Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-05
PERSHING SHOWS NEED
OF ADDITIONAL TROOPS
Bandit Reported Proceeding South
Along the Old Santa Rosalia
Stage Coach Road.
LONG HUNT IS ANTICIPATED
Gen. Funston Hears, Through Com
sular Source, That Brigand Is
Far Below chihuahua, With
Torreon as His Objective.

4OIlcoH dS his oD1ecC1Ve.
Ell PASO, Tex, April 5.-The
problem of locating and captur-
ing Villa somewhere within an
area of 1000 square miles con-
fronts Brig. Gen Pershing TODAY.
Information from the front
states that the American troops
have been disposed to the best
possible advantage. but the task
of running down the Mexican
bandit in an overwhelming terri
tory as the brigand moves south
ward into the Mexican interior
becomes increasingly difficult.
More Troops Are Necessary.
More troops are necessary. il is de-
clared. Gen. Pershing has ordered
that detachments of infantry be
trained for mountain climbing and the
establishment of a sort of American
chasseur corps viii be undertaken.
The American commander anticipates a
long hunt and is preparing for it,
A Torreon dispatch places Villa at
Maica, ninety miles southwest of Guer-
rero. If this be true, the bandit prob
ably is proceeding along the old coach
road that leads into Santa Rosalia,
whence he could move on to Parral, his
reported objective
Through the intercession of Mexican
Consul Garcia. the execution of three
ringleaders of the conspiracy to seize
JuareZ last Sunday night and declare
for the Nilla-FeliX DiaZ plot have been
stayed. The conspirators were to have
faced a firing squad in Juarez at SUM-
rise today. The Ell Paso police are
searching for score of Mexican con-
spirators who are said to be hiding In
this city.
Await Details of the Fight.
SAN ANTONIO. April Gen. Fun.
ston today awaited a report from Gen
Pershing giving more detailed infor-
nation regarding the fight between a
squadron of the 10th Cavalry and a
Villa band last Saturday, in which the
enemy was estimated to have lost be-
tween thirty and forty men. In the
dispatch. making bare announcement
of the engagement no mention was
made of American losses.
1t is hoped at headquarters that the
next uispat tch from the field commander
will contain news of the whereabouts
of Villa. Consular reports received by
Gen Funston have located him well
south of Chihuahua City, but these
have not been confirmed from military
sources. However. it is believed in Of
fetal circles that the bandit has left
the Guerrero district and is moving
south. with Torreon or Durango City
his objective.
Surprised During Siesta.
Surprised during their siesta. one OF
the groups of Villas force driven from
Guerrero was defeated Saturday by a
squadron of the 10th Cavalry under
Col w. c. Brown, according to infor-
nation secured by Gen. Pershing and
forwarded by him to Gen. Funston yes
terday.
In this engagement, the second the
American troops have had with Villas
men, the bandits loss was estimated
at from 80 to 40 killed. No mention of
loss was made.
Col. Browns encounter with the Mex
leans mad not been reported to Gen.
Pershlng when he made his report to
Gen. Funston, his information being
gained from friendly Mexicans who had
arrived at a point near Rubio where
Maj. Evans of the 10th Cavalry halted
yesterday. Maj. Evans reported that
Col Brown had encountered
a band of Villas men and was pur-
suing them through San Antonio, Chi
huahua. Soon afterward Mexicans who
arrived from that vicinity declared
that he had overtaken the wanderipp
bandits at the village of Aguas Cali.
entes. twenty miles southeast of Bach.
inava.
Villas men, according to their yer-
sion of the encounter, appeared wholly
of the presence of an
enemy minute before they were at
tackled.
American Attack Unsuspected.
1t was about noon when Col. Brown
brought his cavalry within easy range.
The Mexicans were lying about the
place, many of them asleep, ard all
heir horses. were grazing, in many
.ases some distance from the men. De-
ails of the action were not told. but
he MeXicans said that besides those
killed the Americans captured an equal
lumber of horses. Gen. Pershins added
hat his reports of the engagement
acked confirmation, though his cre-
ence of the news was indicated by the
act that he transmitted it to Gen,
funston.
The encounter aroused deep interest
t Gen. Funstons headquarters where
dditional details were awaited eager
V, but it was realized by officers that
he effect of Col. Browns fight and of
ther minor engagements that may oc-
ur is only indirect, so far as the
reater problem of catching Villa is
oncerned. Engagements of that char
cter, it was said, may be expected now
rom time to time, and the running
own of marauding bands is essential
O the safety of the American column,
nut it was indicated the only effect. SO
ar as Villa is concerned. will be TO
estroy the morale of his supporting
orce.
There are known TO be other bands
perating in that same part of Mexico
nd part of the American forces must