Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-19
AMERICAN FORCES
MOVING AT NIGHT
ON TRAIL OF VILLA
Bandit Leader Has Start
of More Than 100
Miles.
SECOND ACT IN CHASE
MAY RESULT IN BlOODSHED
Gaviria Says Crisis Is Past and
There Is No Danger of Break
Between U. S. and Carranza.
CENSORSHIP MORE STRINGENT
Correspondents Will re Held Ac.
countable for Leakage OF
Military News.
SECOND ACT IN CHASE
MAY RESULT IN BLOODSHED
CENSORSHIP MORE STRINGENT
Correspondents viii Re Held Ac.
countable for Leakage OF
Military News.

Ell PASO. TEN, March 1S.-The
first phase OF the American expedition
into MeXico-the rush along Villas dim
trail to the endangered Mormon col
onies-was an accomplished fact to
night, completed according to reports
reaching the Columbus base, withou,
the firing of hostile shot by the
Americans.
The second phase already was begin
ming, it was indicated here. as the
Americans turned somewhere from near
Casas Grandes to resume their nigh'
marches toward the rough mountain
slopes. where it is known Villa already
has preceded them with more thar
100 miles start.
Warning that this second act in the
chase might not pass without lighting
against bandits was implied in a new
and more stringent censorship imposed
at Columbus. Further leakage OF
news OF military movements, the censor
said frankly to the American press,
would be likely to cost soldiers lives.
An order was issued holding news
paper correspondents accountable for
dispatches, under the national de-
fense act.
There was brief excitement to-day
mt Columbus. from across the MeXi-
can border two soldiers on stretchers
were brought into the American camp.
Both were cavalrymen. Excitemen,
passed when it was learned that or.
had been thrown from his horse. In
, jurinE hts leg, while the other, who n,
first was said to have been shot In the
abdomen, was found to be suffering
from stomach ache.
MENACE TO MEXICAN
When Washington announced that
the American columns did not intend
to occupy cities, menace to Mexican
national pride was removed. The Car
rama garrisons. which have been
passed by the marching Americans, and
which. therefore. are now In the
Americans rear on their fianks, con
tinued tranquil, SO reports to FL Past
indicated.
General Gabriel Gaviria, at Juarez.
commanding the territory through
which for three days the Americans
have been penetrating. himself an
nounced that for 4 time the situation
as reported to him had been delicate
and even serious. With evident relief.
he said the crisis had passed. This
crisis. it is believed, reached its height
last night. when couriers dashinS into
Casas Grandes announced with care
less enthusiasm that the American
troops would enter that city by mid
night. General Gaviria wired immedi-
ate orders TO his troops not to permit.
this.
Dawn showed the long lines OF
cavalry horses just outside Colonia
Dublan, their troopers dismounted and
in camp. at rest.
VILLA LOCATED WITH SOME
DEGREE OF DEFINTrENEss
Villa was located to-day with some
degree of dehniteness. From several
sources Constitutionalists received
messages, all of which placed him in
approximately the same portion OF
Western Chihuahua. These dispatches
had hin, nearly due south of the Ameri-
can columns present known positions.
and close 10 the Sierra Tarrahumare
Mountains. BY all accounts, no Is
more than 100 miles ahead OF the
Americans about the same distance he
has been out of their reach for a week
hut with one possibly important diff
ference, that. while heretofore the
Americans have been riding on some
what cold trail. they are now nearing;
ground which Villa very recently
passed over. and where they may have
practical opportunity to test the temper
of tho rural MeNicans. from whom they
might receive valuable information.
The story that villa vs. catherine
men and preparing to resist was re-
ceivcd in Constitutionalist circles {.
day. and he was even said to have
100000 rounds OF cartridges ana
shells. many Of home manufacture
secretcd in the mountains where he
was expected TO make q stand. Doubt
that Villa would do any such thing
was expressed, however. by Andreas
Garcia. the Mexican consul here, who
claimed that Villa intends to make the
American expeditionary force joke
Garcia said he was convinced the
bandit had no Intention OF fighting
Americans
One of my men," he said. ''has
brought me positive information that
villa Is dishandinS his men. and In
tends TO hide in the mountains with
three or four OF his trusted followers
and defy the Americans 10 find him,
Ar army might wander IN that region
for years and never fud a man Ike
villa
II am convinced that Vita intenfs
to play hide and seek with tho Ameri@