The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1916-04-20
FAIL TO CONFIRM
DEATH OF VILLA
BANDIT FLED TOWARD PLACE
WHERE BODY is REPORTED. g.
SIX MORE RAIDERS ARE TAKEN
Mexicans, Who Confessed They Were
In Gang That Attacked Column
bus, Captured and Taken to
Town For Trial.

Washington, April denomination
CT the death of Francisco Villa is still
lacking, both at the state and war
departments and at the Mexican en-
bassy.
The only dispatch from American
sources in Mexico tending to lend
color to the report was brief state
ment from Major Howe of the EleV-
enth cavalry, now near Parral, that
he had information which led him to
believe that the bandit and a small
party of his followers had fed some
days ago toward Borja, which Is close
to the place where unofficial Mexican
reports say the body was found.
The outstanding feature of the days
message from the border were re-
ports to the war department that six
Mexicans who confessed to having
taken part in the raid on Columbus,
N. NJ, had been captured and sent to
Columbus for trial by the New Mexico
state authorities.
Another official report relieved anx-
iety as to the supply problem for the
troops at the front. 1t said the forces
now were fully supplied, with the ex-
ception of a small shipment of horse
shoes and. clothing, which would go
forward today.
An ample supply of gasoline was
on hand, the message said, for the
motor trucks and aeroplanes.
Body En- Route to Chihuahua.
The body supposed to be that OF
Villa was said by the last Mexican
reports to- be en- route to chihuahua
City.
1t was pointed out at the war de
lpartment, however, that the point
where it was found was nearly two
days journey by wagon from the rail
road. That may account for delay In
obtaining confirmation or denial Of the
report that the bandits career has
ended.
If General Funston and Genera
Pershing have taken any steps tt
p make certain the Identification of thu
body they have done so on their owl
initiative.
No instructions to that end hav
, been sent from Washington, either t.
g consuls or military commanders.
! Senator Stone, chairman of the for
eign relations committee, after a Orie
conference with Secretary Baker, eX
, pressed the view that the Carranz
authorities hardly could have any OF
q ject in circulating a report of Villa
= death unless they believed it to b
r. true.
He agreed with Secretary Bake
- and other officials, however, in accept
ing the reports of the finding of vi
las body with utmost caution.
4 The attack on Major Tompkin'
command at Parral came after cordia
, relations had been established wit
the Carranza military commando
there.
Il Letcher Lacks News.
y Ell Paso, Tex, April 1S.-In al
swer to a telegram asking If he coul
r verify the report that the body {
Villa had been found, American Coz
sui Letcher at Chihuahua City wired
Nothing heard of matter here"
A. Consul Letcher's message was file
o at Chihuahua yesterday.
r The forty Americans, principal
e. newspaper men and moving pictul
t. camera operators, who started for Oh
n huahua City to view the body, ais
we're delayed. Their special train We
re stalled after covering ten miles.
Of was pulled back into Juarez for ne
a. engine, but still remained in the Me
lean Central yards in the afternoon.