Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-04-09
SECRETARY
BAKER DENIES
SUCH REPORTS
Fair Chance Of Accomplishing
Purpose for Which Punitive
Expedition Started
NO ORDER TO KILL
OR CAPTURE BANDIT
Is Made Known to Public by Ma
jor General Scott and War
Department.

Washington, April S-Secretary Ba.
ker Informally denying today that
immediate withdrawing from Mexico
of the Expeditionary force, was con.
templated, said that the War depart.
ment had information that the troop.
ers were close on the trail of Villa
and the expedition might soon accOm-
plish the purpose for which it was
sent over the border.
Object to Disperse Bandits
"The object Of the expedition was
stated when it was, undertaken Z said
Secretary Baker. ut has never been
changed. NO other orders have been
given and the expedition Is busily
pursuing it now with what I hope
is fair chance of early success"
mo Basis Of Any Kind"
Reports that preparations for with.
drawal were under way were dc.
clared by Mr.. Baker to have "abso.
.lutely no basis Of any kind" ~. Is,
Publication t0da sOl ilie text OF the
original army order to cross the Dor.
der a month ago reveals that no
specified direction to capture or kill
Villa was included. The order made
public by Major General Scott. chief
of staff, stated that the work Of the
U. S. troops "would be regarded fin.
ished as soon as Villas band or bands
are known to be broken up" and
that the Americans would withdraw
"as soon as the de facto government
of Mexico is able to relieve them Of
this work."
Order Still Unchanged
Secretary Baker and General Scott
said the order was unchanged; that
no new or supplemental order had
been given and that General Funston
had not yet reported that the Ameri-
can expeditions object had been at
tanned. It was recalled that on the
day the troops crossed, Secretary Ba.
ker said their object was Ito capture
or disperse" the bandits who raided
Columbus.
Lansing Issues Statement
Secretary Lansing also issued q
statement today stating he knew OF
no intention to withdraw the troops.
1t was stated officially today that
General Funston's orders were broad
enough to include dealing personal
ly with Villa if he should be encount-
cred. Satisfaction with the trans1
portation situation was indicated to-
day at the state department.
Pursuit Halted
The pursuit of Villa has been
brought to a halt, according to a
statement made here tonight by an
American army officer.
There is no use blinking at the
facts" said. Even a layman should
be able to understand that General
Pershing with the relatively small
number of men under his command
cannot maintain lines of communica-
ton anywhere from 800 to 500 miles
long, and at the same time press the
pursuit of bandit into country
where he is known to have thousands
Of sympathizers if not active support.
ers.'
"Withdrawa, Bitter Pill'
with the free use Of the Mexican
railroads, we still could hope to ef-
,ect something, but there 10 no hope
If such a concession, at least at
know nothing about re-
ports of withdrawing troops Is con-
That is question for
to decide. It Is hardly
necessary for me to say that It q
solution that would be q bitter pill
for u.s."
Sensational Developments 3een
Statements of officials here and In
Juarez, coupled with Washington dis.
patches are accepted that . speedy
and sensational development in tho
situation is coming. In connection
with this feeling, reports continue to
come from dozen different sources
rom the concentration Of Carransa
.roops near the border. These re.
ports come in such manner That
they cannot be ignored ana It >
known that they have been forward.
ed to Washington % credible.
Burned Million Dollar a1ieo
A train which arrived here today
from Chihuahua City, with several
including tN6 vu0ea.
brought story of the Burning oe tho
million dollar plant Of the D1raAgo
Continued On PaSS 0o1t)