The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-31
BATTLE IS ON

of the American forces at Galeana,
and unofficia1ly it was learned that
the general movement of the punitive
forces has been toward the district
where army officers are convinced
Villa is preparing to make stand.
The total strength of the Americans
is not so great as that of Villa but no
apprehension as to the outcome was
manifest at General F>unston's head
quarters. Pleasure rather than anxiety
was evinced when it was learned that
fighting was about to begin. Army
officers were confident that the ability
to shoot straight, already demon
strated at Columbus and on the sortie
made by the little detachment that
pursued Villa across the line after his
raid on Columbus, would be displayed
again.
VIII Carranzists.s Join Fray?
Just what support the Carranza
force will be able to give was only
conjectured, but no doubt was ex-
pressed that they might fail in their
part Although between the comman-
| der of the Carranza troops and Cen
eral Pershing there is no agreed-upon
plan, it is admitted that the Carranza
leader is as much in earnest about
driving Villa into corner as Is the
American general.
| The information that Villa had con-
centrated a considerable force west of
! Chihuahua along the Northwestern
| railway is in line with the reports yes
| terday that he was on the Geronimo
and de La Quemada ranches near the
| headwaters of the Santa Maria river.
The railroad in that part of the coun-
try crosses the Santa Maria valley at
right angles and the ranches on which
| he was said to have halted are not far
north of his reported point of concen-
| tration.
Not Sure Villas There.
Whether Villa is actually with the
force that appeared to be preparing to
give battle was not known. 1t was
hoped he was
General Pershing's use of the
Northwestern railroad below Casas
Grandes for 140 miles has enabled him
to move more rapidly his force to ad-
vantageOus positions Whether he has
| or has not, was not stated, but 1t was
stated as probable that when the
fighting gets under way he will have
available for reinforcement the great
er part of the advanced columns that
have been securing the country south
of the main line of communications
for two weeks.
lieved to have moved down the Santa
! Maria valley and another considerable
force of Americans it was believed
probably had reached as far south
lover the Northwestern as Guerrero,
some distance south of MADEIRA. From
there good trails extend towards the
east, where Villas men were reported
Close Outlets of Escape.
| The east is presumably closed by the
several thousand men whom General
Gutierrez is said to have in the district
around Chihuahua City No train has
left Juarez since Monday and as far
as known it is said no preparation has
been made by the officials of Mexico
to dispatch a train today. No reason
has been given for this interruption of
the schedules.
Field Headquarters American Punt
tive Expeditionary Force, Colonia
Dublan, Chihuahua, March 27-By
motor truck to Columbus, N. M.
March 31.-Esta blishment of a field
bakery on a Mexican plantation near
headquarters has released a half doz-
en- automobiles for other work which
up to today has been distributing
bread baked on the United States Dor
der among the columns of the expe-
dition.
The bread baked at the new ovens
| is from native Mexican flour, the first
obtained by the expeditionary COL
umns. The ovens were made of ma
tive brick and mud.
| Army in Severe Test.
Whatever the outcome of the chase
for Villa, it is evident that the army
here in Mexico under General Per
shlng is being given an actual test OF
the military inventions under service
conditions. All the way from cooks
outfit up to auto-trucks and aero