Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-08
REPORT LOCATES OUTLAW !
IN ENVIRONS OF PARRAL
Villa Said to Have Sent Emissaries
to Test Spirit Of the
Garrison.
TRANSPORT PROBLEM GROWS
Army Officers Discuss Possibility OF
New Motor Route From Pre-
sidio, Texas, Via Chi
huahua to Satero.

EXPEDITIONARY FIELD
HEADQUARTERS SOUTH OF
April 5, by areo-
plane and wireless to Columbus,
N. NJ, April 8.-That the Ameri-
can troops are on fresh trail of
Villa is report made by an army
aviator and an observer who re-
turned today from what may
prove one of the most important
scouting flights of the campaign.
The entering of new territory
in the chase is the consummation
of plan which Gen. Pershing
and his staff have had under way
for several days, but for which
more definite reports were neees-
sary than those available. 1t was
this information the aviators were
sent to get.
Reports brought by the aviators
showed that somewhere south of
Satevo a cavalry column is riding
a thrilling ride, which may equal
in importance that upon Guerrero
of Col. Dodd's command. The
men are sparing neither them
selves nor their horses.
villa Reported at Parral.
Ell PASO, Tex. April S.-Information
from Mexican sources today said that
Villa had reached the environs of Par
raj and had sent emissaries into the
town to test the spirit Of the garrison
and also to obtain provisions. No veri-
1cation of the report was possible, but
the fact that the bandit was reliably
reported to have been only fifty miles
from Parral two days ago gave color
to the story.
This information served at least to
act as a considerable damper on the
hope of those who thought that the
bandits career might be ended by an
other brilliant dash on the part of the
American troops who have pushed
south to Satevo.
Army officers here say that a repe-
tition of Col. Dodd's exploit was hardly
likely in view of the great distance of
the advance corps from the nearest
supply base. unless Villa was within
fifty or sixty miles of the Americans.
If he has reached Parral it is said that
the chase must settle down into
steady grind with the issue to be de-
cided as an endurance test between the
United States soldiers and the bandits.
The repeated disappointments of the
hopes of a speedy termination to the
pursuit has given new life to the
alarmists on the border. The stories of
the massing of the Carranza troops in
proximity to the international line.
which had died away for a period. have
been revived in all their old vigor and
with several additions
Numbers Greatly Exaggerated.
are considerable numbers of Carransa
soldiers concentrated at various points
within twenty miles of the Sonora and
line, there is equally no
doubt that their numbers have been
greatly exaggerated by the alarmists.
No exact estimate is possible. as the
troops are constantly shifting from
town to town. but Americans who have
passed through northern Sonora and
Chihuahua in the last two weeks are
convinced that the total is not more
than 10000 and possibly less Gen.
Gales, in Sonora, has between 1000
and 5000 men, with some artillery. In
northern Chihuahua there is apparent
" slightly larger number. scattered
over a very large district.
These soldiers are drawn from the
most ignorant classes of the poems and
most of them have served in the armies
II Villa and other factional chiefs,
their allegiance at their Of
much of the politics of the situation.
Every day brings a fresh story here
hat the garrison at Juarez is about to
'evolt. the sole basis being the fact
hat they are undeniably i'll fed and
lothed and consequently discontented.
local and military officials here frankly
ecognize the possibility of such a re-
'olt and are fully prepared to meet any
mergency that may arise.
New Line Of Communication.
SAN ANTONIO. Tex. April S.-Faced
" the apparent hopelessness of getting
ermission to ship stores over Mexican
aiiroads to the troops In Mexico, and
the inadequacy of the pres
mt system of supply. army officers at
iaj. Gen. Funston's headquarters here
ONE alternative would have to be
ound.
II two or three times the number of
roops now operating in Mexico are
rovided, the maintenance of the pres
Mt line of communication that winds
o circuitous length from Columbus to
atevo. some 800 miles. could be main-
lined. but unless the punitive force -