be in progress during the alb
sence Of troops. This might have led.
officers said, to reports II was being
enlarged. Nothing has been heard
here OF a heavy movement of sick or
Injured men to Fort Bliss.
Quiet In All Districts.
A state department summary OF
dispatches today reported quiet in all
districts heard from. There are
twenty Americans in Durango and ter
more in the outlying districts Of that
IAN are reported to be wen." the
statement said. There are eighteen
Americans in the Saltillo district where
railway communication is opn in al
directions and big radio plant in op-
Grafton.
General Trevino returned to Tor.
reon on March 2s" the statement
added, "and II IS reported he will in
stitute an energetic campaign agains
. the iawless element IN the Laguna re-
gfon."
: SUPPLIES FOR AMERICAN
! TROOPS IN MEXICO