The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-20

NEAR VILLA NOW
Believe Contact With. Outlaw
Forces Established.
wall He Put Up Fight or Run,
Is Question.
BANDITS ON HEARST RANCH
CarranZa Troops Have Outlets
Well Guarded.
Troopers Into Mountains by
Way of River Bed.
BANDITS ON HEARST RANCH

Washington, March 2O.-Informa-
ton that the American expeditionary
forces in Mexico have established con-
tact with Francisco Villa and his
band of outlaws caused anxiety today
at the war department
Latest official advices received here
said Villa has reached his own coun-
try in the Guerrero district where,
army officers say, if he makes stand
the campaign will be brought to a
quick conclusion. But if he abandons
his men, officers say he could find a
retreat in the nearby mountains.
Elaborate scouting plans, it is said,
have been made by General PerShlnS
to meet such a siuatiOn-
Instructions have gone forward to
the forces in Mexico not to occupy
Mexican towns so as to prevent the
possibility of stirring up resentment
among the natives.
River Trail Intervenes.
Ell Paso March 2O.-A shallow river
and a winding wagon road, cutting
like the blades of a pair of scissors
through the heart of the Sierra Madre
oriental mountains, today are the con-
meeting links between Francisco VIVA ?
retreating command and the pursuing
columns of Brig. Gen. John J. PERISH
ing. If latest reports regarding the
positions of the contending forces are
correct.
According to Colonel Bertani, Car
rama commander at Casas Grandes'
part of General Pershing's troops are
near Casas Grandes. and part are
near Galeana. some thirty miles SOUTH
est Dispatches to Gen. Gabriel Ga
vira commanding the Carranza forces
at Juarez says that Villa is in the
Babricora lake region on the ranch OF
Mfs. Phoebe Hearst.
Motors Could Travel Road.
Americans who know this country
well say the roard that starts from
CaSas Grandes and winds a SlnuouS
course far down to the neighborhood
Of the Santa Clara ranch is best SUIT
ed for progress of PershlngS FORCES
throughout it's length it is suitable
for ordinary wagon traffic and Tor
the most part travellers say heavy
motor trucks could traverse 1t, with
occasional assistance. Always 1t IS
within easy reach of the Santa Maria
river.
The Santa Maria river, rising some
forty miles south of Cruces and flow
ing northward to Lake Santa Maria,
a distance of about zoo miles, is
shallow stream. Cattlemen driving
their herds from the upper valley have
used its bed as a highway for many
YEAR 1t is pointed out that If cattle can
be driven down the Santa Maria, cav
airy horses can be driven up 1t and
junct to the army searching for the
bandit Villa. This course further IS
suited to the needs of an expedition
airy force, because every twelve or M
teen miles along its course, it is fed
by large springs.
Have Outlets Guarded.
II the army is now following that
route provided by the wagon road and
the santa Maria. and is travelling with
the speed with which it went from
Columbus to Casas Grandes, rev
DAYS march should bring it athwart
of the Babricora lake region
Namiquipa. with a strong garrison,
is one link in the chain of defenses
which General 'Carranza has thrown
about southern and western Guerrero
to cut off the return of Villa Fur
Their west is the Carranza garrison of
MADEIRA. North and west of MADEIRA
General Gutierrez claims he holds all
the passes leading into Sonora
Dispatches from Douglas quote Cen
p. Elias Gales. military governor of
Sonora, as saying that the forces in
eastern Sonora are being reinforced
constantly 1t is pointed out here
that the most favorable place for Villa
to break through would be at some
point between MADEIRA and Mani
uuipa; or that he has still open to
him flight eastward to his old fast
nesses IN the region of Cruces
unsafe LOT AdNdlGy.
If General Pershings troops follow
the route initiated in Columbus and
continued through Casas Grandes to
Galeana they must by this time be in
the neighborhood of beyond Eel
Vale. Part of the way south from
FL Vale the wagon road travels into
the mountains where there are for
ests of scrub oak and pine. In this
region the Santa Maria is walled in
by canyons and would be unsafe for
cavalry traversing as huge boulders
could be toppled down on the troops
from above. However, the wagon
road passes over the mountains and
continues on to Cruces.
In army circles here it is believed
in his retreat from Columbus, n. NJ,
he must have followed the course to-
that Villa might try to keep on to the
south instead of stopping in his old
stamping grounds in the Cruces re-
gion. 1t was pointed out today that
ward Santa Maria for part of the
time. according to the reports an
nounced by General Gavira, provid-
ing they are true.
Deserts Wounded.
Statement that Villa had left this
route at FL Vale, marching south
west to the Babricora lake region is
regarded as significant. as is also the
information that he has forsaken sc
of his wounded. The Cruces region