The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-13
AMERICANS TAINTED
BY CARRANZA TROOPS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

Carranza force or 400 garrisons the town
but neither Bishop Hurst nor any of the
United States military authorities place
any faith in their ability to stand against
the Villa force, estimated at between
1.5Oo and $500 men.
In addition to the differences in forces,
says the military men, villa is return
ing to his home territory as a conquerfng
hero. as a God in the eyes of the Mexi-
cans, as the man who defied the United
States army" and got away with II.
Several Americans reported to Consul
Edwards in FL Paso that Carranza OH
GERS had insulted them as Americans.
Consul Edwards learned that there are
still fifty Americans in Chihuahua under
protection OF United States Consul
Marion Letcher, Safe conducts for the
Americans as far as the border have not
been arranged as yet according to Con-
sui Edwards.
In connection with the evident attempt
of Villa to cut off the Casas Grandes
Mormon colony, Bishop Hurst this after
noon personally visited Gen. Gavira in
Ell Paso and asked that sufficient re-
endorsements be sent to the Casas
Grandes garrison to warrant safety for
the Churchmen. Gen. Gavira promised
that men would be started within two
hours, but later withdrew his promise
and sent Bishop Hurst a note to that
dition of the Mexican Northwestern Rail-
road and the small number of his own
troops prevented his complying with the
request.
Equipment Loaded on Trains.
During the day, the Sixth and Sixteenth
Infantry regiments at Fort Bliss loaded
their equipment aboard trains in the
fort reservation. Neither Gen. John J.
In at
Gen. Funston, in supreme command at
Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, would
give out the destination Of the troops.
The men themselves believed that they
are to start Monday morning over the
Mexican Northwestern for Casas Grandes,
and that they will take with them aux
Hilary cavalry for scouting purposes and
sufficient artillery for support. Casas
Grandes under this plan, would become
the infantry advance base from which
the pursuit OF Villa would be conducted.
The general belief is that when the
troops do go in, whether 1t is on Monday
( or later in the week, there will be three
columns. One with artillery and infantry
to act as garrisons and support will start
from Fort Bliss through FL Paso and
Juarez, along the Mexican Northwestern.
second column is to go directly south
from Columbus, along a grade made in
the early sixties for proposed Mormon
railroad to Casas Grandes that was never
built. The grade is a good forty miles
south. and connects with a good wagon
road through Las Palomas Espia, Colonia
Diaz, Ascencion, Corralitos and Dudlan
to Casas Grandes. This column, If the
plan is carried out, will be a cavalry
brigade third column in this plan will
start south from Douglas. skirting the
mountain ranges and coming in upon
Casas Grandes from the west.
PershInE Calls Conference.
During the morning, Gen. Pershing
called into conference at Fort Bliss every
officer under his command. The utmost
secrecy governed the conference and fol-
lowing it came the entraining move OF
the Sixth and Sixteenth Infantry regi-
ments.
The Pearson interests. which control
the Mexican Northwestern Railroad. Of
fered Gen. Pershing full equipment of
cars. engines and train repairmen, and
the Southern Pacific and FL Paso South
ern Railroads, under a clause in their
charters which provide for army use of
the company property in time of war,
htld additional trains in the yards.
An aeropIane corps from San Antonio
is en- route for Columbus. n. Mex. and
signal corps company from Fort Bliss
has already gone there. Additional cav
airy troops are en- route from California
posts to Douglas and from northwestern
posts TO Fort Bliss and San Antonio. In
all within a week, Gen. Funston will
have 10000 men available. all regular
army troops.
Seek Data on Supplies.
Fuel and coal dealers of FL Paso and
other border towns have been called
into conference with the military COM
manders to outline how much material
they can deliver for army use. The
same applies to grocers and mercan-
tile men.
Gen. Funston is expected in FL Paso
during the night.
During the day Holman c. MyIes.
British Consul at FL Paso, attempted
to send a code message to Vice Con-
sui Harry S. Cobell at Chihuahua. In
spite of his declaration that the mes
sage was purely official and for the
ears of the Chihuahua vice Consu-
alone. Gen. Gavira refused to allow
the message to go into Mexico.