Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-12
FUNSTON NOW ARRANGING
FOR PURSUIT OF VILLA
Two or Three Days Probably VIII
BE Required to Organize
Expedition.
BORDER CLOSELY GUARDET
Utmost Secrecy Regarding Exact Des.
tination OF Troops Maintained.
First Aero Squadron VIII Re
Part OF Force.

! SAN ANTONIO, TEX. March lin
Washington that he vas not TO per-
sonally command the troops that Will
cross the Rio Grande into Mexico to
search for Francisco Villa, Major
General Frederick Funston to-day be-
gan to arrange the details OF tho eX-
pedition and 10 plan for the safeguard :
/ ing OF the entire Mexican border
! During the day the general con-
! ferred frequently with his staff at Fort
Sam Houston. Southern department
. headquarters. AS close censorship was
/ established. however. all announce
ments were made by General Funston
himself.
From General Funston came this In
formation: An officer subordinate to
him, brigadierceneral. will COM
mand the punitive expedition
This officer will have complete charge
In the field and will not be hampered
by unnecessary instructions.
!. will take two or three days to
organize the force or forces that Will
20 in pursuit of Villa
The First Aero Squadron, stationed
at Fort Sam Houston, will be a part
y close watch Will he kent AT all
border points for any symptoms OF
disorder that will necessitate tho move
ment of troops.
General Funston, for military rea
sons, refused to state how large tho
cXpcditionary force would be: tho time
the forward movement would start:
whether there would be one or several
I ha
which the Rio Grande would be crossed
when the search began.
BEST To KEEP FUNSTON
At HIS HEAD0TAnTERS
II was known yesterday that Cen
eral Funston was willing 10 personally
lead the force searching for Villa IL
was explained here. however. that the
War Department thought II hest TO
keep General Funston at Southern de-
partnent headquarters. where he would
hc In touch with and could direct the
entire border situation. If there should
be more than one cXpeditionary force,
tho common direction will fall 10 him
Another reason assigned was that
! the entire routine OF the Southern de-
partment would he interrupted il the
commanding general were in the field.
Gcrcral Funston also said his place
probably would have had TO he filled
by an officer OF lesser rank not In touch
with the hordcr situation
II is expected. however, that General
Funston VIII make frequent visits 10
the positions occupied hy the invading
troops.
The movement OF troops from dc.
mcnts other than that commanded
by General Funston toward the hor-
der. already has been initiated. il 10
understood. The amalEamation OF scat
tered fragments of regiments. trans
portation. the equipment of the com
missary and other details would re-
qmire, II was estimated by the general,
at least two. and probably three days.
All such troops will he transported
directly 10 the border
The utmost secrecy regarding their
exact destination will he maintained
General Funston has insisted on his
prccautlon TO the War Department. in
order that Villa may he kept as much
n the dark as possible.
Army officers at Fort Sam Houston
believe tho border IS infested with
Mcxicans friendly TO Villa. who Will
do all in their power 70 keep him in
formed.
CHASE MAY BE SIMILAR
TO ONE AFTER AGuINAIDO
Estimates ot the time required 20
capture the former Constitutionalist
leader are unobtainabIc. but there ia 3,
feeling at southern Department head
quarters that the chase would he simi
Continued on Fifth Pusc.)