New Britain herald., 1916-03-20


 Cities by American Troops and is
 Told There is No Foundation for
 His Ecars-Funston Instructed to
 Keen Forces Away From Towns.
 Washington, March 20.-Gcn. Car ranza has formally protested against American troops occupying CasaS Grandes in their pursuit of Villa, and the American government has replied that the troops have beer ordered spe- officially not to occupy Casas Grandes or any other town or cities in Mexico. . The protest and reply were included in an exchange of notes between act ing Secretary Polk of the state depart ment and IIliseo Arredondo. ambassa- dor designate to the United States from Mexico.
 After a conference early today be- tween President Wilson and MT. Polk ft became known that MT. Polk in note forwarded to Mexico yesterday said instructions had been sent to Gen. Funston to keep his troops away from all towns.
 The state department today received a reply to the request to Car ranza for the use of Mexican railroads in transporting supplies to the eXpedl- tiOnary forces.
 In urging the use of Mexican rail- roads for that purpose, it has been pointed out to the Carranza govern ment that similar permission was granted Carranza troops for the use of railroads in the United States last year.
 A Request. Not a Demand.
 Mr. Polk declared today that the United States had not requested per 1 mission to take over any railroads in Mexico but had merely asked for per mission to transport supplies. He denied emphatically reports th2t the request of the United States was in any sense demand or an ultima tum.
 The administration realizes fully the difficulty of Gen. Carranza's $ posi- ton, because of feeling in Mexico.
 Generally, reports from Mexico to- day were optimistic in character. Mir. Polk denies emphatically reports that the government has any reliable in- formation of plots to bring about armed intervention
 General Carranza today replied to the American governments request for use of Mexican railroad lines for movement of supplies to the punitive expedition, with q request for more complete information of exactly what the war department wants. Gen. Carranza's reply was sent to Presi- dent Wilson. The information he asks will be furnished.
 Washington Anxious.
 Information that the American ex- peditionary forces in Mexico have es- tablished contact with Francisco Villa and his band of outlaws was anxious ly awaited today by the war depart ment.
 Latest unofficial advices received here said that Villa, fleeing before the American advance has reached his own country in the Guerrero dis trict, where army officers say he may elude his pursuers indefinitely. They believe, however, that if Villa makes a stand the campaign will be brought to a quick conclusion. But if he abandons his men officers say he could find a retreat in the nearby mountains or, in the garb of peon, go so far south as to make his ap- prehension impossible.
 Elaborate scouting plans, it is said, have been made by Gen. Pershing to meet such a situation. As a last re- sort, trusted Mexican scouts who knew the retreats of the bandits would be employed to run Villa down.
 instructions have gone forward 10 the forces in Mexico, not to occupy Mexican towns so as to prevent the possibility of stirring up resentment among the natives.