Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1916-03-16
MURDER and ARSON
BY VILLA BANDITS
9 CIVILIANS SHOT DOWN-13TH
CAVALRY UNDER COL. SLO-
CUM ROUTS MEXICANS


CUM ROUTS MEXICANS
UNITED STATES CAVALRY
GATHERING FOR PURSUIT
Slaughter Arouses Entire Border
Force Intervention" Held To Be
Villas Aim
Ell Paso, March 13.-1n spite of Off
cial denials, reports are persistant
here that American cavalry on the
Arizona side had gathered for imme-
date crossing of the Mexican bor-
der and that they might go across
at any moment.
San Antonio, March 13.-No move
ment Of the expeditionary forces
which will search for Villa is probable
today, Funston announced. The gen.
eral said that preparations for the ex-
pedition were going right ahead, de-
spite Carranza's notification to the
Washington government that he
would not consent to American troops
entering Mexico unless Carranza
troops were allowed to enter the Uni
ted States.
It was officially announced that
Brigadier General John J. Pershing
will command the expeditionary
forces. Funston said he had received
no notification from Washington to
hold back the expedition while nego-
tiations were completed with Car
rama.
Funston said that announcement of
the expeditions actual start into Mex
leo probably would come from Persh-
ing to whom would be left the deci-
sion as to the exact hour for setting
the government afoot. A shortage of
rolling stock, Funston said, was him
dering the concentration of cavalry at
the base of operations and this was
one reason why a movement today
was unlikely. The fault, he said,
rested with the railroads west of Ell
Paso.
eve have been transporting men in
boxcars," he said. IF this had been
merely an infantry expedition we
could have been in Mexico on Villas
very HEELS" Funston continued, "but
this is largely a cavalry movement
and that is why there has been de-
lay" .s r..-.
Light was thrown on the size of the
expeditionary force by Funston, who
also said: "When this movement is
completed there will be only six or
eight regiments left in the United
States other than those troops sta
toned along the border for patrol
duty"
Columbus an Armed Camp
Ell Paso, March 13.-Daylight re-
vealed the beginning of the expedi-
tionary force which the United States
is gathering along the border west Of
here for the pursuit of Villa. Six
guns were unloaded during
the night and are in readiness at Co.
lumbus, the scene of Villas raid. This
is the first armed camp to develop evil
dences that it has been selected as one
of the starting points for the pursuit
column.
Fifty-seven carloads of battery
mules and transport animals also ar
rived and there was evidence that two
more guns were coming. Eleven hun
dred men were in camp this morning.
About 200 miles west of here troop |
trains were reported passing various
points during the night, as the result
If orders released Friday by the war |
department. What points except Co.
umbus might be used to assemble the
pursuit columns has not developed but
activity is noted on the
Arizona border near Nogales and also
rear a small Mexican settlement call
ID San Bernardino.
In that region several troops of
avalry are reported in readiness for
lction. A column entering Mexico
rom one Of these Arizona border
'oints would have a fairly direct
cute to the mountain passes in So
ora, through which apprehension has
cen expressed that Villa might es-
ape from the Chihuahua territory
nto which he has retreated.
Nogales reported that few cannon
ad been discovered in the Mexican
ills facing the American boundary
ear there, but elsewhere along the
ne where American troops are gath
ring there are no signs Of disquiet-
1g activity reported along the Mexi-
an side.
Reports here that army officers at
Columbus were puzzled at the atti-
1de of Carranza troops a few miles
cross the boundary were fatty denied
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