Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-11

Pershing.
Unofficial and unconhrmed re-
ports that Villa is dead reached
the Carranza embassy today and
were given some degree of Gre
dence by officials there. The re-
ports were represented as having
come from Queretaro, Gen. Car
ranza's provisional capital.
Grounds for Believing Report.
They were unsubstantiated by the
latest dispatches to the War anu State
departments. The circumstantia1 re-
ports of Villas recent injury, however
and the rigors of his long and hurried
flight. in which he has been variously
reported as being carried on litter.
on the shoulders of his men or IN
carriage over the rough Mexican trans.
gave some color to the possibility that
the bandit chieftain may have been
unable to survive the hardships OF the
flight in his disabled condition.
Part of the United States troops sta
toned in Texas may be sent into Mex
leo to strengthen the constantly length
ening lines of communication OF the
United States evolutionary force in
pursuit of Villa. Such a plan was un-
der consideration by the War Depart
ment today as a result of the situation
along the border. which is said to be
uuieter than heretofore. For the pres
ent. however, patrols in New Mexico
and Arizona will not be disturbed.
Border Patrol Numbers, 18, ,565.
Oficial estimates of the number of
troops in Mexico and on the border
available for an emergency were given
at the War Department today. Gen.
Scott. chief of staff, announced that
1866 troops now constitute the border
patrol Gen. Pershing has about 1900
men in Mexico. including those holding
his line of communication. How great
ly the mobile army has been drawn
upon for the Mexican expedition and
border service was also disclosed by
4. 600 troops remain in the United
States not engaged on the border.
The only troops remaining at army
posts are the I'd Cavalry. divided be-
Alien. Vt; the Sd and soth Infantry
along the great lakes, the 14th Infan-
try. divided between Fort Wright.
Alaska. and Fort Lawton. Okla; the
21st Infantry. divided between San
Diego, Cal, and Vancouver. Wash.
with one battalion at Calexico and one
troop of the 18th Cavalry at the Fort
Riley, Kan. service school.
Gen. Scott also stated today that no
word of the chase Of Villa had been
received for several days, either from
Gen. Pershing or Gen. Funston. Diff
Guilty of communication, as well as CEN
sorship extending to the War Depart
ment itself, Gen. Scott declared, had
left the department in ignorance of re-
cent operations.
Await Gen. Pershing's Report.
The department asked for details of
Gen. Pershings conferences with Gems.
Herrera and Gutierres. but Gen. Fun
ston teiegraphed today that no further
word has come from Gen. Pershing.
American Consul Letcher of Chihua-
hua apparently is aiding Gen. Pershing
to get supplies. Gen. Funston reported
today that Gen. Pershing reported be-
ing in touch with Consul Letcher and
expected to get supplies from Chihua-
hua.
Special Agent Rodgers of the State
assigned to Carranza's
headquarters at Queretaro, telegraphed
today he was detained in Mexico City
in connection with commercial ques-
tions affecting the hide trade and min
ing taxes.
All State Department dispatches
were said to report conditions quiet
Mexico. The department
was without information regarding the
oofivitioS nj GeD- Sa1aZar