Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-27
$50 Miles from Border


Already they are almost $50 miles
south of the border and unless Mexican
forces bring the elusive bandit to a
stand this distance will be greatly in
creased by the close of the week. Vii
las success in extricating himself from
the dangerous position into which he
had been driven by the American
punitive force was related in a de-
tailed report by Gen. Pershing that
reached Gen. Funston here today.
General Funston forwarded the report
to Washington without making public
any but the essential features
Col. Dodd Heads Pursuit
Col. Dodd is commanding the ad-
vanced columns that are riding hard
after Villa and his men. and Gen.
Pershing has divided his forces so as
to provide supporting columns along
the thinly stretched lines of commu
nication from his most advanced base
at Ell Vale. From Ell Vale another
line is being maintained back to Casas
Grandes, from where communication
with the border is maintained. Gen.
Pershing himself is somewhere south
of Casas Grandes directing the work
Of holding together his forces and di-
recting so far as possible the opera
tions of Col. Dodd. Cavalry is being
used along the lines communicating
with FL Vale. where detachment of
infantry is stationed. Three aeroplanes
scouting as soon as the high winds
which have been sweeping that part
of Mexico for almost a week subside.
These winds. according to Gen. Pers-
ing, have made effective assistance by
The aeroplanes impossible. OF the eight
machines that went into Mexico two
are still out from Columbus to Casas
Grandes.
Namiquipa Details Lacking
Details of the operations about Namis
uuipa that concluded with the escape
Of villa were not revealed. but there
is little reason to believe that he was
badly whipped or even weakened by
the fighting directed against him by
the de facto government troops.
Reports last week from Mexican
indicated that it had been Sc
yerely defeated by the Carranza forces
and fe W reports stated that the Am
arican troops had participated in the
action. 1t now appears that no Ameri-
nx,
fact that Villa made his way through
what was described as an enc1rcilng
line Of Mexican troops. was taken TO IN
licate that he was the victor.
Unless fresh Mexican forces are sent
to meet Villa there appears no reason
why he should not make his way I'M
into the mountains or the
Guerrero district. towards which he APP
oears to be moving. Once there II is
his capture will be dlfncult
md should he choose to pass through
the district on into the south there are
rails over which he might move MS
little army until juncture Is mace !
with one or more Of his rowing organ-
cations in southern Chihuahua or north
,rn Durango.
70 Villa moves into the districts further
i
,ov+b military men realize that the prob
EN- of capturing him will become many
INES more complex. More troops will be
necessary and their provisioning by way
Il country roads will become practically
IN impossibility.
Fifty more auto trucks went into ser |
ice today along the line between Column |
,us and Casas Grandes and q more were
.enorted to be on their way from the |
actory, but with this increase in the mo-
i've power of the transportation division
,ad weather and heavy roads make I'M
certain that method of getting supplies |
o the front, in the opinion Of officers
onnected with the quartermaster depart |
nent.
TIE escape Of villa and his renewed !
light toward the south, they say. make !
he use Of at least one of the railroads
md possibly both from Juarez to Chihua- |
,ua almost essential to the success Of the !
hase.