New Britain herald., 1916-03-24
No Report From Pershing Although Funs Believes Story is True--Loss of Horsesl
 is Said to Hit Villa Hard
INFORMATION FROM THE
 INTERIOR KEEPS BORDER IN CONFU'

Statements Regarding Rev0
 Herrera and 2,OOO Troops Bnt
 eraI Bell Insists Such Is tho
 tion - Arizona Preparing
 EyentuaIities at Sonora.
 Fl Paso, Tex, March 24.-The ican situation was more confuse1 uncertain today than at any time the pursuit of Francisco Villa V Virtually the only news received the interior was from Mexican go1 and this was of such directly tradictory nature that it was ii1 sible to separate the true from false.
 Early today Andreas Garcia.
 Carranza consul here, displayed grams which he said he had rec from General Bertani at Casas
 des announcing that Villa was rounded at El Oso a ranch five south of Namaquipa, by the and Carranza troops that a decisive battle was immi
 General Bell, commanding the ed States troops here received report in silence. His only conn was that he would wait until he 1j directly from Gen. Pershing wi leading the punitive expedition Gen. Funston before making statement on the situation. 1l was frank skepticism among United States army officers, althl it was admitted that advance ded ments of the American troops nd easily have reached Namaquipd this time if they had maintained thing like a speed with which had made the first hundred mild their march. .|
 The report was received by Mel consul Andres Garcia.
 The Villa outlaws were said IA hemmed in at El Oso, about five rl south of Namiquipa, where Villa fled after a conflict with Carra forces at Santa Gertrudes. Villa,I cording to a despatch from Gen. tani, Carranza commander in the of operations, made a stand in Santa Clara canyon near Santa trudes but was driven out with a of several men killed and one l1 dred horses captured
 The loss of the horses was a lI blow to Villa, it was said. as he bends on the high quality of mounts of his men to execute rd moves.
 Information regarding the impd ing battle at Fl Oso was expectal awaited today by, Consul Garcia Gen. Cavira at Juarez. Brig. d Bell at Fort Bliss was without inl nation regarding Gen. Pershil forces, whose strategic moves in Chin uahua district have been cloa in strict silence
 For several days Gen. Pershing made no report regarding his md nents to his superiors.
 An American crew of a train wh arrived at Juarez early today fI' Casas Grandes reported that all X quiet at the latter town when q eft there. They said there WI many American soldiers in town fri l camp nearby and that the natl seemed pleased at their presence, hey spent more real silver mol han had been seen in Casas Grant Or many months
 The trainmen could throw no lil on the cutting of the wires at NJ MeXi2an Northwestern RaiIro which was reported some days { )y Gen. Gavira. They said the t vas eventful. Nothing was kno tt Casas Grandes when they left tn yesterday as to any fighting at Nan luipa or elsewhere.
 Colnred Troops Arc Idolized.
 Two Mormon colonists who ived on the train confirmed the sta nents of the crew. They said u he Casas Grandes natives were Vi, to the American wh oldiers but were most impressed b, olored regiment, which left for | outh yesterday. The Mormons s: hat many natives of Casas Grant yere convinced that Villa could l scape the negro troopers.
 In the absence of positive inform ion regarding the pursuit of Villa i aain interest along the border W entered on the interfractional cri n Mexico, The reports respect he desertion of Carranza by Gen. |. Ierrera were so conflicting that ! ttempt to decide between them N opeless. The weightiest evider I support of the belief that Herre ad reVolted was supplied by q, Sell, who said that his confrmati 9 that effect came from sources tl Q was satisfied were correct. TT, era is known here as bitter an .merican and he is also understo ) cherish deep resentment agair arranza for depriying him rccent