The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-19
MORE men FUNSTON

NCOhlIhdCu lIOi1l axe OLC.l
Pass are under orders to move to
Columbus as soon as the necessary
rolling stock can be secured. Upon
arrival it is believed General Pershing
will use the regiments to strengthen
the line of communication.
Pershing Concentrating Forces.
Ell Paso, April Decentralization of
reports that the American expedi-
tionary force was being concentrated
at three points in Mexico, especially
for the withdrawal of the troops or
the organization of a new and more
extensive campaign was received here
from Mexican sources.
1t was said General Pershing had
withdrawn all outlying detachments
south of Namiquipa, that in the
neighborhood of 5000 men were
camped at San Antonio, II miles west
of Cusihuiriachic. and that force
estimated at almost double this num-
Der was being concentrated ear
Namiquipa. The belief that the
American troops are about to leave
Mexico is widespread among the
Mexicans in Juarez and has complete
" changed the attitude of the people
who after the Parral incident gave
marked indications of hostility to-Tard
Americans.
Typhus Wipes Out Poems.
Suppiementing reports that the pol
itical situation in Mexico was OF minor
importance, in comparison with the
economic conditions and the raVaSeS
of typhus fever. which has been
sweeping through the central states;
an American mining official received
MESA ges that relief was needed II
thousand poems in Durango, Coahuila,
Aguas Calientes, San Luis Potosi and
Zacatecas were not to perish
These messages stated that there
were between 1000 and 5000 cases of
typhus in the city of Aguas Calientes
and a similar proportion in almost
every city of importance in central
Mexico including Queretaro.
German Trouble a Factor.
Washington, April 19.-Decision of
the Washington government upon the
question as to whether the American
forces hunting Villa shall be recalled
or reinforced for further operations
today awaited the receipt of further
reports from American officers III
Mexico.
. The general belief here is that the
German situation would have some eff
feet on the pending decision. Should
a break in diplomatic relations occur
it was pointed out that the troops in
Mexico would be needed at home. 1t
was suggested that as the main pur-
pose of the expedition the protection
of the border has been accomplished,
an agreement for the withdrawal
might be reached with General Car
rama, on the basis that if Villa or his
bandits again head northward, Amer
lean troops would again cross the in
ternational line.
$4,000 Defactos.
Douglas. Ariz, April 19.-Twenty-
five thousand de facto Mexican troops
are now operating in Chihuahua, ac-
cording to General P. Elias Gales,
military governor of Sonora, in a
statement, which, he said, was based
on official message from military Of
ficers of that state.
The Villa bandits are being scat
tered into small bands, he said and
are being systematically hunted down.
The ann )unced plan of the Chi
huahua authorities is to place these
men in garrisons in the various cities
of the state, as soon as the American
troops are withdrawn. Whenever news
indicating that bandits are in the vi
cinity of any town, has been received,
the cavalry will be sent out with or
ders to kill or capture them. Gales
says the Chihuahua officials believe
they can quickly rid the country of
every outlaw.