New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-14
Gen. Pershing Takes
Command of Forces
at Columbus.
ARMY PREPARED,
FUNSTON ASSERTS
Denies DetaChments Have
Already Begun Chase
After Bandit Chief.

San Antonio, Tex, March 49, A SUI
ilcient force is now gathered az the
Mexican border under the command Of
Brigadier General John Pershing to
begin the pursuit Of Francisco Villa,
it was announced tonight by Najor
General Frederick Funston.
Late tonight General Funston said
the expedition would not get under
way tomorrow morning. He charac-
terized all rumors that troops already
were in Mexico as absolutely false
hoods
From Columbus came the statement
that approximately 10000 troops. with
forty mountain and field gun batteries,
were gathered along the international
boundary tonight between Douglas,
Ariz., and FL Paso, line about 200
miles long. little more than one
third OF this force is cavalry. it was
said.
General Funston said that only the
completion Of plans for backing up the
expeditionary force now was needed.
He was non-commttal as to the time
necessary to accomplish this.
Reports that American troops had
been ordered 10 AT once cross the bor-
der in pursuit OF villa were untrue,
the general asserted Reitersting pre-
vious statements. he said it would be
useless to send anything but strong,
we'll prepared force into Mexico.
That the force will be a strong one
was indicated by a statement Of the
general that when the expedition was
organized there would be only six or
eight regiments other than those on
the border left in the United States.
This did not take into account troops in
the Canal Zone and the Philippines.
Outside OF mentioning two or three
scattered movements. the general re-
fused 10 give any definite idea Of the
size OF the expedition.
He said the 23d Infantry, stationed
at Galveston. was expected TO leave for
the West tonight. that part of the lst
Cavalry had left San Francisco for the
East and would pick up the rest of the
detail at San Diego, and that the sec
ond squadron Of the 18th Cavalry. at
Fort Robinson, Nebraska. had been or
dered TO start, but was being delayed
b. lack Of rolling stocL.
To General Pershing will be left
final disposition Of the eXpeditionary
force. Orders will be issued for the
forward movement by General Funston
at Fort Sam Houston, but the hour
when they will be executed will be de-
cided by the general in the held.
Motor Supply Train to Go.
The expcdtionary force into Mexico
is to be equipped with complete mo-
tor supply train, an innovation in the
United States army.
Motor transportation OF supplies is
deemed necessary by General Funston,
since after the expedition gets we'll on
its way 1t probably will get far from
any railroad.
Word was received to-day that the
War Department AZ Washington had
authorized the purchase Of ffty-four
trucks, 10 be organized into supply
train.
This train will be divided into two
companies, each with twenty seven
trucks. One company will he equipped
with four-wheel drive cars and the
other with faster and lighter machines
For the present the train will be
manned by civilians.
The motor train will have an impor-
tant bearing on the expeditions sue
ccss. General Funston said.
Two hundred horses also are TO be
purchased at once 20 complete the cav
airy quota of mounts. These will be
dispatched TO the border as fast as
they arc obtained Although European
agents have been buying horses j.. the
Southwest IN huge numbers. IL is not
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