Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-09
DECISION TOPUSH
PURSUIT PLEASES
Army Officers Gratified at the
Denial of Recall
Report.
new BASE PROBABLE
AT SOME TEXAS POINT
Additional Supplies May Be Sent
From 0jinga Over the Trail
Through Chihuahua.

SAN ANlONlO, lex, April 4.
Gen. Funston does not regard
the task set him of breaking up
Villas band or bands" as ac-
complished.
This was made clear at Fort
Sam Houston today when reports
were received that an unofficial
suggestion had been made that
American troops be withdrawn
from Mexico. One phase of the
situation which army officers re-
fuse to discuss, however, is pro-
vision in the War Department or
ders to Gen. Funston which pro-
vides for the removal of the
troops whenever the forces OF
the de facto Mexican government
are able to relieve them of this
work"
Pleased at Secretary's Denial.
Qualification was manifested at Gen.
Funston's headquarters when it was
learned that Secretary Lansing and SEQ
retary Baker had denied the government
was contemplating the withdrawal OF
American troops from Mexico.
| The net result Of the weeks campaign
against Villa. it was pointed out. has
been the killing Of few more than 1bo
of his men and the extension Of line
of American troops approximately 400
miles into Mexico.
Villas organization remains intact. so
far as army officers here know. He has
divided it into smaller units and one of
Guerrero, but there is evidence that the
fugitive cheftain. although perhaps
wounded and possibly travelling on a
stretcher, as stated in some reports. is
yet directing in general way their
movements.
Gen. Pershing Optimistic.
Gen. Pershing's reports. infrequent to
headquarters, continued throughout the
week to indicate the optimism of himself
and his officers that they soon would
overtake Villa Or his main force, but
none of his reports has indicated that
he regarded his task as accomplished.
Instead of anticipat ting early
withdrawal of the troops. Gen. Fun
ston mas planned to stimulate the chase
in every way possible, and, in order to
do this has dailN watched for advices
fro "a = h N Pf
had made il possible to use without
subterfuge at least one of the railroads
extending south from JuareZ. Failure
to get this right. however, and reallz2-
ton of the impra ct ca bility of main
tanning the i00-mile line from Colum-'
bus to the extreme front below Satevo
caused Gen Funston and his stan 10
consider seriously the esta tabilshment OF
a new base at some point on the bor-
der nearer the field OF operations, per-
maps Ojinga. and from there the
tablishment of a new hne OF commu
nication to the south. Cnofficially IT
was intimated that such change OF
base would be suggested TO the war
Department unless permission Tor the
use of the railroads was received soon
Little of what was Transporting s0uth
of Chihuahua was known at Gen. FUN
ston's headquarters today. but no un.
easiness was displayed ana Increased
confidence was manifested.
Believe Villa Will Be overtaken-
This confidence was not dues alto.
sether to the belief that the Ameri-
cans would be able to overtake Villa.
but to the cooperation of Carranzas
forces. who were reported officially by
agents of the Mexican government to
have occupied strategic positions In
the path villa was reported to be fol-
lowing. II the thousands of men Car
rama claimed to have scattered
through the territory In front of villa
can check him in his flight to the
south. II was believed here he might
be brought to a stand.
Gen Pershing was officially report
ed to have left his temporary head
quarters on the San Geronimo ranch
and gone south toward Sateyo, where
the greater part of the 10th Cav
airy is operating. Col. W. c. Brown, at
the head of those troops known 10
be searching every trail and investi-
eating each story as I" the where
abouts of Villa or his followers. Sup
porting forces have been moved for
ward along the line of communications
and in the event of serious engagement
could be sent forward
quickly.
From Columbus to Satevo. Gen. Per-
shipg is known to have maintained
military organization.
Officers at Gen. FunStonS headuuar-
ters were interested today in q re
port from Torreon that a conference
was to be held tomorrow that might
result in the surrender Monday of Gen.
Canuto Reyes. who has been leading
the most formidab BILE band of Villa men
in the vicinity of Torreon. Some ap-
prehension has been felt that Villa
might yet succeed in joining forces
with Reyes. thus making much more
dificult his capture.