The state herald., 1916-03-24

Villa has been driven into a trap by
the rapid advance of the American
troops, according to the information
received Sunday in wireless dis
patches from the front and in tele
graphic messages to Gen. Gabriel Ga
vira, Carranza commander at Juarez
Everything seems now to depend on
the ability of the Carranza garrisons
to hold their end of the net. On three
sides the bandit chief is hemmed in
by strong Carranza columns, while on
the fourth the American soldiers are
driving forward with amazing speed.
villa was in the Babricora lake re-
gion, on the ranch of Mrs. Phoebe
Hearst, which he has ravaged several
times in the past Babricora is about
where enc section OF the American
eXpeditionary force has arrived and Is
pushing forward at the rate of thirty
three miles u day A few miles west
of the bandits position is Namiquipa
which is held by a powerful Carranza
garrison. On the west are the frown-
ing barriers OF the Sierra Madrc
mountains, barring the way to Sonora.
Gen. Gutierrez, Carranza's field chief.
declares that he holds all the passes
to Sonora. To the South Villas way
is blocked by the Carranza garrison
from MADEIRA, town of considerable
importance. 1t is headquarters of The
MADEIRA Company, Ltd, an American
concern with vast lumber, mining and
railroad interests. On account of the
Importance of this town. an exception.
ally heavy Carranza force is said to
hold il.
The whole situation seems to hang
on the Carranzistas. II they remain
loyal to the first chief, which up to
the present they have shown every
Indication OF doing, villa appears
trapped 1t is, OF course, realized
that he is on ground OF his own choos
ing and in a country admirably suited
for guerilla warfare and surprise at.
tacks.
While Carranza leaders and United
States authorities have avoided any
friction there is one serious question
which may arise at any time to
threaten the entire situation: As the
lines of communication OF the Amerl.
can force lengthen, the problem II
bringing up supplies becomes increas.
ingly more pressing II Is expected
here that Washington sooner or later
Will request permission OF Gen. Car.
rama to use the Mexican railroads II
such n request has not already been
made, To grant that might be a step
which would be misconstrued by many
MeNicans. on the other hand a re.
fusal would scarcely harmonize with
the professed desire OF the Carranzl
government to cooperate In every
way with the American authorities.
The arrival OF this crisis Is being anN.
iously awaited, on both sides
With the American Army (yia wire.
less to Columbus, n Nj, March 90
After marching more than ii0 miles
INTO Mexico In " hours, the Ameri'
can punitive expedition received In.
formation apparently locating Pancho
villa, the object of the chase.
Disposition OF the troops began sun.
day night for the task OF hunting him
down. Only few cavalry horses and
pack mules we're lost. the victims OF =
hard riding trail. The men reached
the camp thirsty and hungry but 9th.
orwise IN good condition. NJ for action
and eager for the pursuit OF villa to
begin In earnest. Here they were met
with reports that villa had raided two
American colonies In the vicinity Of
his mountain retreats. and that he
had killed residents OF these colonies.