The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-03-30
Railways Can be Used to Send Supplies to
American Punitive Expedition
Trail of the Bandit.
WAR" NEWS IS EFFECTIVELY CENSORED
Villa is Reported to Have Split Up His Gang
Into Three Parts and Remains With
But Handful.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service.1
Ell PASO. Texas, March 80.-Sev-
erai carloads of supplies for Briga-
dter General Pershing's troops in
Mexico were ready today for ship
ment over the Mexican Northw estern
railway, from Juare2 to the Casas
Grandes base. Army officers, how
ever, admitted their disappointment
over the outcome of negotiations with
the Carranza government regarding
the use OF Mexican railways to sup
ply the expeditionary forces. Amert-
can military guards will not be per-
mitted to accompany the munitions.
The uncertainty of this source Of
supplies due to the poor condition OF
the line makes necessary continuation
of the slow motor route over the
desert. ...-.----..
1t is estimated that hundreds of
tons of food and forage alone are re-
qulred daily for soldiers and horses
in the field, without recognizing gaso-
line and food requirements of troops
guarding the line of comm uniCattcn.
Some OF these transportation prob
lens now regarded as the most
urgent phases of the expedition, has
for a time overshadowed the pursuit
of Villa, interest In which has Jagged
on account of lack Of official news.
While the United States troops
were last reported pursuing Villa
through the Santa Maria valley and
irving to get south of him via Ma
dera, the total absence Of news Of
Carranza operations after the arch
bandit was puzZling. Wires south or
Juarez are all working. A campaign
against the Reyistas in the Torreon
district is the only reported activity
among the Carranza forces.
Object Lesson In Unpreparedncss-
Ell, PASO. Texas, March so
"HumiIiating' proof Of unDrepared-
ness for the Mexican expedition was
laid at the door of congress today by
a prominent army officer in Ell Paso.
Owing to the censorship he declined
to permit the use of his name.
we lacked aeroplanes. wireless
and autom obile equipment which even
this little furry has shown to be
essential" he said. 'In the face Of
these facts. It is idle talk OF the
United States making successful
defense of any of its borders against
a strong enemy. The army might die
bravely-E think it wOuld-but It
would be broken to pieces before aid
could come.
The fault isn't the army's, but
that of congress. II it teaches the
people that strong army, prepared
and cuuipDed. is necessary. It will not
have been in vain no matter how
humiliating the disclosures have been.
After the expedition has been
days under way, we are franhcally
+rviop 10 h1v enough equipment to
feed and water our forces in the
field. As for armOred automobiles
and trucks, all we know about them
is what we have read. Our wireless
ecuipment has been ineffective under
conditions that imposed no unusual
strain. Our aeroplanc squad was de
ficiput in experience and much of the
equipment would have been useless
under real war conditions.
I'm many cases the little equip
ment we had was faulty. not up to
date and slow moving. This eNpcdi-
ton is only an excursion to punish