Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-18
FLYING" COLUMN
PEN ETRATES FAR
INTO OLD MEXICO
United States Cavalry Under Com.
mand Of Colonel Dodd Said to
Be Advancing at
Rapid Rate.
MAIN ARMY MOVES SLOWER
Two Wings Probably Will Form
Junction Somewhere Near
C2sas Grsndes.
MAY HAVE STARTED EARLIER

MAY HAVE STARTED EARLIER
Ill PAso. Tex. March IA few
definite facts about the American ex-
pedition into Mexico today stood out
with considerable clearncss. as the
result OF official published reports
and the news brought here by Ameri-
cans who have been in touch with
some portion OF the American move
ment
IL seemed certain that OF the two
columns which are somewhere in
Mexico" one was constituted for
speed, while the other apparently
vas moving more slowly. The swift
footed column was the auxiliary
army, seemingly mostly cavalry,
which went into Mexico fifty miles
west OF the main army OF General J..
J. Pershing when his forces crossed
az Columbus, N. NJ.
The secrecy which has surrounded the
movements OF the main column has been
slight compared with the record OF this
western force. There IL reason to believe,
from the official announcements. that the
western column may have gone into
Mexico earlier than the main body Every
report arriving here from the border as
serts that the western wing has travelled
the farther. BY these same reports. the
two columns will form a junction near
the threatened American Mormon col
onles, possibly in the Casas GrNndes
region.
SnipinR Reports Unvcrified.
Reports that Hnlpers had shot at the
troops remained unverified today. How
ever. sniping and even the possible kill
ing or woandinE OF few American sol
dlers by these long range marksmen was
not regarded here as an indication that
the American army's march up TO date
was otherwise than a peaceful expedition,
so far as the majority of the Mexican
people are concerned.
Shipping has been common on fthe Amer
ican side In this section. with the dif-
ference that on tho american side the
sharpshooters have had only compafa.
lively small targets 70 shoot az. such as
a horsenen. an automobile, or at best. a
railroad train. There Is nothing TO pre-
vent individuals OF this type, acting en-
tirely on their own Initiative. from creep
Ing onto some hill and sending a few
bullets az distant column OF troops.
Problem OF Ocupation of cities.
Carranka officials. Il was learned today,
have been discussing with aome concern
whether American troops during the villa
pursuit would have - occupy any Mexl-
can cities and the effect OF such occupa-
sion upon Mexican public sentiment. The
carranza officers havo frankly expressed
the hope that the garrisoning OF the
cities can 90 left to their own troops
The American army's choice Of the Chi
huahua desert as It's place OF entry pre-
cludes for the preseat such a problem
as city garrison duty. II Il estimated
here that the cost OF the villa pursuit
at present IL upward OF $4,000 per day
There is one soldier in the Carransa
garrison in Juares who Is frankly anti
carranza. lie Is a is-year-old boy who
was captured with the Villa garrison at
Juarez and whose life was spared on the
condition that he turn Carranxista- His
name he said today formerly was Little
Pancho villa"
AND now" he added, III is Little Car
rama"
Whom do you like besti he was
asked.
''Pancho villa" was the reply.
Trench Rumor f. Explained.
Water was running today in the irriga-
tion bitches back OF the Juarez race
track and thereby was explained a sen
sationai report widely published early this
week that the Juarez garrison was dig
sing military trenches.
Sunday Americans at the races saw
brown-eiad men who seemed 10 be dig
ging on bitches and the trench story
spread. They were workmen cleaning rub
blsh out of irrigation bitches 80 that the
water might enter.
Daniel Hurst, son Of Bishop p. II.
Hurst Of the Mormon church, who reached
here yesterday from the Mormon colonies
(cOntinued on Page Two. Column Two.)