South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-03-13
Troops and Supply Trains
From Fl. Bliss and Along
the Whole Border
Get Into Action.
FATE OF 500 MORMONS
is CAUSE OF CONCERN
CoIoniStS Prepare to Leave
Danger Zone and March
AfOOt Across Desert to
Safety in u. S.
International News Service

International News Service:
Ell PASO. Texas. March 13.-Pre-
partitions for the expedition INFO
Mexico went forward here today
with systematic swiftness. Train dis
patchers worked through the night
and all of today on the details for
the movement OF troop and supply
trains from Fort Bliss and other
points along the international Dor
der The dispatcheTs worked under
implicitly instructions from the mill
tary authorities not to reveal the
destination Of any train.
A report that trains carrying sol
diers from Fort sam Houston passed
through FL Paso early today was not
confirmed st headquarters here.
Twelve supply cars were shunted
onto the Fort Bliss siding today and
were MADE ready to follow the first
troop train that starts from here IN
10 Mexico. Along the Fort Bliss road
ambulances and supply wagons were
kept il waiting for the order 10
move.
At Fort Bliss today company A Of
the Sth United States cavalry under
went final inspection of mounts and
equipment
Fate of Mormons Causes Concern.
Tie fate of the 500 residents "
the Mormon colony in Casas Grandes
was causing grave concern here to-
dav. There was no direct communi-
cation with the region where the
AIormons are reported to be in dang
or.
Bishop fJursh of the Mormon
church in FL Paso, received word in
a roundabout way that the colonists
were preparing 20 leave the danger
zone and march afoot across the de-
sert toward the border
A telegram received by the l. y.
<. from Marion Letcher. American
consul at chihuahua City, today re-
ouested that denial be made Of the
reports that there We're recent anti
American demonstrations in that
city.
Both the authorities and the pen-
pie generally are showing admirable
pOise and self control in the pres
cnt circumstances"
News from other sources in Chi
huahua City stated that all the
Americans in that section were en-
route 10 the border
While II had been expected that
thousands of adherents would be
gained by Villa as soon as American
troops crossed the border. the atti-
tude taken by Gen. Carranza is ad-
mitted by the United States officials
here to have made the situation ex-
ceedingly grave. Information has
reached Fort Bliss that Carranza
soldiers are digging trenches across
the line This is admittedly an in
dicatiou that the Carranzistas will
back the determination of the con-
stitutiOnalistS first chief TO oppose
American operations in Mexico un-
less Mexican troops are granted the
privilege of entering United States
territory.
The roundup Of Mexicans who
might De inimicaI TO American in
terests is going ON without cessa-
ton. Three more former Villa gem
erals. Julio Fabela, Samuel ROdri-
guez and Juan Rodriguez have been
taken into cutody here today. At
present more than so Mexicans sus-
pected Of being spies are under ar
rest.
The first stroke Of the American
army may be one 20 save Amer
lean cOlonists trapped at Casas
Grandes. Official advices state that
the telegraph line between Juarez
and Casas Grandes has been cut
This is attributed 10 Villistas who
have been reported as marching on
Casas Crandes with the avowed in
tention OF Strengthening all the 500
Mormons living there
Carranza Troops Active.
While the American troops are
rapidly concentrating at the points
assigned them by Mai Cen. Fred
erick Funston. Carranza troops are
also active south Of the Arizona. New
Mexico and Texas border They ap-
pear 10 be keeping close TO the line.
rather than proceeding southwark in
pursuit OF the villa forces. This
leads ID the belief here that the
Carranzistas are preparing for oper-
ations against American forces
tCCNT,I MET, on DAf.E- --r,Drk