Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-01

A Chihuahua dispatch re-
ceived by a Mexican official
in Juarez this afternoon
states that there is a report
in Chihuahua that Villa has
been captured in Minaca.
Efforts to confirm the report
here were without result.
Ell Paso, April 1.-The capture OF
Francisco Villa by the flying SQUAD
rons Of American cavalry searching
the Sierra Madre today is believed by
army officers at Fort Bliss to be only
a matter of days.
His forces scattered into small
bands after their smashing defeat by
Colonel Dodd and his cavalrymen on
March 20, Villa is reported to nave
sought safety in hiding In some re-
cesses of the continental divide. The
bandits injured leg, said to have been
broken by q gunshot wound or a fall
from horse, WIN doubtless prevent
him from making any long flight over
the rugged mountains
That Villa was already captured and
being brought back to the army base
at Casas Grandes was report heard
har hYrt5 . sa ~ ;r,
fetal quarters. While the hunt Is on,
General Pershing, it is said, will con-
tinue his operations against the fee !,
ing bands of Villa men to prevent :,
their concentration and to destroy
them wherever found.
General George Bell, commanding
the army base, is meanwhile moving
forward supplies to the front by way
of Columbus, that the American army
may be prepared for a possible pro-
tracted campaign.
Soldiers Combing Country.
Somewhere in the barren mountains
of the continental divide, Francisco
Villa, wounded and crippled and with
but a handful of his followers, is be-
lieved to be lurking today. Hard on
his trail American troopers are comb
| ing every valley and ravine, searching
every ranch house and adobe hut In
the hope of ending the career Of the
bandit.
The feverish excitement caused
along the border by yesterdays news
of Colonel Dodd's victory at San Ger
onimo ranch had far from subsidized
today. The fact that three days have
elapsed since the smashing blow de-
livered at the Villistas in the valley Of
the Santa Maria, without any further
news from General Pershing, has
given birth to the most extrayagans
speculation anil rumors.
The chief card of the pelstUistsS q
that Villa was injured as reported hs
should be by now in the hands OF his
pursuers. BNt the optimists retort b
pointing out the wild character of tho
country in which he is hiding and ths
fact that most of the natives of Thu
mountains are sure to do all they car
to battle the American soldiers b,
giving them false information ant
leading them on wild goose chases.
Everything apparently depends mp
i on the speed with which Villa Is abb,
to move If his injuries have forces
him to seek safety in the mountains o
i the divide. it Is believed that he 8
| doomed although he may elude BIZ
t enemies for many days yet. On til
other hand. If he has been able 70 pusl
{ east or southeast, he ought by thi
. time to have reached a country wfer
J travelling is comparatively easy. waite
J and food plentiful and his adherent
numerous.
, But one thing that seeWs reasonabi
, certain is that before the close OF to
= day or tomorrow at the igtest, ii mus
. be definitely known II VILLA is = dir
abled and deserted fugitive in th
mountains. or if he has again flung frs
of the Gordon thrown about him an
is maintaining his fight southwark.
In the height ~ the excitemef
caused by the news Of the battle 4
San Geronimo, interest has stempora,
ly faded here in the question of N
(Continaed on Page SeveseY