Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-14
BANDIT HAS LITTLE
CHANCE TO ESCAPE
Gen. Gutierrez. Commander in
Chihuahua. Is Authority
for Report.
RIGID CENSORSHIP is ON
TO PREVENT ANY LEAKS
Gen. Funston Declares That Expedi-
tion Will Not Start Before
Thursday or Friday.

Ell PASO, Tex. March IA
Francisco Villa. heading south
from Calena, is now encircled by
Carranza troops, according to ad-
vices from Gen. Luis Gutierrez,
commander-in-chief of Chihuahua,
today. With $1,000 men in
Chihuahua and heavy reinforce
ments on their way he thinks
Villa has small chance to escape.
Gen. Gutierrez arrived in Juarez
early in the day and gave out a
statement that besides the troops
holding points and maintaining
patrols FIVE columns of ZOO men
each are closing up on the bandit
chief under the respective COM.
mands of Gutierrez himse.: and
Gems Luis Herrera, Rafael, NAL
donado. Benjamin CARA aud
Jose Cabazos. While the cavaily
forces are moving in from the
east, the command of goo men at
Santa Ana, under Col. Cano, is
believed at the Iuarez headqua--
tiers to be sufficient to check any
attempt by Villa to escape to the
south up the canyon of the Santa
Maria river.
Expected to Fight in Chihuahua.
SAN ANTONIO. Tex. Marah
I4.-lt had been reported in the
last twentv-iour hours that Villa
contemplateS making a stand
against the American punitive ex-
petition al OJiieS Pass. the mar
row gap in the western chihuahua
Sierras. through which he made
his murderous dash on Columbus.
is the information which reached
the military authorities here to-
dav
americans familiar with ..e.
country assert that the Oiites
Pass is admirably adapted for a
successful otfcnse il Villa really
intends to risk an engagement
with the American troops and
does not intend to resort TO
guerrilla tactics.
Expedition May Start Thulsday..
Mai Gen. Funston. commanding the
Southern Department. does not sexpect
that the expedition viii he ready TO
cross the border before ThuridsN-er
Friday. He explained that on accconpt
of the peculiar difficulties the expefu-
tiom viii meet with. it was not advis-
il. to start until all arrangements had
been made
Gen. Funston esta blished a rig 81 cen
sorship at Columbus today. He in
structed Brig. Gen. Pershine 10. take
..hate. of the telegraph office. watch all
automobile routes ami guard telephone
wires out of the town. This action was
taken to prevent the troop nloyement
leaking out-in press dispatches.
Gen Funston said newspaper reports
from New Mexico had been revealing
every movement of troops. the rdispo-
sitiou of the forces and the amount OF
their equipment There was mo use
irving to conceal our plans while there
was a leak oa the border he ex-
planned I'VE had to act
II was indicated that if the censor
ship was eraded martial law might he
the next step in controlling the news
Gen. Pershing Starts for Columbus.
Brig. Gen John J. Pershins, com.
mandng the American expeditioaary
force into Mexico. left FL Paso on
west-bound train last night. and since
his departure military authorities have
refused all information about him.
Gen. Pershing's train was said to he
going to Columbus, \. NJ. where today
some 1000 men of the first expedition
ary force are in readiness for the dash
after villa.
In expectation of the renerarar denar-
ture last night from FL Paso. a crowd OF
had gathered at 'Eaiiway