Norwich bulletin., 1916-04-19
Awaiting Reports
From Mexico
BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER
TROOPS ARE TO BE RECALLED
VILLA PURSUIT HALTs
Line of Communication With General
Pershing is Drawn too Thin and
More Troops Must be Sent II Chase
is Pressed Further.

Washington. April 1s.-The admin
istraJiOn is waiting On further reports
from American officers in MeztcO be-
fore deciding whether the expedition
seeking villa shall be withdrawn or
reinforced for further operations Ad-
diIiOHal adviccs from General funston
as 10 the situation are expected hour
ly- Some Jelegrams came late today.
I one was dated Namiquipa- showing
mat General fershins had Withdrawn
70 that place.
Indications at the war department
! bore out press reports from the front
I that the pursuit OF Villa was tempor-
arily at standstill.
Cabinet Discussed Situation.
President Wilson and his cabinet
/ discussed the Mexican situation brief
/ y today in the light Of a review of its
/ military aspects submitted BY General
| Funston. Il Dns announced later that
/ the situation was unchanged and the
administratiOn's policy unaltered. One
member Of the cabinet admitted how
! ever, that no final decision had been
reached as to the withdrawal Of the
troops.
More Troops Necessary.
Officials would reveal no word Of
the report submitted by General Fun
stOn- II was apparent, however. thai
IL outlined n situation which required
action in Washington. The line OF
communication with General Persh-
inS's forces already is drawn too thin
and there is no disposition here to
contradict border advices that more
troops must be sent IL the chase is
to be pressed further.
| Secretary Ealcer arranged to take
additional advices to the White House
retary Lansing during the late after
noon Neither would discuss their
5 conference.
German Situation May Have Bearing.
, II was thought probable. though no
ofncial would talk about this phase OF
the question, that the German situa-
ton, would have some bearing on the
impending decision. If a break in
} diplomatic relations with Germany Is
foreseen by the administration. Il is
: very certain that the troops will be
recalled from Mexico Immediately.
s military prudence would require that
= steps be taken to prepare for even
J Qualities in Europe.
Some officials expressed the belief
that the United States must wait and
l. see what transpired beyond the bor-
. der before IL could determine greatly
] to increase the American forces there
or on the other hand. determine to
withdraw at once The report Of WI
las death has not been cleared I'D as
n yet. Doubt as to its truth steadily
e increases, however. and dispatches
| from Consul Letcher at chihuahua,
received today. characterized the re-
= port as a mere rumor without any
e foundation that he could ascertain.
d Cabinet in No Mood to Force Matters
> The Washington government. as
nearly as the attitude of the cabinet
can be learned is in no mood to force
5 matters in Mexico. Already the main
n purpose of the expedition. protection
Of the border, is regarded as accom-
plished.
In some quarters Il was suggested
: that an agreement for Withdrawal
- might be reached with General Car
rama on the basis that IL Villa or his
men again headed northward and
reached within some specified distance
: OF the border despite the efforts oi
q Carranza troops 70 check them. United
"a states troops again would cross tbs
) border. There was nothing to indicate
that this plan had actually been dis
cussed, however.
~ Situation May Become Serious.
W II is known that army officials be.
AZ lieve the situation Of some Of the de.
tachments would be perilous IL Car.
rama troops in other districts should
" follow the lead OF those at Parral. win,
n are reported to have fired on AIafol
N said that Americans from ParraI re
ported that the citizens there weri
without arms. They also declaret
- that the Herrera mentioned in unofn
J. cial reports as having led the attack
\ was a nephew Of General Luis Her
l. rera. the CaTranza commander who's
rumored detection to the Villa caus
created much anxiety two weeks ago
T. That report proved TO be unfOunded
to No Additional Troops Sent to Border
IS Secretary Baker would only say af
lie ter the cabinet meeting that no ad
ditional troops had been ordered q
the border and that no such move
ad ment was contemplated At present ]
m is evident that the shifting forces re
w ported from San Antonio is in accord
ut ance with General Funstou's hes
r Judgment as 10 the wise dfsnosftfor n
his men to prepare against any emer
Sency.
n