Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-03-15

+ cavalry, artillery and infantry camps.
The plains are dotted in all directions
with canvas. Troop and supply trains
are rolling in hourly from east and
west
+ General Gavira, the Carranza COM
mandante at Juarez, asked General
Pershing to delay the movement of
American troops for two weeks and
give Carran:istas additional time to
capture Villa.
Pershing is reported to have replied
that he could not delay, as the troops
had been ordered across the border
General Gutierrez, at Juarez, said he
could get Villa in ten days. He says
columns commanded by Gems. Rafael
Malonado, Jose Cavasos, Benjamin
Cara and Luis Harrara have Villa
trapped. Gutierrez reports that Villa
has many wounded with him. These
probably were wounded in the Colum-
bus raid.
Carranza Request ignored.
The request of General Gavira to
General Pershing that he delay move
ment Of American troops two weeks
in order to give the Carranzistas q
chance to catch Villa was not even
communicated to the state or war de-
partments, it was reported from Wash
ington. M. --a-.-s >,s>4s.
+ B-ig. Gen. George Bell, r., com
mander Of Fifth brigade headquarters
in San Antonio. departed for HI Paso
MN ~ -
mand the garrison at Ell Paso.
It was believed certain the main ex-
pedition would drive direct south from
Columbus. headed by Pershing. This
- the mQst direct route - the crow
flies and over a splendid trail. Six
miles opposite, at Palomas, $500 Car
rama troops were reported waiting.
Eight eandits Caught.
Another border bandit outrage at
Fabens, 26 miles east OF El Paso,
threw the American population into q
panic. Eight bandits with gunny sacks
full of loot were captured, five by two
soldiers and the others by three Tex
an rangers. All were turned over to-
the sheriff. They refused to disclose
where they had been robbing. The
soldiers were attracted when they
heard shots. The bandits fred at 4
rancher.
Report Villa Surro unded.
While the border waited in keen ex-
pectancy for word that United States
soldiers had crossed the international
line, reports flowed in from Mexican
sources to the effect that Mexico's
archbandit had already been surround
ed by the troops of Carranza. The
first chief" was apparently making
strenuous efforts to anticipate Ameri-
cans and was reported from several
sources to have concentrated more
than 10000 troops at different points
about Casas Grandes region in Chi
huahua, where Villa is supposed to be.
Two dust-covered automobiles were
towed into Ell Paso from Lanark, 2S
miles west on the border. They were
the cars three railroad officials had
attempted to drive from Columbus
here. They were chased by Mexicans
and boarded a train after distancing
their attackers.
Five thousand rounds of rifle am
munition and a few old rifles we're
seized by the police here in a house
in the Mexican quarter. No arrests
were made.
Fears for the 500 American Nor
mon colonists in Chihuahua were re-
newed when a Villa deserter arriving
at Casas Grandes reported the bandit
was marching against them, deter
mined to exterminate the colony.
Villa burned every bridge on the
Mexican Northwestern railroad be-
tween Corralitos and Sabinal, making
it impossible for the train awaiting
the Mormons at Pearsons to come to
the border.