The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-04-05
Villa Cannot be Captured Unless More Me
are Put on the Job as the Line Must
be Extended.
THIRTY V|LL|STAS KILLED ON APRIL |
Colored Troopers Of Tenth Cavalry Did Not
Lose Man in Second Engagement
With the Outlaws.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas. April 5-.Ad-
mitting that Villa has escaped to the
south, General Funston early today
declared the bandit chief probably is
headed for the Parral district with
very few" American troops in pur-
suit. Explaining this statement, Fun
ston asserted 1t is impossible to send
a considerable body of soldiers farther
south because OF the necessity Of pro-
tecting the lines of communication.
The present available force has been
drained to meet this requirement.
Hope of an early successful ending
OF the great man hunt apparently has
been abandoned at army headquarters.
General Funston and members Of his
staff exhibited a pronounced air Of
pessimism Funston himself frankly
admitted that a continuation OF the
chase southward must be backed up
by stronger force than at present is
available.
Villas escape from the Guerrero dis
trict was due to misinformation given
the American army officers by the
bandits friends and sympathizers, ac-
cording to staff officers here.
Commenting on Colonel W. G.
Browns defeat of Villista force thir
ty miles north of Guerrero, April l.
Funston pointed out that the troops
under General Pershing available for
pursuit are undoubtedly now far south
Of the scene OF the second engage
ment, which resulted in the killing Of
thirty Villistas.
There were no casualties among the
two hundred negro troopers in Colonel
lr0y
Knowledge Of the fight Is limited to
reports brought to General Pershing
by Mexican ranchers. No detailed orn-
cial report has yet been made.
General Funston believes the BAN
dts who burned two bridges north OF
Monclova yesterday are Villistas, but
is not certain. and admits himself
somewhat at sea concerning the lead
ership Of this new enemy faction.
There have been no reports to head
quarters of disaffections among Car
ranzistas except circumstantial ac-
count Of Colonel Cano's alleged pro-
Villa sympathies.
Piotters at Work.
Ell. PASO, Texas, April 5.-Twenty
or thirty additional arrests were ex-
pected today in the alleged plot OIL
Villa, Diaz and Oro2co followers to
capture Juarez from the Carranza
garrison.
Carranza Consul Garcia stated that
three of the fifty men arrested IN
Juarez have confessed that the plot
ters intended to capture Juarez Sun
day while the garrison attended
band concert In the plaza without
their weapons.
The public execution OF several OF
the alleged conspirators set for TO-
day, was called off because Garcia
protested against its barDar1sm.
knowledge OF the plot caused the
recent Carranza mobilization in Chr
buahua which alarmed American ofh-
cials, It is said. A score or more OF
the conspirators escaped to the United
States and their e1tradition has been
requested. The plot was conceived
principally in the behalf Of Villa, &C
cordtng to Garcia The ring leaders
already had enlisted the Juarez Gus
toms house guards.
Villa is Really Wounded.
Ell PASO, Texas. April 5-That
Villa is so badly wounded he Is un-
able to ride horse, was the poslu7e