Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-18
PERSHING RESTS HIS
MEN SOMEWHERE
American Columns Pitch Camp the
Second Time After Flowing
Way Through Desert.
PROGRESS IS UNINTERRUPTED

/
SAN ANTONIO. Tex, March IT,
Somewhere south of New Mexico.
perhaps twenty miles and possibly
greater distance. General Pershing
and the divided force he is command
ing encamped last night. They
have had no encounter with Mexi-
cans and their progress into Mexico
in search of Francisco villa and his
little army has been uninterrupted.
according to the laconic messages re-
ceived by General Funston.
Merely plowing their way through
the desert sand" were the words of
General Funston in summarizing the
days developments,
The campaign is being conducted
on the assumption that the de facto
governments troops will cooperate
in the efforts to destroy Villa and
his followers, but with the exception
of the support given by portion of
the small garrison at Palomas, oppo-
site Columbus, that Joined General
Pershing's column as scouts, mill
tary headquarters here was without
evidence tonight that active aid
would be given by Carranza's army.
Attitude of Gavira.
The statement Of General Gavira. COM
mander at Juarez. that while he had
given orders for cooperation in accord
ance with instructions from his govern
ment he personally did not endorse such
action was the basis for comment by
army men. BY some OF them Gaviras
attitude was taken as Indicative of many
of Carranza's officers. but those high in
authority expressed the hope that disci-
pline would prevail in all cases over per-
sonal opinion as it had in the case of
General Gavira.
No concerted plan OF action between
the military men of the two countries has
been agreed upon. The Americans are in
Mexico relying on the assumption that
Carranza has accepted in good faith the
note OF the State department promising
reciprocal privileges in chasing down
bandits and the unofficial report from
Mexico that orders had been issued for
cooperation. Neither General Pershing
|
direct promise of support.
1t was pointed out. however, that CO.
operation need not necessarily mean joint
action, and that possibly the Mexican
army men would consider 1t the fulfill
ment of their part Of the program II they
continued independently their operations
against Villa.
Gales Move.
j GQparal CaIiaa Gamma udinU fha Maxi-
can troops in Sonora. is reported to have
placed at strategic points in the eastern
part of the state some 5000 men to pre-
vent the entry of villa, and General Luis
Gutierrez is supposed to be directing five
columns in Chihuahua to prevent the
fugitive rebel from making his escape
, over the trails to the south or east.
A clash between any Of the Carranza
troops and the Americans is not antici-
pated by the American army officers.
but the danger that scme small mutinous
band might attack a detachment of the
American punitive force has not been
ignored Should such an incident occur
army men here say 1t could scarcely be
due to mistaken identity, since the uni
form. equipment and general appearance
OF the Americans is sufficiently unusual
in Mexico as to make confusion fYnpossi-
BILE.
Funston's attitude towards General
Pershing is very similar to that adopted
, towards him by the War department. To
I great extent the details OF the expedi-
ton have been left to General Pershing
{ and his commanding officer here is not
bothering him or expecting from him re-
ports other than those regarded by Gen
eral Pershing as essential
May Join ON Sunday.
A Secrecy yet is maintained as to the exact
0 disposition Of the punitive force, its COM
position and future movements. In gen.
: eral. 1t Is admitted the juncture of col.
umns now headed south win be made be.
fore the end OF the week, perhaps Sun.
day when they will be some fifty miles
south of the international boundary line
, General Pershing will maintain his com.
munication by means of wireless and
courier. automobiles and aeropIanes beina
at his disposal for the latter. General
{ Funston arranged today for a direct tel
! egraph wire from FL Paso to Fort San
' Houston in order that there might be as
. little delay as possible in receiving Gen
a eral Pershing's reports. and the problem
or preventing amateurs interfering witt
the transmission OF wireless reports WA
discussed with agents of the police
. The censorship at the border is beinl
maintained.
Staff Busy with Details.
, General Funston and his staff were bus,
, today carrying out the details OF the plar
8 FOR strengthening the border patrols anC
' OF having ready men and supplies shoult
e they be required in Mexico. More troop
l arrived at Columbus and other point
S near the Mexican border. where they will
I be held in readiness to rush forwarC
e should their services be needed.
Rumors OF an unfriendly attitude as
q sumed by Mexiesns generally toward
3 Americans in Mexico continued to be re
5 ceived at General Funston's headquarters
: but these were not taken with great Sc
riousness, although II was admitted thel
r tended to show that unofficially the in.
reference OF Americans in what man!
OF the people OF the country regarded a
their own affair was unwelcome.
! WATru cnDE THDnkTc