The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-12-01
FIRM HAND IN
MEXICAN PROBLEM
(Conlnued from page II

at JuareZ. Stragglers from the rem
| nants of General Treytno's command
! are s::.:,,. streaming &c the border e
demoraliZed condition. AS the refu
gees began to reach this side Of the
/ line, the full story OF the Ave day
/ battle came TO light bit by bit
! During the night a repair train
started south over the Mexican and
northwestern railway to rebuild the
channel for the transportation OF
troops from western Chihuahua to
the border.
In Juarez. opposite the city. new
column of government forces is being
formed to make that town as basis
of operations, while in the south an
other column is forming under COM
mand Of General Murgia, according to
Carranza officials at the Mexican con.
sulate here. Already campaign plans
are under discussion. simultaneously
forces from both directions will be
launched against the bandit chief.
The offensive against Villa will be
started within fortnight or sooner,
General Gonzales, commander OF the
defacto garrison at JuareZ, announced
| today.
1--WE are seriously hindered In our
operations by the embargo on arms
and ammunition by your govern
ment," he said That was respon-
sible for. the fall of the capital. And
now our column in the north Is en-
countering difficulty in getting
enough cartridges to renew the attack
against the bandit chief"
Firing Heard Near Town.
YSY non 1-GhnrfVV
before daybreak today firing began
abou. four miles south Of Juarez.
About fifty shots were heard on the
American side Of the border, but all
efforts of the United States author
| tiles to learn the cause were unavail-
| ing. Native residents of Juarez be-
| lieved the city had been already at
tackled by VilIistas and several ran
to the American side Of the interna-
tional bridge in panic.
| Defacto cavalry was hurried out
toward the race track from this city.
| United States military authorities
here thought the defacto troops out
posts had cited a rowing band OF
Villfstas known to be lowering south
and east of Juarez.
| Demoralized and without guns,
which had been thrown away in their
hasty flight from .Chihauhau City.
several hundred more Carranzista sur
vivors of the five day battle in the
] northern capital reached here at 3
O'Clock this morning. Part OF the
incoming soldiers were cavalrymen,
who in the rout, had left their horses
behind.
Orders to Get Villa.
| GBy Carl d. Groat, United Press Staff
Correspondent
! WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-Original
orders to General Pershing to get
Villa" still stand, the war depart
ment officially stated today.
Oficials said, however, that condi-
lions are SO altered since Pershing 8
expedition started into Mexico that
he would await fresh orders from
Washington before making any move.
On the other hand If opportunity Of
! fered, he would strike a quick blow
at Villa.
Army men said this would have to
be a good opportunity, such as pos
sfble establishment of Villas head
: "if Villa puts his head into a lions
mouth. the mouth will certainly shut"
Experts were inclined to think
Villa Is too crafty to follow up his
apparent chihuahua City success by
starting toward Juarez. which would
take him only fifty or sixty miles east
Of Pershing's forces.
The army censor has only rumors
about the Chihuahua City situation
and as these are entirely unsupport-
ed and contained no more informa-
ton than press reports, they are
withheld.
II is known that the Carranzista
garrison at Juarez. however, is I'M
easy over possibilities.
Officials said today very frankly
that the northern Mexican situation
is such that serious situation con-
fronts Carranza and IL the blow falls,
will radically affect future Mexican
developments.
Mexican affairs were believed to
be behind plans for conference to-
day between Secretary Of War Bak-
er and the president This meeting
was scheduled to supplant the usual
cabinet session.