The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-19


 ] under the brilliant Mexican moonlight to- ! ward the rough mountain slopes, where it Is known Francisco Villa already has preceded them with more than 100 miles start.
 Warning that this second act in the chase might not pass without fighting against bandits was implied in a new and more stringent censorship imposed at Columbus. Further leakage of mill tary news, the censor said frankly to the American press, would be likely to cost soldiers lives.
 COLUMBUS IS STIRRED There was brief excitement today at Columbus. From across the hot, dusty Mexican border two cavalrymen on stretchers were brought into the Ameri- can camp. Excitement passed when it was learned that one had been thrown from his horse, injuring his leg while the other was found to be suffering from well-known form of stomach ache. When Washington announced that the l American columns did not intend to oc- l cupy cities, a menace to Mexican na- 1 tional pride was removed. The Carranza
 gairisons which have been passed by the n arching Americans and which there fore are on the Americans Hanks. con 1 tinued tranquil, according to reports to Fl Paso.
 General Gavira at Juarez, commanding the territory through which for three days, the Americans have been penetrat- ing. announced that for time the sit uation as reported to him had been deli cate and even serious. With evident re- lief he sald the crisis had passed. This | crisis it is believed reached it's height last night when couriers dashing into l Cssas Grandes announced with careless enthusiasm that the Anierscan a.-oon.
 would enter that city by midnight. Gen eraI Gavira wired immediate orders tc
 his troops not to permit this.
 Dawn showed the long lines of cavalry l horses just outside Colonia Dubian, theil troopers dismounted and in camp, al rest.
 VILLA IS LOCATED 1 Villa was located today with some de gree of definiteness, if weight of evidence counts in pinning down his rapid shifts /, From several sources constitutionalists re ceived messa ges all of which placed hir l ir approximately the same portion O l western Chihuahua. These dispatches hat him nearly due south of the American
 columns present known positions ant close to the Sierra Tarrahumare noun tains, so close to them. in fact, that Ii I his reputation as fox holds good dur ing the American chase. he should bs able to make a puzzling disappearance in these ranges with a few hours hart 1 riding. By all accounts he is more thar 100 miles ahead of the Americans, about the same distance he has been out o1 their reach for a week, but with ont possibly important difference, that while heretofore the Americans have been rid l ing on a somewhat cold trail they arc now nearing ground which Villa yer, recently passed over and where they may 1 have practical opportunity to test ths ! temper of the rural Mexicans from whicf they might receive valuable informa. ton.
 The story that Villa is gathering men 1 and preparing to resist was revived ii f constitutionalists circles today, and ht II was even said to have 100000 rounds oi ' cartridges and shells. many of home man ,ufacture, secreted in the mountains, where he was expected to make a stand. Doubt that Villa would do any such thing was the Mexican consul here, who claimed that Villa intends to make the American I expeditionary force joke Mir. Garcis | declared he was convinced that the ban I dit had no intention of fighting Ameri- | cans.
 DISBANDING HIS MEN 4 "One of my mem he said. ''who re- turned from the Galeana district today brought me positive information that Villa was disbanding his men and in. tended to hide in the mountains witt lthree or four of his trusted followers ant defy the Americans to find him. An army might wander in that region for years and never find a man like Villa, wllt knows every foot of the ground.
 T am convinced that Villa intends te play hide and seek with the American soldiers, with the intention of making I their expedition ridiculous. He may mak, raids on lines of communication or some. thing like that. but he Will never risk 6 real batte'
 The rewards which have been offered for Villa, alive or dead, in MT Garcia $ opinion. are the best hope of ending the bandits career.
 .The news of these rewards will flash through the region, he said and sholud be very much surprised if. they do not bring some result
 The Carranza consul has plan of his 4 own which he believes is the best way
 to capture Villa.
 General Gutierrez he said told mt that he expected to have 15,00o men or Villas trail within week. Then there are 4OoO to 5000 American troops, 1 do no
 believe that all these thousands of mer 1 with all their equipment is needed. Wha, is needed is about Ave columns rof 5N picked men apiece, all well, mounted ana carrying the least possible amount oi equipment These col Aians shou'I be in
 sufficientIy close touch to be able to rem