Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-21
Forces Being Moved to Rein
force Gen. Pershing if
Necessity Arises.
WAIT ON WASHINGTON
BEFORE CROSSING LINE
Locating Villa on Reliable Mexi-,
can Information" Is Now Prln-
cipal Pastime on Boundary.

Ell PASO. Tex, April 21.-Movements
of American troops from points along
the border to the army base at Colums
bus. n. M. where they will be held in
readiness to reinforce Gen. Pershing's
army in case of necessity, continued to-
day. Dispatches from the front indi-
Gated that American troops were await
ing developments at Washington before
making any further effort to capture
Villa
Officials of the de facto government
said there was no basis for the reports
that uprisings were imminent in north
ern Durango and lower Chihuahua. 1t
was explained at Juarez that the move
ment of the CarranZa troops into the
Parral district was not intended as
threat to bar the further advance of
the American forces. but that the de
facto soldiers had been sent there To
preserve border order and prevent de-
struction of private property.
Thinks Purpose Is Accomplished.
Andreas Garcia. Mexican consul. said
today that the work of the American
expedition was concluded and that he
hoped that In a few days the order
would come from Washington for the
| troops to be withdrawn. We have
the situation in hand" said Mr.. Garcia
The villa cause is broken, and If
Villa still lives his prestige is de-
stroyed."
Mr.. Garcia said the government on
the 1st of next month Will demand that
all import and export duties be paid in
gold. The Mexican consul did not
credit the reports that the law demand
ing gold for such duties would create
trouble.
The continued absence of any con-
frmation of the report of the death
| of Francisco Villa has revived again
the popular industry in Ell Paso of To-
| eating the bandit. During the last
| two days he has been successively re-
ported. from reliable Mexican sources.
| as in Durango, Zacatecas and Coahuila
| His last location was given today by
a Mexican railroad man as at San
| Isidro. a little town about thirty miles
south of Parral, in Durango.
Little Faith in Stories.
Little credence is placed in these
| stories here by Americans and Mexi-
cans who are In the best position to
secure reliable news from the interior.
There is a strong belief here that Villa
has never been as far south Parral.
and that the real reason for the out
break against the American troops at
that town was that the MeNicans knew
Villa was in the north, and concluded
that the American soldiers were not
! pursuing the bandit. but were engaged
in a veritable invasion of Mexico.
With the troops marking time. await
ing the decision from Washington
| which will either withdraw them from
Mexico or send them forward. REIN
forced, on their quest, there has been
a decided increase in the nervousness
which has existed on the border since
the expedition crossed the International
line.
No Change in Juarez.
Both Mexican and American army Of
ficers and officials admit that the un-
certainty has caused a delicate sltua-
ton, but there has not been the slight
est indication in Juarez that the MeNi-
cans in that town have changed their
attitude of restraint.
Gen. Gavira renewed today his re-
peated statements that the Carranza
leaders had no hostile intentions to-
ward the American columns. while they
felt that the time had come for the re-
call of the expedition.
No news has been received in Juarez
rega riding the party headed by Gen.
Cavazos and Col. Carlos Carranza,
which set out last Sunday to search
for the supposed grave of Villa In re-
ply to query sent by Gen. Gavfra,
Gen. Gutierrez. military commander in
Chihuahua, replied today that he had
heard nothing of the party since 1t
left Cusihuiriachic.
scott-Funston Meeting Tonight.
SAN ANTONIO. Tex April 2l-Pub>
lie interest here today Is centered In
the conference in the Mexican situation
which will be held here between Gen.
Scott. chief Of staff Of the army, and
Cen. Funston. Gen. Scott will arrive
tonight 1t is not probable that he VIII
go to Ell Paso before returning 90
Washington.
The 18th Infantry left Eagle Passfor
Columbus last night. This is ono OF the
regiments taken from border patrol
duty to strengthen Cen PershfnGs
command. The 9Th Cavalry is expected
to leave Harlingen tomorrow.
Data on Mexican Situation !
Is Laid Before the Cabinet
hu Drooidnnf Mijcnn Tndav