The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-08
Carranza Official Believes Pur-
pose Accomplished.
WANTS TROOPERS WITHDRAWN
Washington Has No Such Re-
quest From Carranza.
Funston Alone Can Declare
Invasion at an End.

Washington, April S.-The original
order given Major General Funston on
March 10 for the American punitive
expedition into Mexico made public
for the first time at the war depart
ment today did not include instruc
tions for the death or capture of Villa
but principally directed dispersal of
Villas outlaw band that attacked
Columbus, n NJ, on March 3.
General Funstons orders read:
You will promptly organize an
adequate force of military troops un
der the command of Brig. Gen. John
]. Pershing and will direct him to pro-
ceed promptly across the border in
pursuit of the Mexican band which
attacked the town of Columbus and
the troops there on the morning of
March 8. These troops will be with
drawn to American territory as soon
as the de facto government of Mexico
i is able to relieve them of this work.
In any event the work of these troops
will be regarded as finished soon
az Villas band or bands are known
to be broken up.
Order From War Department.
I'm carrying out these instructions
you are authorized to employ whatever
guides or interpreters are necessary.
You are given general authority to
employ such transportation including
motor transportation with necessary
civilian personnel as may be required.
You are instructed to make all
practicable use of the aeroplanes at
San Antonio for observation. Tele-
graph for whatever reinforcements or
material you need. Notify this office
as to force selected and expedite
movement"
Brigadier- General sscott.-s-eIaief of
staff. declared today that General
Funston had not yet reported that this
task had been accomplished. The
Mexican embassy today announced
that no advices had been received
from General Carranza that the de
factO government forces were pre-
pared or desired to relieve American
troops and assume the task itself.
ion as to whether he believed the
orders to General Funston has been
completely carried out
Deny Withdrawal Report
Recurrence of reports that Ameri-
can troops were to be withdrawn from
Mexico were met today at the state de-
partment with a statement by Secre
tary Lansing that no such withdrawal
was contemplated so far as he knew
and at the war department by publ-
cation for the first time. of the orig
inaI order to Major General Funston.
that it made no mention of taking
Villa dead or alive which was de-
scribed as its purpose by officials
when it was issued. 1t was said to-
day however. that the instructions to
disperse the Villa bands cover what
ever action its execution entails.
Jobs Done, Says Carranzista.
Ell Paso, April 8.-The American
troops have accomplished their object
in destroying Villas military power
and should therefore be withdrawn
from Mexico without delay, was the
view expressed today by a well known
member of the Carranza government.
speaking unofficially.
"Now Time to Withdraw
THE punitive force he said, "has
done all it could expect to do 1t has
shattered the forces of Villa, who is
now a fugitive, robbed of all prestige
he ever held among the people The
poems may be ignorant, but they are
no fools. They well never again re-
spect a man who turned tail and ran
like a coward before the Yankees,
without making a stand.
Meantime, it must be admitted
that the Mexican people have behaved
well toward the American troops They
have received them courteously But
to allow them to remain in Mexico in
definitely, 2,000 men hunting for a
single bandit. who may not be caught
loA HIolllls' IL dHotHei matter 10 al
low them to continue their progress to
the south indefinitely is still more
serious.
Americans would not tolerate the
presence of a Canadian military force
within their borders. Similarly the
presence of Americans is beginning to
irritate the Mexican people. 1t looks
and feels like a surrender of sover-
eighty. With Villa crushed now is the
logical time for the punitive force to
withdraw. No causes of conflict have
vet arisen and the affair has So far