New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-20

Villa was reported in the Babicora
Lake region tonight on the ranch OF
Mrs. Phpbe Hearst, which he has raw
aged several times in the past. Bah
cora is about ffty-fve miles south OF
Balesns, where one section OF the
American eXpeditionsry force has ar
rived and is pushing forward at the
rate Of thirty-three miles a day. A
Few mile 20 .he west Of the bandits
position is Nsmiquipa. which is held By
a powerful Carranza garrison. On the
east are the frowning barriers of the
Sierra Madre Mountains, barring the
way 70 Sonora. General Louis Cutter
rez, Carranza's field chief. declares that
he holds all the passes TO Sonora.
Way Blocked at MADEIRA.
To the south Villas way is blocked
by the Carranza garrison az MADEIRA, a
town of considerable importance as the
headquarters Of the MADEIRA Company.
Limited. an American concern which
has vast lumber. mining and railroad
interests. On account Of the impor-
tance Of this town an exceptionally
heavy Carranza force is said 20 hold IL.
The whole situation seems 20 hang
tonight on the Carranza forces. II
they remain loyal 20 the First Chief.
which up 20 the present they have
shown every indication Of doing, Villa
appears trapped. II is. Of course. real
lied that he IS on ground Of his own
choosing and country admirably
suited for guerilla warfare and sur
prise attacks.
While Carrsnza leaders and his mill
tary authorities have succeeded 50 far
in avoiding any friction, there is one
serious question which may arise a.
any time 20 threaten the entire situs-
tion. As the lines OF communication %
the American force longthen the prob
lem Of bringing up supplies becomes in
creasingly more pressing.
To grant tho United States pcrmis-
sion 20 use the Mexican railroads for
shipping supplies. il is thought here
may be misconstrued by many MeTi-
cans. On the other hand. refusal
would scarcely harmonic with the pro
Tossed desire Of the Carranza govern
ment 70 cooperate in every way with
the American authorities The arrival
Of this crisis is being snTiously await
ed on both sides of the border.
Leaves Trail Of Blood.
Behind him a trail traced in the
blood of recently murdered Americans
and the stark. stripped bodies Of his
abandoned wounded, Francisco Wills,
his flight sheered due westward from
Las Cruces. tonight is reported head
ed for the mountainous Uilds Of GUer-
rero and the continental divide be-
yond.
Not more than ffty-hve mile. be-
hind. General Pershing is believed TO
be pressing the bandit hard, while
Colonel Dodd's command is understood
20 be held az Casss Grsndes as sup
porting force.
Out Of the shroud Of mystery with
which the American censor has enyel.
oped the movements Of the two di-
visions Of the punitive expedition ono
fact seems 70 stand apparent: that
Villas every move Is followed closely
by scouts operating far in advance OF
the rapidly moving columns.
That American colonists on Villas
march in the last couple Of days have
been murdered by the bandit is re-
ported IN various dispatches reaching
this city and Juarez to-day and to-
night, but where these colonists were
located the censor refuses 70 give out,
lest it be the means of indicating the
plan Of the American pursuit.
Villa Fled Carranzis,as.
Dispatches "a General Gavirs. at
Juarcz, tonight placed Villa at Bsbi-
cora. little beyond Las Cruces. where
the Carranza officials reported him yes
terday.
Villa fed 20 avoid conflict with the
Carranzista troops under Colonel Icsno.
Among his thirty wounded. who had
been shot in the Columbus raid and
carried along in wagons. only to be
abandoned at Fl Vale. was said TO be
the second in command. Pablo Lopez.
Lopez Is the leader whose death Was
reported a. a positive fact at the Co'
lumbus raid Later reports cast SOM
doubt upon his death and indiestea
that another chief carrying me- Paps'
might have been the real victim; I
pez. the telegram said, was badly
wounded, having been shot through 'ths