Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-04-11
MORE TROOPS
To ASSIST IN
VILLA CHASE
Improved Conditions on Border
Releases Men for Expe-
dition.
SENATOR FALL SEES
DISASTER AHEAD
Declares It Is Necessary That
Railroads Become Available
At Once.

marked improvement IN cOnlQtlOnS
along the Mexican border has been re.
ported by General Funston that the
war department is now considering
craving upon some OF the troops sta
toned in Texas to strengthen the
ever-lengthening line of communica-
ton of the expedition seeking Villa.
Army officials stated tonight that
from now on infantry would be used
to reinforce the communication line.
the cavalry being kept at the frontier
for the actual work of running down
the outlaws. A part of the 24tn in
fantry, negroes, withdrawn from Del
Rio, Texas, at the request Of local
authorities, after one of the soldiers
lad been killed by Texas ranger.
while attempting to arrest MIN, has
been ordered into Mexico.
Tank Motor Trucks.
Evidence continued to accumulate
today to route rumors of the pending
withdrawal of the expedition. Soon
after it became known that additional
troops were to be sent across the bOr-
der, the war department announced
the purchase of six large tank motor
trucks to replace six trucks now used
to carry gasoline for Gen. Pershing's
supply motors and aeroplanes.
State department dispatches indi.
cate that the CarranZa authorities are
viewing with some anxiety the con-
tinued presence of the American
troops in Mexico and are inclined to
believe the object of the expedition
has been accomplished in the disoers-
II EQf1 Villas main command. It has
bes;s ,stated, however, there hasrbcen
no suggestion from the de fact0 gov
ernment as to the establishment Of q
dead line" beyond which the Ameri-
can troops should not 60 or as to =
date on which they should be w..
drawn. a
Senator Fall Caustic.
Senator Gallinger, the republican
leader in the senate, today made pub
lie letter from Senator Fall, who has
been on the border, reporting condi-
tions to the minority senators. Mr..
Fall assailed the border guard, and
said the raid on Columbus was made
possible by wide gap in the patrol.
and declared that he had been reliably
informed that unless the American
army was given full control of the
Mexican Northwestern railroad with:
in a week of the date of his .etter,
April 4, the expedition would have to
be withdrawn. Officials pointed out
today that tomorrow was the date
fixed for the withdrawal by the Sena-
tors informant and that Secretary
Lansing had announced the railroad
question was no longer factor IN
the expedition.
The latest advices from General
Pershing dated last Sunoay demon.
strated conclusively officials believe
that the American troops have not
been engaged in any important clash
es with Villa bandits over week, or
since Col. Browns skirmish at Aguish
Calientes on April l.
Senator Fall, of New Mexico, who
at the request Of republican senators
went to the Mexican border immed-
lately after the raid on Columbus, to
investigate conditions there, declared
today in letter that the Carranza
troops were not cooperating with the
American troops to capture Villa. He
maintained that the border patrol was
not of adequate force and that gap
of nine miles had made the Columbus
raid possible.
No Attempt Made.
"The Mexicans," said the letter.
'have made no attempt to attack VIII
la at all, and are not in any way CO.
operating with our forces or attempt
ing to check Villas retreat or assist
in his capture.
"On his retreat, Villas first camp
was within five miles of 700 Carranza
soldiers to whom Raymond Reyes re-
ported and whom he pleaded with to
accompany him to attack Villas 100
men. The Carranzistas refused"
Troops Asleep.
Describing in detail the Columbus
raid from information gathered at
Columbus, Senator Fall said the ban
dts had made their way into the
heart of the town, looted two stores
and set fire to two buildings before
an alarm was given. With the aid Of
a machine gun, placed within 20 feet
Of the American army hospital, he
said the citizens then fought with tho
bandits for another fifty minutes be-
fore the troops appeared.
No Protection.
The letter emphasized the possible
ity of the Mexican trenches construct
ed facing the border and other border
towns. He said stories Of concentrar
ton of Carranza troops along the bor-
der had been exaggerated.
The senator said at the time ne
wrote there was no border patrol west
of Douglas, and had been none BE-
tween Gibson ranch and Hacita, 30
miles to the west. He declared villa
sympathizers we're overrunning virtu.
ally all of Northern Mexico and villa
could easily capture the garrisoas
there.