Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-04-11

ouERETARo, MEXICO, APRIL II.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT An
.NouNcED TODAY IT HAD REASON
70 BELIEVE FRANCISCO VILLA
HAD BEEN KILLED IN ACTION
AND SEARCHING PARTIES HAD
BEEN SENT OUT 70 FIND HIS
BODY. ~
General Psrshins's Hsadquar-
ters at the Front, April 10, via
Mexican Telegraph to Juarezi April
f1.-Rsnswsd reports have been
received by General Psrshins that
Francisco Wills 10 dead and buried.
Vi These reports are under investiaa-
lion. S ~ ".l
Mexieans who had seen Villa on
his flight south said that tho bandit
looked thin and siekly week ago.
Reports, however, are conflicting:
One fairly good authority stated
that villa was abie to walk the
first day after he received his
wound, which indicates that no
bones Msss broken. s... -o.s
Asropianss today covered sew
eraI hundred square miles Of ter
ritory scouting over country here
tofors unsxplorsd by psons.
IN The Msxicans in this section are
yvslt disposed toward the Amsri-
cans and rsapy; Of them ars bitter
assi1st Nliia.
washington. April II. - Unoficiial
ana unconfrned reports that Villa Is
dead reached the Carranza embassy
today and were given some degree OF
credence by officials there. The re-
ports were represented as having come
from Queretaro. General Carranza's
provisional capital. They were un-
substantiGted by the latest dispatches
70 the war and state departments. -
The report of Villas recent injury.
however, and tho rigors Of his long
and hurried flight In which he has
been variously reported as being car
sried on q litter. on tho shoulders OF his
men, or IN q carriage over rough trails,
gave color to the possibility that the
bandit chief may have been unable to
survive the hardships Of the fight.
Large Force on Border. -
OFFICIAL estimates of the number OF
troops In Mexico and on the border
available for emergency were given at
the war department today. General
scott, chief OF staff. announced that
1885 troops now constitute the border
patrol. .....,,l.
General Pershing has about 10000
men IN Mexico, including those holding
his line OF communication.
How greatly the mobile army has
been drawn upon was also disclosed by
General Scott. He estimated that only
1000 troops remain in the United
states not engaged on the border.
The only troops remaining at army
poats are the Second cavalry. divided
between Fort Myer, Va. and Fort
Ethan Allen, VT: the Third and
Thirtieth cavalry, along the great
fakes: the Fourteenth infantry, d.
vided between Fort Wright, Alaska,
and Fort Lawton. Okla; the Twenty
first infantry, divided between San
Diego. Cal, and Vancouver. Wash,
with ono battalion at Calexio, and one
trnon Of the Thirteenth cavalry, at
Fort Riley, Kan, service school.
Without Definite News.
General scott also stated that no
u,nrd of the chase Of Villa had been
received for several days. Difficulty
81 communication as well as censor
ship extending to the war department
sitsetf left the department ignorant OF
recent operations.
The department asked details OF
General Pershings recent conference
with General Gutierrez and General
Herrero. but General Funston tele-
..... .ss.AA tnday that no further WORD
shad come from General Pershing.
L American Consul Letcher apparently
II aiding Pcrshing to get supplies.
General Pershing was reported to bein
to,,ch with Consul Letcher and ex-
.pected to get supplies from Chihuahua.
Huecial Agent Rodgers, OF the state
department, at Queretaro. telegraphed
'tnday he was detained In Mexico city
in connection with commercial ques-
stfons affecting the hide trade and min
,iiir taxes All state department dis
natcl,es were said TO report condttions
sniet thruo,It Mexico, The department
1ar-without information regarding the
,enorted activity OF General Salazar.
poeiTtoN or TROOPS UNKNOWN.
cenr 4 srda of Colonel Dodd and Colonel
areSvW out n Touch With Funston.
III Paso,S,rex. April, I With no Of
siicfar adyices for days of the where
aiouts III the advances guard Of Amer
lean cavalry pnrsuing Villa, officials o.
t,ts 60 ern LAY so.ie ~
It'd obtain Intprrnation OF the position
III American troops.