White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1916-03-24
VILLA HAD NEARLY
FIFTY MILE START
AMERICAN EXPEDITION ENDS ITS
FIRST PHASE WITHOUT SHOT
BEING FIRED.
MARCHING BY MOONLIGHT
More Stringent Censorship Imposed at
Columbus, as Leakage Of News in
Military Circles Causes Trouble -
Villa Hiding in Mountains.

Ell Paso, Texas-The first phase of
the American expedition into Mexico,
the rush along Villas dim trail to the
endangered Mormon colonies was an
accomplished fact Saturday night
completed, according to reports reach
ing Columbus base, without the firing
of hostile shot by the Americans.
The second praise already was be-
ginning, it was indicated here, as the
Americans turned somewhere from
Casas Grandes to resume their night
marches under the brilliant Mexican
moonlight toward the rough mountain
slopes, where it is known Pancho Viii
la already has preceded them with
more than 100 miles start.
Warning that this second act in the
chase might not be passed without
fighting against bandits was implied
in new and more stringent censor
ship imposed at Columbus. Further
leakage of news of military move
ments, the censor said frankly to the
American press, would be likely to cost
soldiers lives.
Columbus Raiders, Outside Law.
Mexico City.-The minister of war,
General Oregon, has issued decree
declaring all participants in the Co.
lumbus raid outside the law. The de-
cree gives the right to any citizen to
apprehend and kill, If necessary, the
followers of Villa who crossed the
American frontier.
Where Villa Is Hiding.
Villa was located Saturday with
some degree of definiteness, If weight
of evidence counts in pinning down
his rapid shifts. From several sources
constitutionalists received messages,
all of which placed him in approx
mately the same portion of western
chihuahua. These dispatches had him
nearly due south Of the American col
umn's present known position and
close to the Sierra Tarahumare noun
tains, so close to them in fact, that if
his reputation as fox holds good dur
ing the American chase he should be
able to make puzzling disappearance
in these ranges with very few hours
hard riding. BY all accounts he is more
than 100 miles ahead of the Ameri-
cans, about the same distance he has
with one possibly important differ
ence, that, while heretofore the Amer
leans have been riding on somewhat
solid trail, they are now nearing the
ground which Villa very recently pass
ed over, and where they may have
practical opportunity to test out the
temper of the rural MeXicans from
whom they might receive valuable in
formation.
Villa Located on Hearst Ranch
Ell Paso, Texas, March 20.-Pancho
Villa has been driven into a trap by
the American troops, according to in
formation received Monday morning
from the front and in Geographic mes.
sages to General Gabriel Gavira the
Carranza commander at Juarez.
Everything seems now to depend on
the ability of the Carranza garrisons
to hold their end of the net. On three
sides of the bandit chief he is hemmed
in by strong Carranza columns, while
on the fourth the American soldiers
are driving forward with amazing
speed.
Villa was reported in the Babricora
lake region on the ranch of Mrs.
Phoebe Hearst, which he has ravaged
several times in the past. Babricora
is about SIS miles south of Galeana,
where one section of the American ex-
peditionarv force has arrived and is
pushing forward at the rate of 33 miles
a day. A few miles to the west of the
bandits position is Namiquipa, which
is held by powerful Carranza garri-
son. On the east are the frowning
barriers Of the Sierra Madres noun
fafpo ha rripp tho uay fn Conoro