Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-14
AUTO TRUCK FORCES SHOT
AT BY ENEMY
Continued From Page F6ir.)

has passed the Chihuahua-Durango
line and now is in a district where
Villa has a strong following and where
there is little love for the "gringo."
From different sections of Lower
Chihuahua come vague reports of dis
orders arising from economic condi-
lions and that the de facto government
is having difficulty in maintaining
order
Quiet Along Border.
In spite Of alarming rumors and
considerable apprehension which was
expressed in some quarters, the night
in Ell Paso and Juarez passed peace
fully.
AS far as is apparent on the sur
face the Mexicans in both cities have
only languid interest in the situa-
ton brought about through General
Carranza's request for the withdrawal
of the American troops and the clash
at Parral. The only noticeable excite
ment is among the Americans.
Wild Stories are Told.
At the same time the anti-Amer-
lean agitators who have been busy for
weeks spreading stories of the United
States intention to embark on a wal
of conquest have not overlooked their
opportunity. Their first effort was the
spreading of a story in Juarez to the
effect that hundreds of people had
been slain in an attack upon Parral by
American soldiers and that the grin
goes" had been defeated with great
losses. General Gavira, the CarranZa
commander, took speedy steps tt
crush this yarn by posting in prom
inent place General Obregon's officia
account of the Parral incident which
was read by thousands yesterday anC
. last evening. The people accepted the
: official version and what little excite
ment had been created quickly sub
, sided
Situation Well in Hand.
The authorities here were so vel
satisfied that there was no occasion
for alarm, that nothing beyond the
normal precautions were taken tt
guard the town during the night To
day rumors Of impending riots ant
revolutions have given way to the in
: tense interest with which the develop
: ments in the diplomatic situation a
Washington are awaited. Even tn,
popular amusement of locating villa
has lost its charm pending the result
of President. wilson's deliberations
with his cabinet
Infantry Guards Train.
AscenciOn, Chihuahua, April IA
! Casting a great black shadow on thu
!, desert and less than mile to tn
: north of Ascension lies the camp o
the American infantrymen who ar
guarding the line of communication
, | Their tents are pitched in the cente
of little. cottonwood fringed oasis
!, Around their camp is a long trencl
: ready for instant occupancy Will,
cavalrymen constantly are making
, their lonely way up and down the mot
or supply route which leads from Col
umbus, n. NJ, to the front.
1t is a tedious job, this guarding o
a wagon trail In the formless deser
: of Chihuahua, according to the sol
: diers, who are members of the 24tl
l. infantry, a negro regiment. Only thu
: occasional arrival of a motor or F;
= Wagon train carrying supplies to tn,
troops farther to the front, who ar
actively pursuing Villa, breaks tn
monotony of the task. An engineering
company, whose brown canvass shell
- tiers lie just across the RE De Janos, i
: the envy of the infantrymen, for the
= at least, are kept busy repairing tn
Il dust filed ruts in the road caused b
v the passage of innumerable heav
IL truck trains.
Stiffness Broken BY Shots.
u Of course, occasionally the silence c
y a star-peppered night is broken by tn
firing of shots. But, in the mair
these only serve to demonstrate tn
II preparedness of the men who are dc
r ing the Watchful waiting along tn
II movement of wild animal or tn
swaying of a clump of mesquite in tn
o night breeze, is enough to call forth
i sharp challenge, which, unanswered
r, is followed by the winnoWing purr of
a rifle bullet.
II Even the town of Ascension, lyin
about sixty-five miles south of Colun
bus, n. NJ, offers no distraction fo
IS the soldiers. Once a prosperous Mea
u lean village, years of civil strife hay
S. left it little more than huddled clus
6, ter of huts, bearing the marks Of til
st towns experiences Yet the troop
e. console themselves with the know
81 ledge that things here, after all. al
l. not like those in Boca Grande. Coloni
S. Dublan, Namiquipa and other town
l. along the long motor supply rout
}; from the border to the district
tn which the advanced American detacl
6, ments are pursuing Villa.
Animals Less Afraid.
Because of the order which has goI
If. out against unnecessary firing, eve
Of hunting is under the ban. AS a r
:, suit the wild animals who make the
homes on these fiat dusty plains a
dt beginning 10 lose their fear of the SO
ne ders. A soldier telegraph operate
as doing at his key in the extemporiz'
We headquarters. was awakened by d
of rough tongue laid against his chez
l. ~ IN
" rangy coyote, which had be.