The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-04-18

mountain grave near La Borja came
from General Bell today. General Bell.
in charge at Ell Paso declared his be-
lie. that the entire story of villas
body having been found was manufac-
tured in Juarez A statement from
Consul Letcher at Chihuahua further
discredited the story, asserting that
dispatches from Cusihuirachic made
no mention of the body.
Early advices to headquarters told
of gathering of scattered American
detachments near Satevo. Indications
pointed to resumption of the bandit
hunt on a limited scale to conform to
the present line OF commu nications.
This was believed to mean that Fun
ston intended making the best Of the
facilities at hand, meantime hoping
for permission to use the Mexican rail-
ways or sanction for a new line with
the American base near Preside, Tex
as
Funston was inclined to discredit
the reported seizure of train load OF
supplies consigned to the American
forces via the Mexican Central rail-
way. General Bells dispatches failed
to mention the incident. Funston said
he would not investigate it without
official notification.
Calls Story Bunk"
Ell PASO, Texas, April 1S.-"Bunk'
was the word United States Senator
Fall applied to the story that Villa
was dead and Carranza soldiers have
found his body.
IF Carranza can get away with 1t,
and I presume he can" said Fall, the
United States soldiers will be recall
ed in few days and the expedition
will be over. Carranza can then pose
as great national hero, claiming his
soldiers killed Villa and compelled the
United States troops to leave Mexico.
OF course, that will not finally solve
the Mexican problem, but it will en-
able the administration temporarily
to shelve it,
Fall is watching the Mexican stu
alton from FL Paso.
Insist it is Villa.
by E. T. Conkle, United Press Staff
Correspondent
Ell PASO, Texas, April 18--Confir-
nation of the reported death of Villa
was announced by General Gavira at
JuareZ today.
1dSid StdlSu uC icSOi'Co q ihCS-
sage Of verification from Governor
Enriqez of Chihuahua.
However, American officials in Ell
Paso privately expressed the opinion
that no one below JuareZ ever heard
of the discovery OF Villas body. The
Fort Bliss heads refused to be quoted.
The dispatch from EnrtQuez, Ca
vira stated. reported there was con-
firmation at Chihuahua Of the reports
that Colonel Carlos Carranza and
other chiefs had left for San Fran
cisco De Borja to locate and bring
back the body.
Mexican Scouts Not Trusted.
COLUMBUS, N NJ, April 1S.-Mex-
lean scouts employed by General
Pershing in many instances led Unit
ed States troops into difficult and
inaccessible regions where they
might easily have been ambushed.
Returning motor truck guards today
said this was the reason Pershin1
dispensed with native guides entirely
and called for more American scouts
familiar with southern Chihuahua.
Pershing's hurried trip back to HIS
wireless base was regarded by army
men here as indicating the tenseness
of the situation in Mexico. Follow
ling the Parral incident, Pershing is
, thought to have regarded quick com
munication as imperative and to
recommended halt Of the pursuit OF
Villa, farther south until the safety of