Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-16
United States Expeditionary
Force Drives Into Hills
in Villa Chase.
CARRANzISTAS TO AID
Great Numbers of Men of
De Facto Government
Join Americans.

San Antonio, Texas, March 16.-The
first report from Brigadier General
Pershing. commanding the expedition
airy forces into Mexico, to Major Gen
eral Funston, stating that all was 60
ing we'll, was received at Fort Sam
Houston this morning. The report
dealt with the strength Of General
Pershing's command, the disposition
Of the various units and the officers,
the distances Of the days march and
the movements of the CarranZa troops.
All these matters come under the
censorship, however, and were not
given out.
General Funston today arranged for
direct government wire to Columbus,
\. NJ. AT the same time it was an
n0unced that General Pershing might
make frequent trips between the field
forces and Columbus. In this way the
commander Of the expeditionary forces
can keep in close touch with the head
of the southern department.
Ell Paso, March 16.-The American
expeditionary force which has started
to capture Pancho Villa dead or
alive" and penetrated about ten miles
into Mexico, according to the most re-
liable reports received here today.
The military censorship, which has
been tightening its grip on the border
for some days permitted nothing ex-
cept rumors to escape but it was fair
ly we'll established that the advance
corps of the American expedition had
camped last night in the heart of the
desert which lies between the point of
entry and the foothills of the Sierra
Madres, the vast range of mountains
in the Businesses of Which Villa is be-
lieved to have taken refuge.
Watch Effect of Invasion.
But the interest Of the border in the
American advance was overshadowed
by the question as to how the presence
Of the soldiers of the United States on
Mexican soil would be taken by the
troops of CarranZa. General Gales,
the military governor Of Sonora, was
the man Of the hour" His troops,
Tariously estimated at from 10000 to
10000 men, garrisoned the frontier
towns and the immediate interior Of
the section into which the American
soldiers had entered. For days reports
and rumors that Calais troops were
disaffected and bitterly resented the
pursuit of Villa by American soldiers,
have flooded this region. The definite
announcement that the stars and
stripes had been carried over the in
ternational line by armed forces in
creased these rumors and reports to
a deluge out of which it was almost
impossible to pick whatever grains of
truth might exist.
There seemed no question that a
considerable portion of the Mexican
soldiers and civilians in the northern
part Of the republic were bitterly hos
tile to the action of the United States.
The higher civil and military authori-
ties Of the CarranZa government
showed every desire to prevent fric-
ton but It remains doubtful whether
they can control the masses Of the pop
ulation In the northern district who
are becoming very restless due to the
sedulous propaganda against Ameri-
cans which is being carried on among
them from unknown sources.
Wild Rumors Afloat.
Cananea and Ojinaga are the storm
centers. II was reported today from
Douglas that 500 picked men had been
rushed to the former town by General
Gales following alarming accounts Of
me situation there which reached him.
olinaga has been the target of the
most sensational rumors for two days.
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