Evening star., 1916-04-13
War Department Without
Evidence That Villa Bands
Are Effectively Dispersed

Secretary Baker of the War Depart
ment said he was unable to comment
upon Gen. Carranza's note, because it
raised questions of administration
policy entirely within the jurisdiction
Of the President and the State Depart
ment.
Although Gen. Carranza raised side
issues. administration officials. at their
first view of the communication, re-
garded the principal contentious as
being that the object Of the punitive
expedition has been accomplished so
far as it can be. and that the Villa
bands have been dispersed.
War Department officials take the
view that they have no evidence that
the Villa bands have been dispersed.
because they never have had definite
information of their number and that
the very nature of the situation gives
no evidence that the raiders have been
exterminated.
Some State Department officials con-
fessed that Gen. Carranza's note was
not a surprise.
Counselor Polk confirmed the state
ment in the note that when he asked
for use of the Mexican railways the
reply was satisfactory" but was cou-
pied with an expression of surprise
that the United States had not awaited
nnal approval Oh tne peHulhs pIotocoi
before sending troops across the border.
1t was declared officially. however,
that no formal protest against the en-
try of Gen. Pershing's columns had
been previously made by Gen. Car
rama. When the advance troops
crossed at Columbus. 1t was officially
| stated, a Carranza general met them
at the border and made no protest
| either personally or on behalf Of his
government.
c+,ta nanarfnant oHciala %ook the
| view that Gen. CarranZas note was
| not a demand for immediate withdraw
| al of the forces, but an invitation to
begin negotiations to limit their stay.
Gen Scott. chief of staff, and an
| nounced that the negotiations would
| be handled exclusively by Secretary
! Lansing.
Bandit Raid Near Guaymas.
Dispatches received early today at
| the Navy Department from Admiral
Winslow. commanding the Pacific fleet.
made no mention of a reported bandit
| raid upon Americans near Guaymas.
Admiral Winslow reported arrival of
| the cruiser Denver at La Paz, Mexico.
en- route to San Diego. He did not
mention ordering the Denver to Quay
| mas to investigate the alleged attack
upon the Americans and no orders have
/
| to that effect.
| Admiral Winslow stated that the
| supply ship Glacier was bringing a
number of Americans from Mazatlan.
The last report from Admiral Wins
| low was dated yesterday at 10 am. and
| reported Guaymas and vicinity quiet.
The cruiser Chattanooga there. navy
officials believe, is able to cope with
| any anti-American incident without as
| sistance from the Denver. A consider
able Carranza garrison is also under
stood to be at Guaymas.
Navy dispatches reported quiet at
! Vera Cruz, Tampico and Progreso.
| 1t was evident today that the War
Department. without reference to diplo-
matte considerations. has endeavored
to provide against every possibility in
| details of the pursuit of Villas bands.
Strictest secrecy has been observed in
that regard, but 1t is well understood
that in every movement of troops be-
| yond the border and along the inter-
national line the possibility of an at
tempt to cut of the expedition has
been considered.
1t is unquestionaLie that the War De-
partment Is prepared TO take immedia I q
steps to back up the border forces with
National Guard organizations should need
arise.
The diplomatic situation was not nearly
so clear as the military. Some officials
privately expressed the view that Gen.
Carranza might nave felt compelled to
lsCSh lfc wanna n "cI VI american tTOODS
in Difference to public sentiment in
Mexico.
IT was pointed out that the unofficial
text OF his note sought only the open
ing Of negotiations to that end, and that
it contained not even a request for the
withdrawal Even that suggestion was
founded on statements Of fact which
would be themselves debatable. one OF
these being that the expedition had
already accomplished it's purpose.
Il In any event, 1t seemed likely that q
more or less prolonged diplomatic dis
, cussion was foreshadowed rather than
any military change.