The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-23
VILLA AND new ALLY?

Continued from Page One,
among the populace in the mountain
districts urging them to support him
against the Americans. The outlaw is
reported to be equipping his men with
arms and ammunition which he has
had cached for some time. He has
plenty of good mounts and once his
command is ready, Villa will be in
position to start a guerrilla campaign
against the American army. There is
no confirmation of a report that Col
onel Cano of Carranza army has
joined forces with Villa. All was quiet
in Juarez today. Street car service,
which was suspended last night for
fear of trouble in that Mexican city,
was resumed. The railroad bridges
are still under guard.
Mexico Border Soothing.
San Antonio, March 23.-Northern
Mexico today is a powder magazine
with a fire burning on all sides of it.
From Brownsville to the California
line, fear of uprisings by Carranzista
troops against American border towns
has been suddenly revived, following
] reported revolt of forces under Cen
! eral Herrera, formar CarranZa COM
mander who is said to have cast his
! lot with Villa yesterday and declared
war on the United States. This re-
port, together with rumors of dissat-
! isfaction at JuareZ, reached army
headquarters by way of Ell Paso.
While no official report has yet been
made by General Funston. the situa-
ton is being frankly faced at Fort
Sam Houston and additional troops
are being ordered to protect border
towns where danger is most evident.
Order Out 5th Cavalry.
Three battalions of the Fifth cav
airy, now stationed at Columbus, will
be immediately distributed along the
a of no
fourth infantry, not required for pro-
lection of General Pershing's line of
communication, will be utilized for
additional border patrol duty. One of
the most significant changes in dis
trlbuuon of troops confirmed today
was the sending of the Fourth artillery
from Mercedes to Brownsville where
it will be better off" There are al
ready more than 5000 United States
soldiers in the Brownsville district, but
Matamoras, a Mexican city across the
river, is hotbed of VilliSta sentiment.
AT General Funston's headquarters
1t was stated that proper precautions
are being taken to guard Pershings
line of communication between Co
lumbus and Casas Grandes from pos
slole attack by revolving Carranzistas
Reported Battle.
General Funston today refused eth
er to confirm or deny a reported en-
gagement between a detachment OF
the Seventh infantry and a Villista
force, said to have occurred eight
miles southeast of Casas Grandes. Ac.
cording to the report, emanating from
Ell Paso, the casualties were two
Americans and 50 MeXicans.
so far" said General Funston. 81
have received no word from Genera
Pershing of an engagement YoU
must remember, however, that ouI
wireless is working very uncertainty
and 1t is very possible for news Of
such skirmish to get back to the
border over Mexican telegraph wire.
long before the news could reach me
Censorship at FL PasO.
u General Funston would not discus
the reported censorship at Ell Paso
/ said to have been ordered by Genera
1 Bell. Army headquarters said tina
l General Bell had made no report o
| the issuance of such an order A
the same time, officials admitted tina
such a step would not be at all i'm
probable under existing conditions
They refused to explain what wa
meant by existing conditions"
More From Kansas Fort
Leavenworth, March 23.-Four of
ficers of the Fifth cavalry who ar
students in the army service school
1 at Fort Leavenworth received order
today to join their commands on tn
Mexican border and will leave i'm
! mediately. The officers who are t
go are: Major Lawrence ]. FIeming
Major William G. Glasgow, Majo
Nathaniel F. Mcclure and Lieut.. H
r Mann