Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1916-03-16
One Said a Regiment of
American Cavalry Had
Been Annihilated.

| WASHINGTON, March 15.--With
border tonight. seeking Villa and his
bandits. President Wilson and officials
OF the war department resigned them
selves to wait possibly many days for
news of developments in the chase.
Information that forces of the de facto
Mexican government We're cooperat-
ing with the expedition from the Uni
ted States, served to relieve anxiety
that had been apparent on all sides
over the possibility OF Carranza troops
revolving against their commanders
and attempting TO oppose the entry
| Of the Americans.
Although Brigadier General Perish
ing and Colonel Dodd marched into
Mexico with some 5000 men about
noon today. II was not until more
than six hours afterwards that the Of
ficial announcement came to Washing
ton. II was received this evening and
Secretary Baker at once hurried to
the White House for conference with
the president At 10 o'clock the sec
retary made announcement that Uni
| ted States troops had crossed the Dor
der.
Secretary Baker made II clcnr that
| he had not given out the whole of
General Iunston's dispatch He said
while the expedition was in progress
the department would make public no
details which might interfere with
General Funston's plans for secrecy.
Officers Of the general staff were
on duty AT the department until late
| tonight, but so far AZ could be learned
no additional information of impor-
tance had been received. General
Funston Is expected to report only
! when there are developments, and il
Is generally understood that there Is
| little probability OF clash between
the American troops and the bandits
before Friday or Saturday.
Reports tonight told Of General
Obregon. Carranza's new secretary or
war and chief military man, ordering
General Gavira, commander of the
Juarez garrison, to cooperate in ev-
cry way with the United States forces.
This was accepted as convincing proof
Of tho attitude Of the Carranza gov
crnment and any remaining fears OF
trouble between the Americans and
soldiers of the de facto government
are based on the possibility of insub-
ordination or OF mistaken identity.
Throughout the day the war depart
ment maintained silence AS to the sit
uation on the border. General Funston
was moving his pieces In the game
with villa behind a curtain of secrecy.
II probably was the most complete
censorship the country has ever
known. The screen was drawn so
close that the department itself was
not advised OF the crossing until hours
after the troops were on the march.
| The only dispatch az to the border
situation received by Secretary Baker
during the afternoon, dealt with the
departure of the Eleventh cavalry
from Chattanooga to reinforce the
| border patrol
! Rumors flew about the corridors of
the war department all day. Some
dealt with reported fighting Oh both
sides Of the border. One said a regi-
ment Of American cavalry had been
annihilated. Department officials had
no reports on which such statements
could have been founded.
Only meager news bulletins from
the troops In Mexico are expected.
While four correspondents Of press as
sOciatiOns have been given credentials
to accompany General Pershing's com
mand. they Will be under strict cen
sorship. Regulations or the war de-
partment under which they were des-
ignated, give the commander control
over the information sent back. Moth
ing that could be OF value to the en-
/ envy will be permitted to pass over
whatever line Of communication Cen
eral Pershing keeps open.
Such messages as are relayed will
be brief. At most the expedition will
have only field radio sets to keep in