The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1916-03-17
PRESIDENTS ACTION, IN PRES
EMIT STAGE, DOES NOT MEAN
ARMED INTERVENTION
STATEMENT ISSUED.
5000 SOLDIERS WAIT
WORD TO CRUSH VILLA
United States Forces Would Clash
with Bandits in Few Hours if Start
is Made lmmed acknowledgements
Consist Chiefly of Infantry
"Flying Column" Planned.

Ell Paso, Texas, March 11.-If Unit
ed States troops start after Villa i'm
mediately, they would clash in few
hours, providing the bandit leader
made a stand.
Villa with several hundred of his
best mounted followers was campec
at a point ten miles from the Amer
can boundary and IS miles southwest
Of Columbus, according to advices re
ce:ved by Brigadier General j. ]. Per
shing shortly before noon.
Orders Troops over Border.
Washington, March 11.-President
Wilson has ordered American troops
over the Mexican border to capture OF
kill the Villa bandits who raided Co
lumbus, N. NJ.
In its present stage the President
order does not mean armed interven'
ton in Mexico. 1t provides for puma
tive expedition to deal with lawless
forces over which the Carranza gov
eminent has no control.
5000 Men Available.
MdJOT d6u6Idl OCOIls SnlCl Vi obeih
of the army, announced that the ex-
petition would consist of not less than
5000 men, all of which are available
on the border under Major General
Funston.
The following statement was issued
at the White House:
IAN adequate force will be sent at
once in pursuit of Villa with the sim
gle object of capturing him and put
ting a stop to his forays.
This can be done and will be done
in entirely friendly aid of the consti-
tuted authorities in Mexico and with
scrupulous respect for the sovereign
ity of that republic"
Opposed to Intervention.
1t was declared that the United
States will continue to deal with the
Carranza government. The American
government is still opposed to armed
Intervention in Mexico but has decid-
ed that the peace of both Mexico and
the United States is imperiled by the
continued activities of Francisco Villa.
The cabinet was unanimous in de-
Gliding that Villa must be caught.
Elesio Arredonio, General Carran
za's ambassador here, received the
news of the Presidents decision with
the statemen, that he. could make no
comment and woull at once notify
General Carranza. He had declared it
was his own opinion that such action
would not be resented
- Nc Orders Issued to Navy.
No orders had been issued to the
navy but it was considered probable
be, placed in Mexican waters to be
near if Americans in coast towns
were endangered by anti-American
The government is
reluctant to make any naval demon
stration that might be construed as
against General Carranza.
The American force will consist |
chiefly of infantry. There will be, !
however, at least 1000 cavalry. There
will also be included at least a detach- |
nent of artillery and several batteries |
Of mountain guns loaded on pack |
mules and especially adapted for the |
yuerilla fighting anticipated in the hill
" section, where Villa is expected to
make his stand.
"FIying Column" of 1000.
A flying column of about 1000
men, according to tentative plans of
Ugh army officials, will constitute the
,robing force to which will be dele
lated the most active work of search
ng out Villa.
This force probably will concentrate
t or near Columbus at once From
oints west and east of Columbus the
emainder of the expeditionary army
I'LL be hurried across with supplies
nd munitions to last them until they
ave gone far enough south into Next
an territory to turn toward each /,
Their, thereby surrounding Villa
orces if they are able to make a
lncture. !
The flying column" will consist
hiefly OF military.
Stronger Force Needed.
General Scott said that the neces-
ty OF providing even stronger force
n the border than 1t now has while :
10 American troops are operating in
Says Y. S. Machine Guns Failed.
n Paso. Tex. March 11.-Failure