Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-03-16
COLUMBUS IS SHUT
OFF FROM WORLD
Funston Orders Persbing to Seize
Telegraph office, Guard Phone
Wires Going Out.
THREAT OF MARTIAL LAW MADE


SAN ANTONIO. Tex, March Is
The placing of a strict embargo on
news out Of Columbus, N. NJ, where
the main body OF Brigadier General
John j.. Pershing's expeditionary
force awaits word to cross into Mex
leo in search Of Francisco Villa, was
the important development today at
Fort Sam Houston. where Major
General Frederick Funston was ar
ranging the final details OF the ex-
petition. In military circles an at
titude of expectancy succeeded the
tightening of the censorship.
Giving as his reason for the action
he fact that news dispatches were
making public all the essential facts
that he is trying to keep secret from
villa, General Funston sent orders
TO General Pershing to seize the tel
egraph office at Columbus, guard
telephone wires leading out OF the
town and closely watch all automo-
bile and other routes to telegraph
stations in nearby towns.
No Troops Cross.
After stating late this afternoon that
no troops had yet crossed the border,
General Funston also instituted close
censorship on all proceedings within Fort
Sam Houston.
1t was indicated that the next an
nouncement from southern department
headquarters would come only with the
actual start of the expeditionary force
into Mexico Once General Pershing has
led his column across the Rio Grande, 1t
was indicated the censorship will be
loosened and the public will be adequately
informed on the expeditions progress.
An additional factor in the settling
down Of silence on the progress of events
on the border was the action of the Mex
lean consul general here, T. r. Beltram,
this afternoon. He wired every Mexican
in his district, which embraces the bor-
der states of Texas and New Mexico, not
to do or say anything that might compli-
cate the present delicate situation. Sup
preston of public discussion and unfa-
vorable comment was primarily urged
but the order was expected also to help
guard the movement of american troops
out that II the seizure of the telegraph
office and guarding of telephone wires
and automobile routes did not put a stop
to the leakage of important border news
at Columbus Il might be necessary to
establish martial law.
The news situation also will bS watHhed
closely at FL Paso.
The transfer of General Pershipg from
lei Paso to Columbus has nccessitated
another important assignment. Brigadier
General George Bell, jr., commander of
the Fifth brigade. with headquarters at
San Antonio, was ordered by General
Funston today to proceed to FL Paso and
assume command of troops t..ere. Cen
eral Funston said that the growing i'm
portance OF the El Paso contingents
necessitated the assignn ent OF an officer
of General Bells rank to take charge of
them.
General Bell will act under the orders
of General Funston in looking after the
border situation when the expeditionary
forces pass into Mexico.
The Twenty-third infantry enroute
from Galveston, passed through San An
tonic today on its way to the base OF
operations
Many Americans are arriving in San
Antonio on their way NORTH, after for
saldng their occupations in Mexico be-
cause OF fear that conditions may become
unsettled when the American troops pass
the border.
The hustle and hurry that has prevailed
at Fort Sam Houston since President
Wilson signified his intention to have
Villa captured was succeeded today by
quiet. General Funston's staff returned
to the disposal of routine business, prac-
tically all details for the pursuit of villa
having been taken care OF.