El Nuevo mexicano., 1916-03-23
Move Likely to Follow
Carranza Refusal of
Railroads
RAIL PROBLEM
BRINGING CRISIS
General Belief Is That
First Chief Is Only
Playing For Time

t1y Leased Wire TO New Mexlcan.)
SAN ANTONIO, March 22.--Generai
Funston today received from General
Pershinu the first report from the
front In 60 nOvrs. 1t came from Casas
Grandes and the only reference made
to the operations Of Villa was that
ViIIista and carrancista troops had
been engaged Monday near Mama
quipa.
Major Sample, reporting from Co
lumbus, NJ. NJ. said that Aviator VIII
lis is safe, and that Aviator Gorrell Is
the only flyer nov missing. Gorrell
was sighted over CoIonla Juarez,
southeast Of casas Grandes.
General Pershing reported an aero.
plane in communication with the Sew
enth cavalry, go miles southeast Of
Casas Grandcs.
Two other advance cavalry columns
are known TO be pushing south. NO
report of fighting between Americans
and villistas has been received.
III Paso, March 22.-The Mexican
railroad problem again took first place
in public interest on the border to-
day, following a report that the Amer
lean military authorities we're con-
templating sending a new column in
to Mexico from Fabens, a village 50
miles east of here. 1t vas stated that
this plan was under consideration as
an alternative should General Car
rama refuse the request of the Wash
ington government for the use of the
Mexico Northwestern railroad over
which to transport supplies.
From Guadalupe, across the border
from Fabens. one Of the best wagon
roads in northern Mexico leads south
and southwest through Charcos to the
Laguna or small lake region about
Ahumada, and Ell Carrizal. From the
latter point it follows the Rio de Car
men to a spot scarcely fifteen miles
from FL Vale, the most southernly
town known to have been reached by
the American troops. Not only is the
road a good one, Is Mexican roads go,
but troops passing along it would
have plenty of water and the sur
rounding country is fairly fertile.
The report of the plan for an entry
from Fabens followed a conference
between General Bell and an Ameri-
can who is thoroughly familiar with
the section Of Mexico through which
the wagon road runs. General Bell
declined to discuss the report.
That the railroad problem will
bring a real crisis in the relations be-
tween the Carrancistas and Ameri-
cans is firmly believed here. Reports
continue to seep through the censor
ship at Columbus in regard to the diff
equities the American military u
thorities are experiencing in forward
ing adequate supplies by pack horses
and wagon trains.
This difficulty will steadily increase
as the American. columns grow in
numbers. Army Officers maintain their
usual r~eticence in talking about mill
tary affairs connected with the expedi-
tionary force, but they have made adj
missions which confirm the story
that the transportation problem is an
increasingly serious one.
There is a general impression here
that General Carranza is playing for
time, knowing the grave consequences
which may follow either refusal On
granting of the request.
AS far as the border is concerned.
this situation is of far greater interest
than the actual pursuit OF Villa. This
is partly due to the meager news com.
ing from General Pershing and from a
general skepticism over the reports