The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-03-10
No Time for Watchful Waiting When Bandit
Crosses the Border and Attempts
Great Massacre.
COMPLETE CLEANUP OF THE OUTLAWS
United States Troops Have Already Crossed
the Line and Will do 50 More Forcibly
Next Time.

, territory a few miles west of Colum-
bus. Reinforcements were being
rushed from all parts Of the Mexi-
can boundary to the Columbus dis
trict. General Funston himself prob
ably will take personal command.
General Pershing will be in immedi-
ate charge.
If the U. S. decides only to wipe
out the band guilty of yesterdays in
vasion, army officers said possibly not
more than 1000 American troopers
would be sent into Mexico and GER
tainly not more than 1000 or 5000.
Funston's Report.
WASHINGTON, March 1O.-Gener-
al Funston, American border COM
mander, urgently recommended to the
war department today that American
troops be given authority to pursue
Mexican bandits into Mexico.
IT urgently recommend said the
generals message, received by Chief
Of Staff Scott, that American troops
be given authority to pursue into MeXi
can territory, hostile Mexican bandits
who invade American territory"
$50 long as the border is shelter
for them, they will continue to harrass
our IdlCuStS anu W WAo, W Jul SAi~
grin.
General Pershing reports that the
Mexican consul ut FL Paso thinks
that there should be no objection to
American troops entering Mexico in
pursuit of Villa and that he would
wire his government recommending
cooperation"
To protect Columbus from further
Mexican raids, General Funston has
ordered a battalion Of infantry from
Fort Bliss to garrison the town. This,
he reported to the war department,
would leave the cavalry free for field
movements.
He also ordered two companies or
infantry from Douglas, Ariz., to San
Bernardino.
General Funston today advised Gen
eral Scott Of the disposition Of troops
to meet present border conditions.
His message reads:
Have Just made following dispos1-
ton Of troops for protection of the
border: Three companies OF infantry
at Columbus, one at Victoriana, two at
Hachita, two at Las Ciennegas, two
at San Bernardino, two at Naco and
one guarding the railway bridges at
Bernardfno.
THESE dispositions will relieve the
cavalry, making the latter avallapie
for any call.
"The Tenth cavalry has been order
ed to Douglas, leaving guard for
H1achuca. Troop A Seventh cavalry
goes to Alamo Hueco tonight. Five
troops and a machine gun troop from
the Seventh cavalry should arrive at
Lang's ranch by noon tomorrow.
(Signed F'uNSIoN'
Funston's report on the return OF
the American troops reads:
The following received from Col.
onel Slocum: I sent three troops un- !
der Tompkins, across the border this
CMarch 81. Pursued villa
about five miles, driving him into !
rough country where his force scat !
tered. after making one final stand,
which stopped Tompkins' advance.
Three troops then returned to Colum-
bus three hours later. We lost one /
corporal from troop G.. !
shortly after receiving Funston's !
request, the war department announc- /
ed that Secretary Baker would dis
cuss It with President Wilson today. |
In the meantime the department ,
said "the situation is over for the I
nresent at least, and there Is nothing
to do unless we are ordered to go in"
chief of Staff Scott declared no
orders had gone to Funston to pro- |
ceed to Columbus, and that for the |
CONTINUED on page 2.)