New Britain herald., 1916-03-16
CHEERS FOR TROOPS
 AS LINE IS CROSSED
U. s. Soldiers Given Noisy Adieu as Column Swings Into Mexico

Ell Paso, Texas, March 16.-A long trail of yellow alkali dust hanging over the sky line marked the advance of the United States troops into Mexico at Columbus and Palomas yesterday. according to American passengers who have arrived here on the Golden State Limited.
 The column was m owing across the sloping plain just as the train from the west passed through Columbus, and because of the congestion of troops trains there which delayedthem, the passengers had an excellent op- portupity to watch the movement of the troops, A corps of engineers was the first to leave Columbus. Behind them rode the Thirteenth Cavalry, the organization picked by General Pcrshing for the place of honor be- cause of it's baptism of fire at the Columbus affray between Villa and the troopers of Colonel Slocums com mand. The flag of the Thirteenth was at the head of the column as the troopers swung acroos the plains and dipped into a ravine just before PalO- mas custom house and the line was reached. Wagon trains and motor lorres brought up the rear
 Behind the Thirteenth Cavalry marched the Sixth and Sixteenth In fantry regiments, which is to keep the line of communications intact. As the troops marched toward the line the little Mexican flag on the Palor:as custom house could be sen waving in the breeze
 The train passengers said there Was no confusion and no excitement The cavalry troops cantered out of the little town, where they fought the bandits, swung across level country, which slopes sharply toward Palomas, and proceeded in a canter until they were clear of town and camp, when they settled down to a cavalry march, with the infantry stepping along be- hind.
 Troops Given Noisy Farewell.
 Columbus was filled with civilians watching for the crossing, and they gave cheers for the American soldiers as they marched after Villa. The en Sineer on the passenger traen blew his whistle constantly as a farewell to
 
 as the coIors of the cavalry could be seen waving against background formed by the white adobe of the nearest border house.
 The elements of the armament of the force, it's mum Der and the direc- tion or directions in which it's various columns headed after they passed the international line were kept secret by the military censorship.
 Stationed at Colum bus, aVailab bl /, IT immediate use in the eXpcditionarv force, were the following troops; Th1r- teenth Cavalry, Fourth Field Artillery Battery, Sixth and Sixteenth Infantry. part of the Seventh Cavalry, u part of the Twentieth, Companies F. F. 'i. of the Engineer corps, Hospital )rpS and complete Quartermaster'S corps.
 Stationed in lIl I'aso, available for immediate use at Columbu are the following: Eleventh Cavalry, Eighth Cavalry, Seventh Infantry, Fifth Artil- lery Battery, Signal corps, >AmhUianue corps and Hospital corps. In addition the Twenty third Infantry is now en route here from Galveston.
 Two courses are open to the invad ing force in Mexico. One is swing soutllWard from Palomas to a point where the Ascension river originates From this point the column can swing due south along the Little Ascension river to ColOnia Diaz, q Mormon col- ony, forty-sX miles south of the bOr- der. After passing Colonla Daz and the town of Ascension the trail most accessible to the invading force lea ds across the Janos river and to Corrali- tos ranch, where the five Pal&nco brothers were killed by Villa Tuesday. There the column can rest before starting south along the line Of the Mexico Northwestern railway to Casas Grandes, thence due east across the railroad line to Nueyas Casas Grandes and then southeast toward Galeans. the town and capital of the district. Another possible trail is due south from Palomas to Sabinal Ranch and thence south and southwest to Cande- lari and Casas Ora ndes. As this is the most rugged of the two trails into the Galeana district it probably will be avoided.
 Beh1nd the troops who moved for ward new regin. erts rapidly flied the vacated camps ill Columbus. The Eleventh Cavalry of Fort Oglethorpe. Ga, was one of the new arrivals. The new regiment expected to follow, but | the officers would not say how soon l or from what points
 Second Columns Advance. | Unofficial reports came into. Ei | Paso that about fifty miles west of 1 Columbus, near Hachitay N. NI, an~ 1 other column had gathered and prob l ably had entered Mexico. Nothing 1 more definite than the facts of this l columns existence was established, de- 1 spite reports that these troops might 1 have gone in first.
 l Brig. Gen. George Bell, Jr, com