The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-14

 supply train, an innovation in the United States army 1t was stated. Motor transportation of supplies was deemed necessary by General Funston, as, after the expedition gets well on it's way, it probably will be far from any railroad Word was received today that the war department had authorized the purchase of 54 trucks to be organized into a com plete supply train.
 The train will be divided into two com panies, each with 54 trucks. One company will be supplied with four-wbeel driven motors and the other with .Jaster.and lighter machines
 For the present the train will be manned by civilians
 The motor train will have an important bearing on the expeditions success, Gen eral Funston said Once away from rail- roads, great quantities of provisions, for age and ammunition will be needed, and even water. The motor train will carry these supplies
 Two hundred horses also are to be pur- chased at once to complete the cavalry quota of mounts
 LACK OF CARS
 It became known today that lack of rolling stock, particularly in Arizona and New Mexico, has hindered troop move ments.
 Sometimes we have not been able to get any help from the railroads Gen. eral Funston said. 'Tn many instances we nave had to ship men in box cars''
 It was not the intentional fault of the railroads that we were thus crippled. They have been willing to give us all the help they could. They simply haven't had sufficient rolling stock for us. You couldn't expect, of course, that they would have many cars lying idle down in that country
 If we did not have to transport so much cavalry-if this had been merely an Infantry movement-we would have been right on Villas heels from the very start"
 Reports reaching General Funston late today indicated that difficulty of trans portation might be added to by efforts of Villa sympathizers along the border to destroy the lines of communication.
 Word came from Alpine, Tex. that six Mexicans attempted last night to hold up train bearing Ambulance company ' and Hospital company Mo- ', en route from Fort Sam Houston to El Paso. The attempt was frustrated when the engi- neer sighted the Mexicans along the track and stopped his train The Mex jeans fled, but three were captured.
 TO ILLUSTRATE ATTEMPT
 Steps have been taken to frustrate any similar attempts. It will be impossible to patrol the long lines of communication between the various stations, however. General Funston said. This will have to be largely left to the railroad com panies.
 General Funston said trains bearing troops probably will be preceded by pilot engines in certain sections
 General Funston expressed the opinion that the agreement of the United States government to allow Carranza soldiers to cross the border in pursuit of bandits under certain conditions will do much toward al,aying feeling south of the boundary
 While there has been intense excite ment at points along the Mexican side of the border. there has been no outbreak of any sort" General Funston said.
 A quantity of supplies, including canned goods. was shipped from Fort Sam Hous- ton today. At the quartermaster's depart ment 1t was said that part of the sup plies was to so to El Paso.
 STUDENT OFFICERS LEAVE
 Junction City, Kan. March 13.-Tour- teen student officers of the Mounted Service school left Fort Riley today for the border to join the six cavalry regi- ments.
 CARRANZISTAS CONCENTRATE Douglas, Ariz.. March 13.-Betwecn 100 and 800 Carranza soldiers left Agua. Prieta. across the border from here to-
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