River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1916-04-20
STATE AND WAR DEPARTMENT.
AT WASHINGTON UNABLE TO
VERIFY DISPATCHES FROM
MEXICAN SOURCES.
STORY OF FINDING OF BODY
is DOUBTED I'M MEXICO CITY
Six Bandits Who Confess to Having
Taken Part in Raid on Columbus,
NJ. M, Are Captured and Sent
for Trial by New Mexican
Officials.

Mexico City, April 18.-During the
day no messages have reached Mexi-
co City tending to confirm the report
of the finding of the body of Villa and
the general disposition in official cir
cles is to discredit the report.
EI Paso, April 18.-ln answer to
telegram asking if he could verify
the report that the body of Villa had
been found, American Consul Letch-
or at Chihuahua City wired:
Nothing heard of matter here"
Washington, April 18-Confrmation
of the death of Francisco Villa still
is lacking both at the state and war
departments and at the Mexican en-
bassy. The only dispatch from Amer
lean sources in Mexico tending to
lend color to the report was a brief
statement from Major Howe, of the
Eleventh cavalry, now near Parral,
that he had information which led him
to believe that the bandit and a small
party of his followers had fled some
days ago toward San Borja, which is
close to the place where unofficial
Mexican reports say the body was
found
Six Columbus Raiders Held.
The outstanding feature of the
days messages from the border were
reports to the war department that six
Mexicans who confessed to having
taken part in the raid on Columbus,
n. NJ, had been captured and sent to
Columbus for trial by the New Next
co state authorities. Another official
report relieved anxiety as to the sup
ply problem for the troops at the
front. 1t said the forces now were
fully supplied, with the exception of
a small shipment of horse shoes and
clothing, which would go forward at
once.
Gasoline Supply on Hand.
An ample supply of gasoline was on
hand, the message said, for the mo-
tor trucks and aeroplanes
The body supposed to be that of
Villa was said by the last Mexican re-
ports to be en- route to Chihuahua
City. 1t was pointed out at the war
department, however, that the point
where it was found was nearly two
days journey by wagon from the rail
road. That may account for delay in
obtaining confirmation or denial Of the
report that the bandits career has
ended.
Might Accept Carranza's Word.
If General Funston and General
Pershing have taken any steps to
make certain the Identification of the
body, they have done so on their own
initiative. No instructions to that end
have been sent from Washington
either to consuls or military command
ers.
This fact may be significant of the
attitude of the state department. 1t
was intimated that the United States
government might be willing to accept
a formal declaration from General
Carranza that Villa had been killed
and order the recall of the troops.
Baker Shows His Doubts.
Senator Stone, chairman of the Sen
ate foreign relations committee, after
a brief conference with Secretary
Baker expressed the view that the
Carranza authorities hardly could
have any object in circulating report
of Villas death unless they believed
1t to be true. He agreed with Secre-
tary Baker and other officials, how
ever, in accepting the reports of the
finding of Villas body with utmost
caution.
Mr.. Baker took no pains to hide his
doubts, although he expressed fervent
hopes that it should prove true
1t is generally admitted that every
day that the troops remain in Mexico
increases the possibility of serious
clashes.