The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-11
BY L. ID. JOHNS.

That Carranza is either powerless or
unwilling to support the American troops
in the campaign against Villa was the
firm conviction of the authorities at the
War Department yesterday. The failure
OF the CarranZa troops on the Mexican
side to even notify the American troops
of the approach Of Villa was an indica-
ton of treachery or cowardice.
As soon as Villas troops appeared on
the Mexican side the Carranza forces
across from Columbus disappeared and
have not been heard from since. Further
than this neither the State Department
nor the War Department have any assur-
anCes of support from Carranza. Even
IL Carranza should attempt to cooperate
with the American troops 1t is feared
that his forces would desert him and
Join the Villa forces. Some of the of1cers
on duty at the department who have
served on the border have absolutely no
confidence in Carranza and believe that
he will join Villa before he will support
the American troops.
This condition and the order from the
White House that the expedition shall be
entirely friendly aid of the constituted
authorities in Mexico" makes the prep
aration of plans for the expedition very
difficult problem If the General Stan was
ordered to pacify the entire country II
would be ready to submit plans to the
Secretary of War and the President this
evening All the orders for such
mobilization and the organization of the
forces were prepared when the second
division was sent to the border. They
have been kept up to date by the War
College and were ready for the Presl-
dents and Secretary Of Wars signature
yesterday.
But the President has limited the War
Department to a punitive expedition. Just
of what this will consist will be deter
mined by the events in Mexico in the
next few days. The Secretary of War
early yesterday morning wired Gen
Funston for his recommendation. In his
first reply to the Secretary Gen. Funston
made an appeal to the Secretary not
to give out the plans of the campaign
which he intends to conduct against
Villa AS he is in the field Gen. Funston
probably will be given the authority to
plan the expedition and the General STAFF
will cooperate with him in furnishing
the necessary troops to carry it out.
May Be Guerrilla Fighting.
1t is recognized that the campaign to
capture Villa is apt to develop into an
ugly guerilla warfare. Villa is expected
to fee to the foothills of the mountains
where he can intrench himself in an al
most impregnable position. Gen. Funston
is confronted with the problem of sweep
ing the plains to the mountains and t
is believed that he will divide his forces
into three commands. One command
probably will c started from Fort Bliss,
Tex. which is about seventy-fve miles
from Columbus. The other command or
left wing will invade Mexico from Doug
las Arizona The center will be com
posed of force that is launched from
Columbus.
Early in the day Gen. Funston advised
the War Department that he had ordered
a battalion of infantry from Fort Bliss
to Columbus. After this the censors be-
came busy and the plans for further
of the troops were not given
out at the department In fact it is
whether Gen. Funston will put
on the wires any further information as
to the movement of troops along the Dor
der. HIS request for secrecy will doubt
lessly be observed at the War Depart
ment and only the results of his campaign
will be made public.
Before the new movement of troops was
inaugurated there was stationed at Fort
Bliss the, Ninth Cavalry, less troops I,
K and M; the Seventh and Twentieth reEi-