Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-24
U. S. Positions in Mexico Being
Changed According to
Funston Plans.
ARMY BELIEVES VILLA :
NORTHWEST OF PARRAL
American and Carranza Forces Re-
ported to Be Fighting Near Satevo,
But Confirmation Is Lacking.

SAN ANTONIO, Tex. April "a
Moves in Maj Gen. Funston's plan for
a redistribution of the American troops
In Mexico are being made today by
Gen. J. J. Pershing. comma nder of the
punitive expedition. Details of the
new plan have been carefully guarded
by Gen. Funston and the chief of ste6
of the army. Gen Scott. but it was in.
dicated that it does not provide for
the running of new main line Of
communication or of the establish.
ment of a new border base.
II is understood that Gen. Pershing
will be instructed to call in all me-
bile detachments except those doing
scout duty and enter on a period Of
recuperation. The main line now ex-
tends as far south as San Antonio.
Chihuahua, station on the Northwsst-
ern railroad a short distance west OF
chihuahua City. Gen. PershinE has his
temporary headquarters at Namiquipa.
ing make no mention of lighting At
satevo. as was reported at FL Pase.
Col W. c. Brown. Maj. r. L. HowGe
and Mai Frank Tompkins are in tho
vicinity of Satevo. however, and II
was regarded as not unlikely that the
reports that they had been attacked
there were true.
Villa Reported Near Monoava.
Francisco villa, slightly wounded but
not incapacitated. was reported to have
moved into the mountainous region
northwest of ParraL. This infornatioa.
which has reached Gen. Funston. II
from a source that causes him to re-
gard. it as authentic. Villa was last
reported seen at Monoava, about
eighty-hve miles by trail southwest. ~
Satevo. where the most advanced OF
Gen. Pershing's force were yesterday
Although convinced that villa has been
located, his immediate pursuit will prob
ably not be resumed To follow him Into
the mountains Of that region with, small
detached forces is regarded as fmprac.
ticable and the plans for concentration
Of Gen. Pershing's army will be carried
out along the lines recommended by Gen
Funston.
According to Mexicans arriving from
the interior today. reports have been
spread that villa is coming north
again with the object of attacking the
American forces. They say the bandit
now has some 800 followers and win
be joined later by Pedro Bracamonte.
of the Torreon district, who has 1.60o
men, and Gen. Banuelos, whose COM
mand numbers 1000 men.
Report of Fight Discredited.
Ell PASO. Tex. April 24.-Neither
Gen. Bell at Fort Bliss nor military
headquarters at Columbus. N NJ. had
any Information early today regarding
A Mexican report that American negro
soldiers had an engagement with civil
ians at Satevo. The report. which is
not credited, said several negroes were
killed.
Anxiety was expressed in military
circles here today over reports from
the interior of renewed activity on the
part of numerous small bands of bandits
who are rowing about northern .Chihua-
nua.
In the mysterious manner in whiich
news is transmitted in Mexico In re-
sions where there are neither railroads'
telegraph or telephones. the poems nave
hea rd that the American troops are 10
be withdrawn from Mexico Inc matt
ing of the operations OF the expeotion-
ary forces has confirmed their beiel ln
the truth of the story, which they have
interpreted as crushing defeat OF tHs
"gringoes."
Bands Are All Very Small.
As far as is known here none of these
hands numbers more than fifteen or
twenty men and the majority Of them
are much smaller. Their importancs.
as seen by army officers, is- that their
depredations will drive the masses OF
the people, already almost destitute. TO
desperatien, and that a serious out
break will occur which will involve tho
American soldiers.
Ell Paso is waiting eagerly today for
some enlightenment from Washington
as to the plans of the army department.
So far as the border is concerned. the
news that the troops are not to be
Withdrawn from Mexico at least for the
present was most welcome. but there
was considerable speculation as 10
what yesterdays announcement from
Washington really meant.
An American. who Is considered one OF
the best authorities in Ell Paso on Mex
leo and the Mexicans, expressed the
opinion today that a campaign OF COM
parative inaction might prove very enec-
tive in the long run. .-
Bandit to Be Caught Ultimately.
..If the main body of the troops can 10 =
utilized for the support Of mobile de-
tachments, held merely for the purpose
of running down rumors, Villa will be
caught ultimately he said. For the
time being the bandit seems to have dis
appeared. Sooner or later, though, hs
will come to light again. The troops may
have to run down a thousand false runors
of his whereabouts. But in the end
true one will come in and they will get
the bandit
"Some one of his followers will sell him
for a ten-dollar note-just as readily for
that amount as for $4,000.
One question bothering the military
has been the rehabilitating Of those
troops whose clothes have been worn to
shreds in their strenuous rides for Villa
Two carloads Of clothing have just been
sent south, via Columbus, however and
these have been fianked by shipment
Of 5000 pairs of shoes. 200 pairs OF hese,
4 900 oyershirts and 1000 gloves, sent to
Columbus to be forwarded - needed. f