The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1916-03-24
DENY HERRERA
WILL JOIN VILLA
General and 1000 Men Said to
Have Deserted Carrdnza.
Ell PASO FEARS OUTBREAK
Border Town Prepares to Meet Up
rising OF Mexican Colony-cavairy
and vi!Iistas May Have clashed.

Ell Paso, Tex, March 24.-Reports
frum several sources that General
Luis Herrera, Carranza's commander
at Chihuahua City, hal deserted to
Francisco Villa, taking with him 1000
men, were followed by many other
exciting r'.mors which kept the bor
der country in a ferment.
Colonel Cano, another Carranza OIL
icer, supposed to be hunting Villa was
also said to have turned his men
against the American pursuers.
Other reports were that deeections
from the Carranza cause had spread
to other sections, including Torreon;
that General Pershing had seized the
Mexican Northwestern railway, south
of Casas Grandes to transport sup
plies to the American troops operat
ing against Villa, and that the Sew
enth United States Cavalry had CLASH.
ed with the defeated bandit leaders
forces near Namiquipa, 100 miles be-
low Casas Grandes.
General Funston at San Antonio de-
MED that General Pershing had sefz
ed the railway. Il have no informa
ton about the subject" sail General
Funston. General Pershing may have
asked permission of the local Carran
zistas to use a section of the Mexico
Northwestern, south of Casas Gran
des for the transportation of supplies.
General Pershing's orders are not to
occupy towns and not take possession
Of anything"
Ignacio Enriquez, civil governor OF
the state of Chihuahua, sent tele
gram to Audreas Garcia, consul at Ell
Paso, declaring that Herrera still was
loyal to the first chief and not to credit
repors of his detection to Villa. Con-
sui Garcia made public this message
from Governor Enriquez, which says:
Your message referring to press
reports regarding General Luis HERE
ra received. ! have just shaken hands
with General Herrera, and he IS loyal
to the legal government of Mexico"
Another despatch said Herrera Is
conducting active military operations
against Villa forces. This despatch,
which came from Mexico City, said
further that the Herrera campaign
is being waged in southern chihuahua
:zt -l4es.=
rera's force under Colonel Cano
fought battle with a band led by
Villa himself.
Reports of Herrera's revolt were
heard at army headquarters and from
private advices. They were generally
credited. but an absolute confirmation
Villa has established base to the
westward of Namiquipa to reorganize
his command and recruit new men for
his army, 1t was reported. Tne Amer
lean army base at Columbus has hal
no definite news Of Villa for more
than two days.
So grave is the situation regarded
that the military authorities planned
drastic steps to relieve all Mexicans
in FL Paso of any arms they might
have concealed in their homes and en-.
force what would be practically mar
tial law in Little Chihuahua" the
heart of FL Paso's Mexican section
w AeAt WV G4Shy AoppSh LII uoi CLs
there Is no supposition that any
attack would be made on FL Paso
from the other side of the river, but
there is the greatest apprehension -tAaaT- Il q !
an outbreak on one side would be TO-.
lowed by an outhhffeak ON the other.
1hefe are about $4,000 Me1icans in
FL -faso out of total population OF
1000.
The military and civil authorities
have made vigorous efforts to fore,
stall trouble by arresting every Mexi
can who was suspected of melting
their fellow-countrymen against Amer
leans That such a system, apparent
ly organized, has been carried for
some tir7@ 9een Wi ...iuwn. Nu.
.nvious arrests have been made, es.
pecially among the Villista colony,
which is quite large.