South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-10
CourierS, DaShing Ahead OF
Fleeing Bandit Leader,
Rally New Forces to
His Standard.
GEN. PERSHING'S RUSH
TO FRONT is SIGNIFICANT
Leader of American Forces
HurrieS to Head of Column
in Auto Indicating
Developments.
ernat.onai News Service

international News Service.
Ell PASO. Texas. April 1o.-Mex-
lean reports reaching the border to-
day asserted that Francisco Villa
had escaped from chihuahua and
crossed the line into Durango. his
native state. through which has
couriers have been galloping FOR sew
eral days calling upon outlaw bands
OF that wild section TO Join The
brigand chief and fight the pursuing
Americans.
According 10 Carranzistas. the
chihuahua Durango state line was
the limit Of the pursuit Of the
American expedition. They declare
the withdrawal OF the United States
troops from Mexico may be expected
within "A few days. A censored dis
patch from the headquarters at Co
lum bus. y. NJ. say that Gen Perish
ing has gone 20 the extreme south
ern front. and that on Sunday he
was camped only a few miles behind
the American troopers who tried TO
intercept villa before he reached
Parral
Andreas Garcia. Carranza consul
at Ell Paso. is quoted in an interview
as having authorized the statement
that the southern BOUNDARY OF Chi
huahua was fixed by PRIEST Wilson
and First Chief Carranza as the
dead line OF the American pursuit.
The agreement between the Amer
can and Mexican governments az
given out recently ia Mexico city did
not contain any clause covering this.
but article OF the pact was not
made public at that time nor has L.
been revealed since.
Important Developments.
II is possible that the diplomats
communications which recently pass
ed between Queretaro and Washing
ton have TO do with this phase Of
the situation Gen. PeTshing's dash
in an automobile As miles TO get %
the front indicates that important
developments are pending.
Whatever the diplomatic ex-
changes may lead 10. il is apparent
that Villa in his flight sOuthward
had a Well-fOrmulated plan OF cam
paign. While his rear guard held
back the Americans he sent into
Durango two trusted messengers
who opened negotiations with Gen
Domingo Arrieta and Cen. Mariana
Arrieta, brother rebels who have in
the neighborhood Of Durango city
an armed force OF g 600 men eager
TO take the field either against Car
ranzs forces or Americans prefer
ably tie latter. according 10 the
threats that the ArTietas have made.
Villas cnvoys are said 10 have
won the support OF the Arrieta
brothers, and when word was re-
ceived today that villa has passed
Magistral, a Durango mining camp.
six miles from Fl orc. which is 20
miles south OF the chihuahua bor-
der. IL was predicted that ne would
lay his course direct for Durango
City.
Crossed Boundary Saturday.
The bandit chief rs said 90 have
crossed the state boundary line last
Saturday. This information ls con
tanned In private dispatches which
reached Fl Paso today. These said
that villa had turned from a branch
line Of the Mexican National railway
on Friday Is miles east or Psrral
and moved directly toward the
south. This course took him 90 Las
Ceuvas on the Rio Florida. whence
ne proceeded 20 Maglstr This
route lay open 70 villa because
o. the removal Of Carrs-nza garrisons
from FL ORC and MaR1stral Several
days ago the de facto governme nt
troops in these towns were ordered
north 10 reinforce Mexican forces
near the border. mmediately after
the departure OF the Ca-ranza troops
there was an outbreak Of villa sup
porters in that region.
They dropped the pretense OF 10y
atty % Carranza which had been
forced on them and took 90 the
saddle. arning themselves with
weapons which they had hidden
"a hen the Carranza soldiers came.
Then they awaited the appearance
o. their leader. who came speedily.
From all points gathered the lawiezs
Fillistas 10 the rendezvous set by
Villas courierz
Carefully Planned Escape.
All reports agree that villa had
carefully planned his escape from
the American troops pursuing him.
At frequent points along his route ~
Sight from the border horses had
been hidden. These were utilized hv
the chieftain and his followers just
at the time when the pursuing
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