The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1916-03-11
I TO (I:I
VILLA IA DEAD
OR Alive
U. S. Troops Are Ordered
in.O Mexico.
GEN. FUNSTON IN COMMAND
"To Capture or Kill" Are Instructions
to War acknowledgements Noti
fed; But Permission Not Awaited.

washington, Marcn ll!-fTeSlueu
Wilson ordered American troops be
sent over the Mexican border to cap
,ure or kill Francisco Villa and hi:
army Of bandits who on Thursday at
tackled Columbus, N. NJ, and killed
seventeen Americans.
Major General Hugh L. Scott. chic
Of staff of the army, announced thai
the expedition would consist of moi
less than 5000 men, ali OF whom are
available on the border, under Major
General Frederick Funston.
The formal orders for the move
ment have been issued.
Villa has been reported as having
taken refuge in the mountains oi
Chihuahua state, fifteen miles sout1
Of the border, although an unconfrm
ed report from Columbus said he was
| heading back toward that town.
In a report General Funston told
the war department he had accurate
information that Villa had 5000 troops
with him, that Carranza troops in VII
las vicinity had fled, and that he ad
vised against irittering away the time
Of the army guarding small towns and
thus give Villa opportunity to escape
He advised that the plans Of the army
for Villas capture be surrounded with
secrecy.
In it's present stage, the presidents
order does net mean armed 1nterven
tion in Mexico. 1t provides for a puni
tive expedition to deal with law-ess
forces over which the Carranza gov.
ernment has no control.
The following statement was issued
at the White House:
can adequate force will be sent at
once in pursuit Of Villa with the single
object Of capturing him and putting a
stop to his forays.
'"This can be done, and will be done
in entirely friendly aid Of the con
stituted authorities in Mexico and
with scrupulous respect for the SOW
ereignty OF that republic"
ii was sara d. -tne white house III
addition that the American govern
ment wants Villa dead or alive and
that no steps will be neglected to car
ry out that object.
Secretary of War Baker made the
following announcement:
General Scott was in communica
ton with General Funston, and al
vised him of the action of the presi'
dent. He was instructed to get ready
to send his men into Mexico at once
"The detailed orders now are being
worked out. While General Funston
will have a free hand in disposing OF
the details the general plan Of cam
paign will be worked out by the gen
eral staff.
General Scott Is in touch with the
entire Mexican border and there will
be no further outrages against Ameri
can life and property. Villa will be
taken, dead or alive"
No move will be made by the navy
for the present. Virtually the entire
Atlantic feet is within two days sail
of the Mexican coast, and should Car
ranza's forces be unable to protect
Americans or other foreign subjects
in case of disturbances, the navy will
This was stated authoritatively at the
navy department.
General Scott said the necessity OF
providing even stronger force fol
the border than 1t now has while the
American troops are operating in Mex
leo, would necessitate using some
troops not now there for the punitive
expedition. They probably will be
ordered from other posts. No plans
have been made so far as to known
for use of the national guard.
Approximately 200 Mexicans were
billed in the battle Thursday, accord
ing to estimates of army officials.
Major Frank Tompkins, of the Thir
! teenth Cavalry, in command of the
| troops that drove Villa and his ban
dts across the border, said that Vii
| las seventy-five Mexican dead found
| on the Mexican side were either burn
ed or buried.
General Funston telegraphed, urg
| ing utmost secrecy OF the army's
| plans. The border IS honeycombe.
with Mexican spies, and it was agreed
| that the expedition would be pushed
to success by keeping Villa and hi;
men ignorant of its movements.
is p.ssible that no correspondents will
be permitted to accompany the col
umns. At any rate strict censor
| ship will be imposed.
| General Carrc~-a, II a telegram t.
the state department, expressed regre
at the Columbus massacre, but made
no comment on the proposal of send
ing American troops to hunt down tn
bandits. Eliseo Arredondo, his am
| bassador mere, was officially informed
! of the American governments action
| He only replied that he would com
municate with his chief. He has pre-
| yiously expressed the personal opln
lon that the movement would not b.
opposed.
State department officials declined
to say what their attitude would b.
II General CarranZa took hostile po
! sition. They said the United State
would settle that question when l
arose. If an offer of cooperation o
Carranza troops is made, they SAID
it could hardly be refused.
General Carranza ordered ooo
troons from various garrisons to NOV
upon the Villa forces. The effect
their advance probably would be t
keep the Villa bandits near the border
Airmen Shell GievseIi; Kill Many.
Athens, March ll.-trencn aer
| nJ,poc booharda1 the Bulgarian cam