Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-15
PEUSHING LEAVES
Ell PASO TO TAKE
ACTIVE COMMAND
Since His Departure the Military
Authorities Refuse All Infor-
nation Regarding His
Movements.
MORE RUMoRs ABOUT VILLA
Report Bandit Chieftain Changed
Plan and Will Try to Hold
0jitos Pass,
MUCH EXCITEMENT AT NAco

BULLETIN.
Ell PASO, Texas, March 14.-It
is believed that the crossing of the
advance guard OF the American ex-
peditionary force into Mexico now
is but a matter of hours. The main
force may not start for two or three
days
81 hope we shall soon take villa
alive-with the help of the United
commander at Juarez, said tonight.
Ell PAsO. Tex. March 14.--Briga-
der General John J. Pershing, COM
manding the American expeditionary
force into Mexico, left here on
west bound train last night and since
his departure military authorities
have refused all information about
him.
General Pershing's train was said
here to be going to Columbus, N. NJ,
where today some 1000 men OF the
first expeditlonary force are in readi-
ness for the dash after villa. Some
hours after General Pershing left.
however. 1t became evident that mill
tnry authorities in this section in
tended that no information should
leak out about his further move
ments.
In expectation OF the generals depar-
ture last night from Ei Paso crowd
OF photographers and moving picture
men had gathered az a railway station
platform. Piles OF military equipment
and bulky army wagons were scattered
about the train General Pershing, In
stead of walking down the lane which
the photographers had formed. stepped
behind an army wagon and thence 10
the opposite side OF the car. The train
was about 10 pull out when the farewell
crowd discovered that the general had
out-maneuvered them..
villa May Make stand.
A circumstantial story reached hers
today from Mexican sources to the effect
that villa had once more ,ehanssd his
plans and intended making . stand
against the American punltivs expedi-
tlon at oJ4tos pass, the narrow gap In
the western Chihuahua slerraa. through
which he made his murderous dash at
Columbus.
Americans familiar with the country
assert that ojitos pass is admirably
adapted for a successful defense IL villa
really intends to risk an open engage
ment with the American troops and does
not intend to try and evade the end by
guerilla tactics.
/ -
sensational character poured into thia
city from various points along the bor-
der. but nearly all lacked conflrnativs
details The most definite came from
Naco, Arix For some days reports have
reached here from the border near Nacc
OF heavy movements OF Carranza troops
under General Gales. Early today Il
was asserted that considerable number
OF these troops were showing increasing
hostility toward Americans and might
even espouse the cause of villa Ths
United states military authorities wers
sufficiently aroused TO these stories ts
rush reinforcements to the garrison ai
Naco.
villa Again Active.
stories Of the activity OF villa agents
have poured into Fort Bliss and have beer
received In large number by the civt
authorities. Several arrests have already
been made and others are expscfed "a
follow. One such story Ia 70 the effect
that the villa sympathizers are using
dogs to send messages and information
across the border. The man who brought
this story is an American living on the
border close to this city. He said he had
seen one dog with roll OF papers tied
around his neck running across ths
border He fired several bullets at the
animal. but failed to hit IT.
In the meatime trains loaded with al
kinds OF military supplies continue tc
arrive here on pass through on their way