The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-03-28

I by the American cavalry, General
| Pershing's communication line will be
| 200 miles long.
| Fear Outlaw Bands.
| 1t was stated at army headquarters
that additional troops are needed not
only as a protection against sudden
rear-guard action by Villistas but
against any parties" who might care
to make trouble for the American ex-
peditionary force.
General Funston declined to state
whom he regarded as possible enc
mics in addition to Villa bandits.
| The only fear expressed at head
| quarters was not that any one of the
detachments had suffered misfortune,
but that Villa might again have eluded
his pursuers.
General Funston announced that
| the Fifth cavalry, of which one squad
ron is at Fort Meyer, Va, another at
| Fort LeavenWorth, Kan, and the third
at Fort Sheridan, H., would be
brought to the border at once and
sent out along General Pershing's line
of communication.
New Clash Due Soon.
The last reports received here told
of Villas encounter with Carranza's
forces near Namiquipa. If Villa de-
feated the Mexican government
troops, it was regarded as probable
that he had continued his movement
, on into the south, where he might re-
main unmolested for some time.
Villa was reported defeated by Car
rama forces at Cruces, just south of
| Ell Vale, and to have retreated into
| the Santa Clara mountains.
American troops have been dis
patched to the vicinity where Villa
was reported as fighting with the con-
stitutionalists, according to the Co
lumbus wireless.
The Americans went in a separate
| flying column 1t is understood that
constitutionalist troops have been dis
| patched to the same neighborhood to
cooperate in attempting to trap
Villa. A separate column of Ameri-
can troops has been sent to the vicin-
| ity of Cruces, where Villa was re-
ported.
More Cavalry Needed.
The additional troops requested, the
number and exact composition of
| which later will be announced by the
war department, will consist of cav
airy and infantry and possibly some
artillery. There are now 10000 fed
eral soldiers in General Funston's de-
partment of the southwest, but Of
these only a portion are available for
foreign service, the great majority be-
ing used for border patrol. Five thou
sand are in the Brownsville district
alone.
General Funston's latest informa-
| ton as to Villas whereabouts locates
the bandit in the region about Cruces.
according to headquarters, Pershing's
rapid advance had taken him out of
| touch with his temporary base at
| Casas Grandes.
Get Request in Washington.
Washington, March %. = Brigadier
General Pershing has asked for more
! infantry to keep open the lines of
communication behind his flying col
umns. Major General Funston has
| forwarded the request to the war de-
partment and it has been taken under
| consideration.
Villa in New Battle
Ell Paso, Tex, March 22-F'rancisco
| Villa and his band of outlaws have
| been forced into another battle with
| the Carranza troops near Las Cruces.
This information came as a report by
wireless to the United States army
station at Columbus, n. M, and it was
further said that American troops had
| been dispatched to Las Cruces to aid
il the lighting.
The fighting at Las Cruces follow
| ing the engagement at Namiquipa in
Dictated that the Carranza troops are
| pressing Villa hard in his fight north
ward along the Santa Maria river and
| that the outlaw soon may be forced to
stand and give battle to the American
| troops now moving southwark.
Draw Gordon Close.
The American and de factor govern
ment troops are drawing the Gordon
| closer around the elusive Villa and
within few days, army officers here
| believe, it will be known whether
Villa is to meet his fate in battle or
battle his pursuers by successful es,
cape into the Sierra Madre A series
of running fights is anticipated.
Army Makes Good Speed.
| Ell Paso, Texas, March 20.-A wire
| less dispatch from the American army
headquarters in Mexico says: After
marching more than 10 miles into
/ Mexico in forty-two hours-a speed Of
| thirty-three miles a day-the Ameri-
can punitive expedition has received
information apparently locating Fran
cisco Villa, the object of the chase.
disposition of the troops for the
task of hunting him down has begun.
Meanwhile Villa was reported to be
continuing his outrages upon Ameri-
cans. He is said to have raided Amer
| icon colonies in the vicinity of his
mountain retreats and killed residents
| of these colonies.
Many American Colonies.
From thirty-f1ve to forty miles south
and also southwest of the Casas
Grandes region, where the report
| placed the American troops, there
are numerous American Norman set
| f1arQptc b,1t IL bod hoop ho1iouod thof