Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-21
Essential That u, S, Have
Use of Mexican Railroads
(RH Assocfated Press. D

Ell PASO, Tex, March 2O.-The prob
lem of granting the United States gov
eminent permission to use Mexican
railways to transport supplies to Amer
lean troops pursuing Francisco Villa
overshadowed everything else in the
Mexican situation here today.
The reply of General Carranza to the
request of the government for permits
sion to use the railroads was expected
to be sent forward to Washington today.
A refusal will embarrass the opera
tions of the American troops while the
granting of the request, it was declar-
e6, would be bound to be seriously mis-
construed by a considerable section of
the Mexican people, and to be eXplOint-
ed by the enemies of General Carranza.
The unexpectedly rapid advance of the
eXpeditionary columns under General
Pershing has forced the railroad ques-
with the country into which the columns
are now entering assert that it is i'm
perative that the railroads be placed at
their disposal for the bringing up of
supplies
DR.. l. J. Bush, formerly chief surgeon
of Madero's army, asserted today that
the speedy transportation facilities
were essential to further progress of
the American troops.
1.-THE American forces are reported at
GaIeana," said DR.. Bush. Twenty miles
south Of there is Ell Vale, and from
that point the only practicable way of
bringing UP supplies is by railroad. The
valley converges here into a narrow deep
gorge in which about 1000 people live.
WHERE VILLA WILL HIDE.
"The territory in which Villa proba-
bly, will remain. is embraced in an i'm
aginary line between Chihuahua and
Minaca, with the Mexican Central rail-
road on one side and the Sierra Madre
on the other. His soldiers nave the adj
vantage over the Americans in that
they will travel light with only few
days provisions and are seasoned mel,
well able to stand the hardships of
mountain campaigning in that climate"
DIR. Bush said that he had no doubt
that Villa was spreading stories of his
wonderful victories over the Americans,
of how he had captured Texas and that
Carranza had gone over to the united
States. 1t would be easy, he said, for
him to make .ne ignorant poems among
whom he is operating, believe the wild
est stories.
Another serious situation has been
caused by the action of General Gales,
governor of Sonora, in demand
ing that the La Colorado Mining COM
pany, of New York, reopen its mine at
HermosiIlo at once. General Gales has
v ired the New York officerssof the .Cm-
pany that if the mine is not reopened
he will take it over and
run it.
The property is said to be rich gold
mine and formerly employed 1000 Mex
leans. according TO General Gales He
declared today that he had no Intention
O. confscating the mine, but that the
Mexicans were suffering through being
thrown out of employment and that he
intended to put them back to work.
The governor said that the La Color
ada company was the only one that has
.uspended operations liz Sonora and shat
here was no reason for the action to
his mind and he would give ample pro-
lection.
On THE TRAIL.
\ shallow river and a winding
wagon road, cutting like the
two blades of pair Of scissors
through the heart of the Sierra Madre
Oriental mountains. today were the con-
Meeting link between Francisco Villas
retreating command and the pursuing
columns OF Brigadier General John J.
Pershing, if latest reports regarding the
positions of the contending forces are
correct.
According to Colonel Bertani. Carran-
"a commander at Casas Grandes, part
Of General Pershing's troops are near
Casas Grandes and a part are near
Galeana, some thirty miles southeast.
Dispatches to General Gabriel Gavira,
commanding the Carranza forces at
Juarez, say that Villa is in the Babri-
cora lake region on the ranch of Mrs.
Phoebe Hearst.
Americans who know this country
well say that with the exception of the
Mexican Northwestern railroad. which
drops southwark to the. vest of the
Babricora lake, and is wit 1held from
American use, there is no route suit
able fer the marching purposes of a
command like General Pershing's, other
than the wagon road that starts from
Casas Grandes and winds a sinuous
CONTINUED on Psse 2, Col. 81