The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-19
PRESIDENT WILSON AND CABINET CONFER
 ON THE SITUATION
Funston's Report on Mili- tary Aspects of Situation Reviewed-German Situ- ation Has Bearing on the Matter

Washington, April 1S.-The admin istration is waiting on further reports from American officers in Mexico be- fore deciding whether the expedition seeking Villa shall be withdrawn or re- inforced for further operations. Addi- tional advices from General Funston as to the situation are expected hourly. Some telegrams came late today. One was dated Namiquipa, showing that General Pershing had withdrawn to that place.
 Indications at the war department bore out press reports from the front that the pursuit of Villa was tempor- arily at a standstill
 President Wilson and his cabinet dis Icussed the Mexican situation briefly today in the light of review of its military aspect submitted by General Funston. It was announced later that tfhe situation was unchanged and the administrations policy unaltered. One
 member of the cabinet admitted, how 1 ever, that no final decision had been reached as to the withdrawal of the troops.
 l Officials would reveal no word of the Irensrt suhnitted by General Funstcu. lit was apparent, however, thLt 1t out lined a situation which required action ] In Washington. The line of cummunica- tion with General Pershing's forces Is already drawn too thin and there is no 1 disposition here to contradict border
 advices that more troops must be sent i if the chase is to be pressed further. 1 BAKER AND LANSING CONFER 1 Secretary Baker arranged to take ad-
 ditional advices to the White House as
 they came He conferred with Secre- tary Lansing during the late afternoon.
 Neither would discuss their confer
 ence.
 1 It was thought probable, though no
 official would talk about this phase of
 the question, that the German situation
 would have some bearing upon the
 bending decision. If a break in diplo-
 matic relations with Germany is fore
 seen by the administration, it Is very
 certain that the troops will be recalled
 from Mexico immediately. They would
 De needed at home as military prudence
 would require that steps be taken to
 prepare for eventualities in Europe.
 VILLAS DEATH NOT CLEAR
 Some officials expressed the belief | that the United States must wait and
 see what transpired beyond the border
 before it could determine greatly to | increase the American forces there, or
 on the other hand, determine to with
 draw at once. The report of Villas death has not been cleared up as yet. Doubt as to it's truth steadily i'm icreases, however, and dispatches from l Consul fletcher at Chihuahua received | today characterized the report as 8
 mere rumor without any foundation
 that he could ascertain.
 | The Washington government, as nearly | as the attitude of the cabinet can be i learned, is In no mood to force matters I in Mexico Already the main purpose of
 the expedition, protection of the border, | is regarded as accomplished.
 1 In some quarters it was suggested that
 an agreement for withdrawal might be | reached with General Carranza on the
 basis that if Villa or his men again l headed northward and reached within a | the efforts of Carranza troops to check
 them, United States troops would again cross the border. There was nothing to 1 indicate that this plan had actually been | discussed, however.
 l In moving new forces to the border or possibly beyond, as reported tonight in
 San Antonio dispatches, General Funston l is acting within the discretionary power conferred upon him when the chase be-
 gan. He was also instructed by secre-
 tary Baker, after the Parral incident was 1 reported to spare no effort to protect
 the advanced forces
 l It is known that army officials be- lieve the situation of some of the detach- ments would be perilous if Carranza 1 troops in other districts should follow i the lead of those at Parral. who are | reported to have fired on Majors Tomp- kins' men, A message today said that ] Americans from Parral reported that the 1 citizens there were without arms. They also declared that the Herrera mentioned 1 in unofficial reports as having led the ! attack was nephew of Gen. Luis Her 1 rera, the Carranza commander, whose ru- nlored detection to the Villa cause oc. casioned much anxiety two weeks ago. That report proved to be unfounded. Secretary Baker would only say after <, the cabinet meeting that no additional 1 troops had been ordered to the border 1 and that no such movement was con- | templated at present. It is evident that the shifting of forces reported from San Antonio is in accordance with Genera, Funston's best judgment as to the wise disposition of his men to prepare against
 any amergency