The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-03-30
YILLAPREPARlNG TOFIGHT
WILL KILL MEXICANS FRIENDLY
TO AMERICANS.
Believed Bandit Miscalculated When
He Predicted Raid Would Cause
MeXicans to Rise Against L. S.

L leu f1eduQTudTtoTS, american Tx
pedition Force, Colonia Dublan, Chi
huahua, Mexico, March 26.-(By
Aeroplane to Columbus, N. NJ, March
27.)-Evidence that Villa is prepar-
ing to- resist the American pursuing
columns and that the Mexican people
are not as yet rallying to him has
been collected by the officers and
scouts of the American troops.
Officers who have ridden over the
various fronts in the State of Guer-
rero, where Villa fled when the ex-
pedition crossed the border, have
found numerous indications that Vii
la miscalculated completely when he
predicted that his Columbus raid
would cause general uprising
against Americans.
The status of the chase today is
that Villa is retiring continually
southwark, trying to force recruits
into his ranks. His men are feeling
the pinch of hunger and are hoping
for an early summer to shield against
the cold of the mountains, where
they have retreated somewhere south
of Namiquipa.
Chief Question.
The question of overshadowing i'm
portance now is: "Will Villa con-
tinue to prepare for resistance?'
1t is frankly hoped that he will,
for that is considered the best
chance, barring a lucky capture
through treachery of Villas own
men, of bringing the American expe-
dMion to an early successful conclu-
sion. If Villa refuses to make any
resistance, the men who have been
over the ground here believe, it may
require months to crush him.
An officer who has been through
many camps where Villa had passed
within a week found to all appear
ances the bandit had failed to in
flame sentiment against the Ameri-
cans.
'"These rural people," said the Of
fcer, "are in ignorance of any re-
liable facts about the nature of the
American expedition. They have
been told that the Americans are an
invading army, dangerous enemy
that they must fight for their lives.
But all those whom I saw seemed
to be very credulous people.
'"They appeared to be waiting
with some suspicion, it is true-but,
nevertheless, waiting before making
up their minds. This waiting took
to be hopeful sign. It was like 60
ing into villages where the inhabi-
tants regard one with open suspicion.
but are ready to be friendly, provid-
ed they think our mission is friendly
| That, I think, is the attitude of the
| people toward us in many OF the
places where Villa hoped for re-
cruits."
For two weeks the reports along
Villas trails show that he has seized
young men and boys of small towns
as forced recruits His custom has
| been for either himself or one of his
lieutenants to line up most OF the
male population for inspection. The
best physical specimens have been
pulled out of line and told roughly
that they were honored above the
others because they become "Villa's
men,"
In the Casas Grandes region, at
Galeana and Ell Vale, Villa secured
fully half a hundred men by this
method.
Working in Good Faith
The disappearance of the Carranza
garrison at Namiquipa and reports
that these men had Joined Villa was
not taken at American headquarters
as Indicating serious trouble. Per-
sonal investigation indicated to the
American officers, they said, that the
Constitutionalist army were cooperat-
ing with good will.
Occasional defections of Mexican
troops have been expected, but there
has been no sign of a break reported
here on the part of any of the Con-
stitutionalist army officers with whom
the American forces have been in ac-
tual cooperation. All of them ap-
near to be following orders from Gen.
Gutierrez, military governor of Chi
huahua, to close in on Villa from all
sides.
Villa has not, so far as learned,
! faced any strong Constituencies
forces. His strategy has been to Sc
1oct noints in the Constitutionalist
line where only a small force was
available. In such fights, according