The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-06
PURSUIT OF VILLA
BAND Is RELENTLESS
L. s. Troops Chase Scattered
Forces. Giving Mexicans
No Time to Rest.
TRAP SET FOR THE CHIEF
~ GE0R n. CLEMENTS.

Special Correspondent o. Tar SuN.
FIELD HEADQUARTERS OF GEN. rERsH-
INC. Below CAsAs GRANpEs. Mexico. April
I. BY Aero to Columbus. n. NJ. April 6.
III Villa can escape the net which Gen.
tershing and his fighting men have
spread for him from one end Of the
state Of Chihuahua to the other he will
have made the appellation Fox as ap-
piled to him In old bandit days take on
peculiar significance.
Reports from San Geronimo. where
Gen. PershinR is to-day, arc to the effect
that forces popularity supposed to be
operating in Villas interests in the Ter
mosachie country have been hopelessly
scattered. n even In the small bands Of
from three to twenty into which they
rave been broken are being so ruthlcssly
and relentlessly pursued b. Americans
that they are being given ne opportunity
to rest themselves or their animals.
There il . story to the effect that
Villa. wounded. Is travelling In a wagon
with q small escort OF his once famous
band Of 'Dorados' Golden ones). and
that he IL heading north. The story is
not given credence by Americans. but
they are taking every precaution to
catch him and his escort in the net II
he has undertaken to seek seclusion un-
der the delusior that the main body of
pursuers are laboring under the i'm
preston that he IL trying to &c, to Du-
range or some other southern State.
where he might surround himself with
old time followers.
Troops. mounted and on foot. have
been despatched In every direction. and
every valley and pass in the mountains
between the border and a point q few
miles north Of Chihuahua city and AS
far west as the Sonora line Is being
patrolled and the canyons between being
combed.
The exodus Of people from the ter
ritory now overrun by Americans. which
for several days was very heavy. has
been checked. The movement was caused
by stories spread BY Villa and his agents
when the pursuit vas irst begun. TO the
effect hat the Americans would be
guilty OF all sorts Of crimes against
the persons and property OF the Mexi-
cans. Villas unners penetrated far
into the interior and the hegira was at
once begun.
Citizens lacking rail transportation
had recourse to wagon. pack animals.
and to carrying goods and chattels o
own backs as they made their way from
the fancied danger zone. As has been
told before In this correspondents. the
Americans by their actions toward all
citizens with whom they ca.re into on
tact soon dispelled the idea that there
would be reprisals for Villas wanton
and murderous attack upon Columbus
and particularly after good American
gold began to he paid for supplies. Ia
tives experienced a change of heart, but
not until many had taken flight. This
hisht has been practically stopped now.
In fact enient has turned the other
way. people are returning to their homes.
Col. Refugio Davila. commander of
the Carranzista garrison At Casaa
Grandes, Is making every Effort to help
the Morinons and native farmers Of tais
valley to plant their farms this spring.
All complained that Wills and other
marauders had left them no horses with
which to prosecute spring ploughang.
Davila's answer to that was to round
IN all animals in the surrounding coun-
try and to invite every farmer who
needed plough animals 10 come TO the
corrals and rop himself a team.
Teams SO secured are not the best in
the world for 'he purpose. but are bot
ter than nothing. n may make possible
planting many acres Of fertile land In
this vicinity which otherwise would re-
main fallow.
Seed Of various kinds ~ sadly needed.
hut IL the result Of the punitive eSpedl-
ton is peace no doubt the need will he
supplied by friends OF farmers In the
United states.