Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-03-17
General Funston Has Brief
News of Movements of
Army Into Mexico, but Gives
No News to Public,
NATIVES UNFRIEN0LY
TOWARD EXPEDITION
Little indication of Assistance
From Cananza Forces Has
MatefiaIized, Says Com
mander.
rsv MOANING Jours.l SPECIAL ,s.sso w,ssl

San Antonio, Tex March e.
Somewhere south of New Mexico per-
haps twenty miles and possibly a
great distance, General Pershing and
the divided forces he is commanding,
are encamped tonight. They have
had no encounter with MeYIcans and
their progress into Mexico in search of
Francisco Villa and his little army
has been uninterrupted, according to
the laconic messages received by Cen
eral Funston.
Merely ploughing their way
through the desert sands were the
words of General Funston. in summar-
i2ing the days developments.
Little Carranza Aid.
The campaign Is being conducted on
the assumption that the de facto gov
ernment's troops will cooperate in the
efforts to destroy villa and his follow
ars. but, with the exception of the
small garrison at Palomas, opposite
Columbus, that joined General Per
shing's column as scouts and guards,
headquarters here was with
out evidence tonight that active aid
would be given by Carranza' army.
Gavira's Attitude.
The statement of General Gavira,
at JuareZ that, while hei
had given orders for cooperation inI
accordance with instructions from hisl
he personally did not en-
h. L1 81 fn
comment by army men. BY some Of
hem, Gaviras attitude was taken asi
ndicatative Of that of many Carranza
but those high in authority
expressed the hope that discipline
would prevail in all cases over per-
ional opinion as il had in the case of
General Gavira.
No Promise of support.
No concerted plan of action between
he military men Of the two countries
ias been agreed upon. The Americans
ire In Mexico relying upon the as
that Carran2a has accepted
n good faith the note of the state de-
)artment promising reciprocal privi- |
eyes in chasing down bandits, and the !
report from Mexico Cityi
hat orders had been issued for coop |
ration. Neither General Pershing nor
General Funston have been given any
lirect promise of support.
Joint Action Not Necessary.
1t was pointed out,hhowever, that
Cooperation need not necessarily |
mean joint action, and that possibly
he Mexican army men would consider
the fulfillment OF their part of the
Program if they continued independ-
ntly their operations against villa.
ieneral Gales, commanding the Mex
can troops in Sonora, is reported to
ave placed at strategic points in the
astern part of that state some 5000
men to prevent the entry of villa, and
len. Luis Gutierrez is supposed to be
Erecting five columns IN Chihuahua
o prevent the fugitive rebel from
making his escape over the trails to
he south or east
No Clash With Carranza.
A clash between any of the Car
ANA troops and the Americans Is
lot anticipated by the American army
but the danger that some
mall mutinous band might attack
detachment Of the American punt
i've force has not jbeen ignored
'hould such an Incident occur, army
men here say it could scarcely be due
o mistaken identity. since the uni
orm, equipment and general appear
nee of the Americans is sufficiently :
nusual In Mexico as To make con
usion impossible.
General Funston's attitude towards {
;eneral Pershing is very similar to
hat adopted towards him by the war
department. To great extent the
etails Of the expedition have been left
o General Pershng and his com
handing officers and he is not both
ring him or expecting from him re-
orts other than those regarded by 5
;enera Pershing as essential
secrecy Il Maintained.
Secrecy has yet been maintained as ,
0 the exact disposition of the puni- d
I'VE force. its composition and future
movements. In general, 1t is admitted :
he juncture Of columns now heading !
outh will be made before the end of
he week perhaps Saturday. when
hey will be some fifty miles south of ;
nc international boundary line.
General Pershing win maintain his r
by means Of wireless Q