Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-03-16
NATURE AIDS villa.
American Troops Must Traverse Dss-
ert Lands in Search of Villa.

American Troops Must Traverse Dss-
ert Lands in Search Of Villa.
Ell Paso, Tex, March 16.--The point
chosen for the entrance for the puni-
tive expedition into Mexico Is at the
verge Of dreary, desolate plain. In
ha abited principally by coyotes and
prairie dogs, swept by sandstorms and
denuded OF veg eta ton except the cac-
tus and a few other spiky and objec-
tionable growths.s f'--
For at least thirty miles the soldiers
of the United States-m must make their
way across this desert. They than
reach the lowest range of. the Sierra
Madre mountains rising to- q height of
5000 to $500 feet, broken and twisted
into all manner of fantastic shapes by
volcanic action and as barren of any
verdure worthy Of the name as the
desert over which they frown. ~
Find Lonely Ranehmsn. 4
sag Lonely, half-ciyilized ranchmen are
found here and there In the valleys,
npFeing tjlotr cattle ~ the EinfSequent
and scanty water holes and subsistins
almost entirely on beef. To onset the
evil fesnlts OF a continuous diet Of cow
Hey drink the blood of the cattle
which contains supposedly healthy
salts. =, e. S.
There are no roads in all this region.
An ancient track. Known as the Snug
glers' trail" is used by such traffic as
passes thru. The expeditionary force
must carry all its own provisions and
must in a large measure rely also on it's
base for water. ~ 80 - ..- = -.
Penetrate Wild Region.
After fighting It's way against ma
ture, assisted by whatever guerilla
troops Villa may be able or care to
muster, for about 125 miles thru this
country, the punitive expedition will
reach the Sierra Madre proper, ar ange
Of mountains rising from 5000 to 10,-
900 feet. - ."
Americans who have penetrated
these Businesses claim that the re-
sion is the widest, most barren and
desolate that it is possible to find any
where in the, world. The mountains
are split by mighty canyons, some Of
which have sheer depth of between
$500 and 5000 feet, and there Is not
even a recognized trail thru, their. soli-
tudes.x - ~ = Ea
T. Forage Also Lacking.
From Casas Grandes south, how
however the country is thickly wood
ed, altho devoid OF vegetation which
could provide forage for horses or
food of any kind for the men. In the
Casas Grandes section the expedition
would strike the GAGS Granaes river.
which sweeps westward and here splits
into three considerable branches.
BY following one Of the branches
the soldiers would be able to obtain
sufficient water. but between the
streams the mountains rise in great
barriers, presenting q country almost
inaccessible even to men on foot and.
according to the few Americans who
have ventured there, impossible to
wheeled transports ofsany sort.
b It Is in these wiIds that Pancho
Villa is said to have taken refuge and
there to be prepared TO wage guer-
lila warfare on the troops who have
been ordered TO pursue him to death
or capture.
Wills Horses Superior.
One Of the difficulties in catching
villa, as pointed out by Americans,
.s s - =. .:i - horses mis-
men ride over the other mounts avail
able In northern. Mexico. Villas horses
were described as race horses" The
fugitive has made+a practice OF seizing
or buying outright the finest horses
s.,s:ie bic s =. = - .
Another problem, the Americans
said. lay In the fact that thru fear or
ignorance the MexicansI residing in
country regions OF Chihuahua give
considerable allegiance to villa. In
the cities they considered the Car
rama sentiment dominant. but said
that Villa was free to- travel without
danger In rural regions unless he came
into actual contact with carTanza
troops
W Speed. ~ n ss,s Y ~ .ff5 i44 ~
The STRANGER Why are you driving
the car SO fast
The eAmerican-To get to the ferry.
Later Mt the F,erry)
The American-tiWe have twenty
minutes To epare sass - ~ ~
The Stranger-I knew 1t. In this
country YOU will race the earn. bnrn
mp gasolene. iinperil lives, run the
chance of being arrested and XIII q
chicken to gain twenty minutes for
which vow have NO use whom you set
1thnm.sI ~ ~ No.