Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1916-03-31
VILLA RETREATING
TOWARD S|ERRAS
BANDIT is DRIVEN TO FOOTHILLS
BY RAPIDLY MOVING
U. S. TROOPS.
EARLY CAPTURE IN DOUBT
1t Is Feared Outlaw and His Followers
viii Have Little Difficulty in
Keeping Ahead of Pur-
suing Americans.

Casas Grandes, chihuahua, Mex,
(By wireless TO Columbus, N. M,
March 2S-Villa is flying southwest
toward the foothills of the Sierras
According to army reports received
here on Monday, the rapidity of his
flight is precipitating the American
pursuit. All arms of the service are
being used in an attempt to force the
bandit into a corner.
The Mexican residents of this sec
ton, which has been rayaged time
and time again by Villa bandits, are
freely giving information concerning
his fight, supplies, armament and
strength, to the American military au-
thorities. While much of this infor-
nation has been too indefinite to be of
value it is presumed that the knowl
edge that the Americans are kept in
formed as to his movements, has in
fiuenced the bandit chieftain to the
greatest haste in his retreat.
Although the United States troops
are following closely in his wake, so
far, it is stated, no fighting has taken
place.
MeXicans Aid Villa.
San Antonio, Tex, March 2S.-Fran-
cisco Villas escape from the region
about Namiquipa was preceded by a
smart defeat administered by him to
a part of the Mexican government
troops and was unopposed by other
detachments of the de facto govern
ment forces, according to the unoffi-
cial but credible reports reaching here
on Monday
The Gordon of Mexican troops that
the Mexican authorities announced
had been drawn across his path, gave
way, according to these reports, with
a willingness that indicated their CO
operation with him rather than with
the American forces.
Army men at department headquar-
tiers We're inclined to believe reports
of inefiiciency and half-hearted coop
Grafton and on Monday contemplated
with speculative eye the probable flu.
ture of the second phase of operations
just inaugurated by the commander
of the punitive expedition.
Chief Has Advantage.
1t was realized here that the early
capture of Villa would be little better
than an accident With their knowl
edge of the country and with the as
sistance they can obtain along their
route, Villa and his followers, it is
feared will have no difficulty in keep
ing ahead of the pursuing Americans
That Villa will be able to effect q
juncture with a considerable force be
fore he is brought 10 a stand again is
regarded at headquarters here as
probable. Canute Reyes, one of his
generals, who has been operating in
the vicinity Of Torreon. is known tc
have an exceedingly mobile force that
is by no means negligible and in the
state of Durango it is said the Arrieta
brothers are in position to move
northward to his support.
Unofficial observers have offered a
theory regarded as somewhat fancifu
by American military men, however
that Villa. after joining these and 9th
ers, will continue his movement tC
the south with the hope of gathering
strength as he goes, and, with Zapata
and other enemies of the Carranza
government, attempt once more tC
gain possession of Mexico City.
Want Rail Facilities.
FL Paso, Tex, March 28.-With the
conviction that the chase of Francisco
Villa was going to prove a long anC
tedious one, attention here was turned
once more Monday night on the rail
road situation, Dispatches from Wash
ington and San Antonio, showing tina
the United States military authoritie.
were becoming increasingly impatien
for the completion of arrangement.
with Gen. Carranza for the use of tn,
Mexican railroads, confirmed the be
lief held here for the last week tina
the railroad problem was the presen
crux of the situation.
Army officers here privately admi
that the question of getting adequate
supplies to the forces at the front i
growing serious. They say that tn
present system of motor transporta
ton across the chihuahua desert ha
proved entirely inadequate and a
Gen. Pershing's columns push furthe
into the desolation of western Chihua
hua the problem of getting supplies i
growing acute.
The advance corps of the exped
tionary force is now we'll over 25
miles from the frontier and every da,
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