Evening journal., 1916-03-11
BY The United Press.

BY The United Press.
Ell PASO. Tex. March 11.-While
American troops were expected 10
cross into Mexico in half a dozen
places before night TO avenge the Co
! lumbus and Santa Nsabel massacres,
the border country feared renewed
slaughter of Americans today. The
greatest slaughter Of American col
onists in Mexicos history was re-
ported to be the object OF Francisco
Villas race toward a train OF Nor
mons due this afternoon at Guzman,
Mexico. a small town about fifty miles
southwest of here.
Carranzista troops apparently were
preparing to aid the American sol
diers in the bandit hunt today. Pre-
sumably on orders of the de factO
government, General Gales at Aqua
Prieta redistrbuted his force. send
ing 1.200 to Palomas, six miles south
OF Columbus, and bringing 1000 from
Hermosillo to Aqua Prieta.
Warned OF the proposed campaign
OF determination against him by
American troops. villa is said to have
determined to strike one more blow
against the "Gringoes" before retiring
| to the mountain Businesses OF West
ern Chihuahua. There he hopes to
escape the vengeance OF the United
Safes soldiers
American and Mexican army off,
cials alike cOncede there is no pos
sibio chance Of the Carranzistas inter-
cepting villa. villa. who publicly
announced he would annihilate the
entire trainload of Mormons if he in
torcepted them. was last reported at
La Ascencion thirty-siX miles north
west OF Guzman. Advices TO General
Caveria Carranza commandant in
Juarez early today stated that villa
had only 800 men with him at la AS
cension. but his total force in Chi
huahua State is known to number
nearly 1000.
General Bertani. in command Of q
Carranzista column. was reported
fifty miles west OF Villa, but il was
conceded he had no chance TO over.
take the band leader Prepared for th,
American pursuit. villa has a suppl,
Of fresh horses.
Brigadier General j. j. Pershing
az Fort Bliss here and Colonel H. J
Slocum. i'm command at-Colmbus, eX
day
Troopers privates and non-com
missionod officers of the Fourtl
, United states Cavalry and Twentietl
United States Infantry. crowded th'
telegraph Offices in FL Paso today
sending money and long farewell
messages to relatives and friends.
The American troops expressed
/. themselves pleased at the prospec
OF some action after years OF routine
border patrol duty. The men appeal
to be in fine condition for a campaign
Police we're rounding up every for.
mer villa officer and known villa
sympathzer ia El Paso today. Gen
eral Manuel Banda was among tho
) first taken into custody and techni.
: cally charged with vagrancy a dozen
other e-Villistas Of lesser rank werl
caught in the dragnet before day
b light.
= The authorities took every precau-
tion against a possible outbreak by
the 10000 Mexicans in El Paso.
No disorder was apparent in the
y Mexican quarter over the news of the
y coming American invasion OF Mexico
B. Americans likewise We're outwardly
"a calm. Street car service to Juarez
~ was discontinued last night. but the
~ relations between the two cities con-
r' tinues otherwise normal.
ls Columbus. n NJ. with all wOmer
Iu and children taken TO places OF safet,
~, in other cities, spent restless night
il Warning OF the American plan,
Pm against him is believed TO hav,
ne reached Villa repOrtS that ne wa
in coming 10 rcattack Columbus havini
d proved unfounded.
With the death OF wounded soldie