The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-03-23
Fear Grows on Border That
Pershing Expedition IS About
to Be Led Into a
Fatal Trap.
SUPPLY PROBLEM SERIOUS
Should Mexicans Refuse to Per-
nit Use Of Railways seri-
Gus Trouble May Re-
suit, Is Fear.
BULLETINS.

? E%HHA#sM -
Washington. March 2k-General
Carranza today replied to the
American governments request for
the Use of Mexican railroad lines
for movement OF supplies TO h
punitive expedition with a request
for more complete information of
exactly what the war department
wants.
General carranza's reply was
sent to President Wilson. The In
formation he asks will be furnished.
1T is understood General Car
rama wants information CT the ex-
tent to which the United States
expects to use the railroad and
probably assurances that the hn0
is to be used only for furnishing
supplies. Administration officials
realize that C-arranza Is dealing
with q diifscult sentiment In Mex
leo. ana that use Of the railroad
by American troops. unless fully
understood. might lead to friction.
Ell Paso. Tex. March n.-villa
has doubled east and south to Ma
miquipa. according to a telegram
received here by General Gnvira
at Juare7. He reports that Car
the south, while the Americans are
continuing their march from the
north in an effort to close the net
around the bandit.
81 Paso, Tex, March 20.-car-
ranza troops stationed at Cases
s~ection of the time that General
Pershins began his march into
Mexico, now are located at Juarcz,
opposite FL Paso, and in the rear
OF General ~Pershina's column, il
was enthusiastically stated today.
No Teason has been assigned for
inland to the border.
From reliable sources e vas
stated also that in instance q i
C%arranza detachsnent allowed
Villa to pass southwark on receipt
of a message from the bandit lead
er that he Wag not warning against
Mexico.
At Fort Bliss today comment was
withheld IN the nortnward movement
of Carranza troops. although II was
understood in army circles that the
was NOT large.
Cen. George Bell. jr, commanding
the troops here said:
There is not a reasor on earth for
anxiety in Ell Pasc. The military is
prepared to meet n emergency that
may arise
Genera Bells statement was directed
to reports of i;nsaslness
in h border situation here. RHmorS
were spread through the city today that
machine guns were to be trained on
points over the river. At Fort Bliss it
was denied that any such nc.ios. was
contemplated. 1t was authoritatively
declared that no reason existed eor 1t.
Guns Are Placed.
The militia has taken only sacis pre-
it is understood as would be
compatible with the policy Of pre-
by Major Genera Funston.
Guns already placed have been
moved to points where they would
ave been moved to points where they
would have greater strategic value il
an emergency arose. The situation has
been thoroughly gone over and pros
pective positions for machine and even
heavier guns selected II they were
needed. 1t is explained. however, that
these steps have beer taken without
any idea that need for the Guns; would
arise.
Battle May Be Near.
A clash between the vl1ista and
Carranza forces is imminent. according
to advices received here today through
General Gavira, the CarranSa
der at Juarez.
Villa, fleeing south before the rapidly
advancing American troops. is APP
parently trying to break through the
Observation-Disclosures Gordon, closing In
bou the ADMINISTRATIONS region. He
is seeking a loophole in the direction OF
Namiquipa, through which No can es-
cal into the mountains appeEd Gucr-
zero and Santa Ana, the familiar
ground where he commenced his career
as q bandit.
The Carranzaistas are advancing
--4 49,. Ar ,~sIne
from San MIGUEL Babrieera, 70 miles
west of Il Vale, where Villa was re-
ported yesterday.
AS the bandit is travelling south. q
few hours should decide whether he
can evade the troops of Genera Car
rama or be forced into either fighting
them or doubling on his tracks.
Wild Rumors Afioat.
But the interest in the chase afte,
Villa is almost oversiaadswed on thu
border by anticipation of the reply Of
General Carranza to the request Of ths
American government for permission t.
use the Mexican railroads. At Ell Paso
the home of rumor, outdid herself il
the sensational reports that fkshes
from one end of the town to the other
dying out to be succeeded by other.
even more alarming.
1t was impossible to discover how
these rumors started, but they nevel
lacked believers The most persisten
and most generally accepted asserted
hat the transportation arrangement:
from Columbus to the front, a distanc,
of probably more than 120 miles. has
proved inadequate and that the rail
roads were urgently needed to forwart
supplies. The desert and barren noun.
tain country over which the create
quantities of material required by th'
5000 or 5000 American seEhess mus
travel on pack mules and wagons pre-
SCENTS, admittedly, a tremendous prob
lem. This problem is greatly ipcreaset
by the fact that most, if not all, OF tn
forage for the American horses mus
| be forwarded from the base.
ASK REAEARtNG.