The Elbert County tribune., 1916-04-14


San Antonio, Tex, April 12.-News
from the front indicating contact with
the Villa troops was awaited with
anxiety at headquarters by Gen. Fun
ston, who realized fully the dangerous
position in which the commanding Of
ficers of the cavalry detachments be-
yond Satevo had placed themselves.
Ell Paso.-To keep pace with the
rapidly lengthening lines of communi-
cations the wireless station at Nami-
quipa has been moved farther south.
The field telegraph already extends
to Galeana
In the meantime villa was south
of the Durango state line, which ru-
mors persist, is the deadline beyond
which President Wilson is reported to
have ordered American forces not to
pursue Villa.
Villa, with force of 200 followers,
is reported making his way to Du-
range to make a conjunction with
Canuto Reyes and his band.
American troops are not believed to
have crossed the Durango line, al
though they probably are close to it
around Parral. Villa is at least fifty
miles ahead of the most advanced
American column and in territory IN
favorable for swift pursuit.
Confirmation of reports that Fran
cisco Villa was in the neighborhood of
Parral, or had passed it was brought
to Juarez by Gen. Francisco Bertani,
the Carranza commander at Madeira.
The last fight between Carranzistas
and Villistas occurred at San Fran
cisco de Borja four days ago, the gem
eral said, the Villistas being defeated
and leaving behind them a number
of dead and wounded.
Gen. Bertani said he had absolute
confirmation that Villa had been
wounded. The bandit was shot in the
left leg, he said, and was further
injured when his horse fell on him,
breaking the bones of the leg.
He reported detachments of the
American forces at Santa Ana and
Namiquipa.
Both Gen. Gavira and Gen. Bertani
asserted they had no knowledge that
tions of American troops in Mexico.
1, Il understand, however, Gen, Ber-
tani added, that the American forces
will be willing to withdraw as soon as
the Villista organizations are thor
oughly broken up. So far the re-
lations of the de facto troops and the
American soldiers have been friendly
and cooperative. There has not been
single unpleasant incident"
Washington.-Sec Lansing and
Secretary Baker both declined to
comment Monday on border reports
that an agreement between Washing
ton and the Carranza government had
fixed dead line" beyond which the
American troops would not go in pur-
suit of the Villa bandits.
Ell Paso, Tex.-Gen. Gavira, Carran-
"a commander at JuareZ, announced
that the forces of the de facto gov
ernment were in a position to take
| immediate control of the Villa situa-
tion if the American troops withdrew.
Gen-Gavira, the Juarez commander,
denied that he was to be superseded
by Gen. Hernandez.
Among the new troops to go south
will be the detachment of the Twen-
ty-fourth infantry (colored), which
| had trouble with citizens at Del Rio,
Tex. resulting in the killing of ne
gro trooper by State Ranger Parler.
A small body of soldiers will be
sent to Del Rio to take the place of
the negro soldiers, who will guard the
railroad bridge at that point.
who arrived here Sunday from Colum-
bus reported that additional troops are
being hurried south into Mexico from
the base as rapidly as they can pc
( provided with transportation and
equipment.
Ell Paso officials made representa-
tions to the military authorities with
the result that two infantry battal-
ions were sent from Fort Bliss to
serve as reserves to the patrols on
guard every night in the principal
streets here. The police officials say
they fear trouble with Mexicans in
Juarez, the garrison of which city, it
has been reported, planned to revolt,
massacre all the Americans in Juarez,
and attack Ell Paso.
I N,Ao a.