The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-03-18
WILSON ORDERS
ARMY TO MEXICO
Gen. Funston With 5000 Men
Will EndeaVOr to Round
Up the Bandits.
TAKE VILLA DEAD OR ALIVE"
This is the Word Sent by War Depart
ment to Fighting kansan-car-
rama Silent.


troops were ordered across the Next
can border today by President Wilson
to take Francisco Villa and his ban
dts dead or alive.
Under the direction, if not actually
the leadership of Major General Fun
ston, who ended the Philippine insur-
rection by taking Aguinaldo single
handed, American columns are expect
ed to be moving into Mexico before to-
morrow night. They go to meet about
5000 guerilla troops in a mountainous
region from which Carranza troops
have fed.
Whether this long deferred armed
action, which begins purely as a punt
tive measure to clear northern Mexico
of menacing bandit bands over which
General Carranaz has no control, shall
grow into general armed interVen-
ton or occupation in Mexico, depends
in large measure upon General Car
rama and the Mexican people
1t begins with President Wilson's
declaration that it is entirely in aid of
the Carranza government and without
thought of aggression. This statement
prepared by the president himself, was
given out at the White House:
To Respect Sovereignty.
An adequate force will be sent at
once in pursuit of Villa with the single
object of capturing him and putting a
stop to his forays
This can be done and will be done
in entirely friendly aid of the consti-
tuted authorities in Mexico and with
for 49,
of that republic"
President Wilson's decision to de-
part from the policy of watchfuI wait
ing, fastened by the Columbus massa-
ere yesterday, was announced today
after it had been unanimously ap-
proved by the cabinet and administra-
ton leaders in congress. The presi-
dents position was explained fully to
the former, who agreed that he should
not be embarrassed at this time by
discussions of a minority, which might
arouse trouble in Mexico.
President Is Determined.
After a brief cabinet meeting, at
which the president was described as
being as determined to eliminate Villa
as he was to eliminate Huerta, Secre-
tary Baker hurried to the war depart
ment and as his first act in Office sent
orders to the border troops
Soon afterward the army general
staff assembled and conferred over the
plans, long drawn and perfected since
the Mexican situation doomed I'D as a
disturber to the peace of the United
States.
Another Ranch Raided.
Bisbee, Ariz., March 11-An Ameri-
can rancher was killed early tonight
when band of approximately 200
Mexican bandits crossed the border
southeast of Osborne Junction, Ariz.,
according to reports reaching here to-
night
Many head of livestock were killed
or driven off by the bandits, it was
stated.
Later advices stated that the num-
Der of Mexican bandits was between
200 and 5OO
In response to an appeal from the
residents for help, sixty-five troopers
of the Tenth U. S. cavalry at Naco,
Ariz., were rushed to that point.
The cavalrymen were reported late
tonight to, be awaiting sally from
the bandits. All of the Americans at
Osborne Junction, with the exception
of one family, came to Bisbee on a
special train tonight
Silent to Washington.
Washington, March 11-GeneraI
Carranza, in a telegram to the State
Department, expressed regret at the
Columbus massacre, but made no COM
ment on the proposal of sending Amer
lean troops to hunt down the bandits.
EliseO ArredOndo, his ambassador
here, was officially informed of the
American governments action. He re-
piled only that he would communicate
with his chief. He has previously ex-
pressed the Personal opinion that the
movement would not be opposed.
Ends WatchfuI Waiting.
Washington, March live have
put our hand to the pillow and we will
go to the end of the furrow''
That was said to have been the
cryptic sentence uttered by President
Wilson today at the cabinet meeting
at which the decision to send the punt
tive expedition into Mexico finally
was determined.