Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-04-29
LARGE FORCE
Of TROOPS
NEAR BORDER
More Than a Regiment of Cav
airy Preparing to Cross
Frontier.
TROOPS WILL GO INTO
MEXICO THIS MORNING
Col. Cardena Pursues Bandits
Near Laguna and Kills
Their Leader.

Columbus, n. NJ, April 2S.-The
largest force of troops which has left
Columbus since the initial command
crossed the border six weeks ago, is
encamped tonight on the frontier, 10
miles west Of here. The troops, con-
sisting of more than regiment of
cavalry, are preparing to cross the
line into Mexico at daybreak tomor-
row.
The soldiers left Columbus upon
orders Of Gen. J. J. pershing, expedi-
tionary commander, and it was stated
at military headquarters here tonight
that no reason had been outlined in
the order. Persons in constant touch
with the border situation offered var
ious solutions, one belief expressed
being that Gen. Pershing feels tha,
his shortened line Of communication
from San Antonio to Columbus, a dis
tance of 325 miles, is in need of fur
ther strengthening.
Another was that the eXpeditiOnary
commander fears that one of the sti-
pulatiOns of the conference between
Generals Scott and Obregon is that
no more American troops shall cross
the border, and which will enable his
force to cope with any emergency.
Pursues Bandits.
Col Cardena, at San Pedro, has re-
ported that Gen. Gomez pursued a
smalled band of outlaws in the hills
southeast of Laguna, killed the bandit
leader, Feymiza. and six others. be-
sides dispensing the force. Reliable
information brought here, places Villa
in or near Urbina ranch at Los Me
yes. The commander at Escalon also
says small Villa bands are operating
in the region, while a report from
Sierra Moagda claims all is quiet
there.
Meets Mexican Consul.
Major Generals Hugh L. Scott and
Frederick Funston reached e. Paso
shortly before six o'clock and immed-
lately held conference with Andreas
Garcia, Mexican consul at Ell Paso.
to arrange for the date and place of
the first conference that is to deter
mine the pending military questions
between Mexico and the United
States.
On the eve of the Obregon-Scott-
Funston conference tomorrow. over
the disposition of United States
troops in Mexico, the feeling grew in
Ell Paso tonight that tentative Ameri-
can occupation of the parts of Chi
huahua, pending eradication of Villa
bands by the de factO government,
would certainly result from the nego-
tiations.
From an authoritative source, it
was learned that the Mexican minis
ter of war had signified his willing
ness to meet Gen. Funston and Gen.
Scott ''half way" in the coming con-
ference. ........
The opinion was general that IL the
United States insisted on a cont1nu-
ance of the new troops disposition
recently ordered by Gen. Funston,
| the minister of war could not we'll re-
fuse to grant the proposal, as to do
so would be to endanger the relations
between the United States and the
Mexican government.
Another circumstance. influencing
speculation regarding the outcome of
the conference, was the confidence of
the Mexican officials that it would
reach a speedy conclusion.
eve do not expect any difficulties
in reaching an agreement" said one
of them. "The whole business should
be concluded in time for us to return
Monday