Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-28
Bandit Breaks Through Line
Of Carranza Troops and
Heads Southward
CHANCE FOR SPEEDY
CAPTURE is SLIGHT
Passes to Hills Watched in
Hope Quarry Can Be
Kept Out ON Plains

Field Headquarters, American
Expeditionary Force, coIonia, Dub
Ian, Mexico, March 26.-(1y aero
plane to Columbus, N. N.Y. March
27.-Evidence that Pancho Villa is
preparing to resist the American
pursuing columns and that the
Mexican people are not as yet
ralIying to him, has been collected
by the officers and the scouts Of
the American troops.
Field Headquarters, American
Expeditionary Force, coIonia Dub
Ian, Mexico, March 26.-(5y aero
plane to Columbus. N. N.Y. March
27.-Gen. J. J. Pershino announced
last night the establishment Of
new base in the pursuit Of Villa.
The second base is much nearer
the location where the bandit is
reported In precipitate retreat
than the old base at field head.
quarters.
Fl Paso. Tex, March 27.-The
American forces have been allow
ed the privilege Of using the Mexi-
can telegraph wires between.
MADEIRA and Juarez, It was an
nounced here today by Gen.
cavira, tho carranza commander
at Juarez. All communications,
however, are censored by Gen.
Bertani, the carranza commander
at MADEIRA.
Ell Paso, Tex, March 27.-F1yin
olumns Of American cavalry ar
eeking today to entrap Pancho Will
nd his band by sealing up all tn
rails and passes in the mountainou
district south of Ell Vale. Once tn
utlets are barred, squadrons Of ca,
Try and detachments of infantry opel
ting from the base near Casa
'randes will comb the country an
ndeavor to flush their quarry into tn
pen.
According to dispatches from tn
ront, Villa has broken the Carral
istas' line and fleeing southwark wit
he American troopers straining ever
lerve to catch him before he reache
he mountain wastes in the Guerre
istrict.
The one hope Of speedy termin;
ion to the chase is that the flight {
he bandits will be checked by starv:
lon and the exhaustion of thei
onies. It Is known that Villa is Il
nost destitute Of both supplies an
and the dead and dyin
orses found along his trail give NUT
'ut eloquent testimony to his despe.
te haste and need.
Once safely in the midst Of tn
'ierra Tarahumares, the task Of ru1
ing the bandit to his lair will hav
ecome one of tremendous difficulty
Allowed to Escape?
villa and his band are moving raj
lily among the foothills Of the Sierr
'arahumares, hotly pursued by thre
olumns Of the cavalry movement.
This information coming from arm
Ulcers at the front confirms report
rought here by American traveller
rom the Casas Grandes district las
that Villa had escape
through the lines of the Carranz
roops. Mexican Consul Garcia doe
ot credit the reports that the Ca
anza forces furnished no real oppos
lon to Villa and permitted the band
0 escape.
Campaign to Be Long One.
Villa scattered his command in hi
light southwark and at one time
,as learned today led only sma
orce Of fifteen to twenty men. Th
rmy censor at Columbus has permi
I'D the information to pass that Will
,creased his command at Ell Vale b
lrcing thirty-f1ve young men and boy
accompany him. Military men her
',y this indicates that Villa now b'
ewes he has successfully eluded hi
3ursuers and is In a position to NOV
\ larger body Of men without fear {
'spture. Brig. Gen. Pershing has l.
Abecome known that he expects
I, take months to capture Villa.
Continued on Page 81 Col ~