The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-13
u. S. Intervention in Mexico
Likely to Be Forced Soon
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

Neither the State or War Depart
ments yesterday had any information
concerning the whereabouts of the 500
American Mormon colonists who were
reported to have started from, Cssas.
Grandes. forty miles south Of Column
BUS In desperate effort to reach the
border before Villa carried out his
threat to exterminate them. Although
General Funston has the privilege of
not reporting any movement of his
troops across the border until some
definite achievement has been accom-
plished, officials regard it is inconceiv-
able that he has not sent an advance
column of some sort to afford protec-
ton to the colonists.
May Grant Carranxa Request.
In an effort to reassure the Carranzists
forces as to the purposes of the expedi-
ton against Villa, it is probable that the
administration will find a way to accept
the proposals of Carranza for co-opera-
ton without opening the way to an entry
OF Carranza troops into American terri
tory. Secretary Of State Lansing will
take the proposals to the White House
today.
The Mexican Embassy claimed yester-
day to have received dispatches to the
effect that Carranza forces are now in
the vicinity of Villas supposed encamp-
ment at Ascension in sufficient numbers
properly to handle the situation. The
statement was obviously made with the
intention OF impressing the United States
with the idea that American troops are
not necessary.
The Mexican Embassy last night made
public the following telegram from An
dreas c. Garcia. the constitutionalist
counsel at FL Paso:
Francisco Villa was today in Corrali-
tos on his way to Casas Grandes. We
have a sufficient force in that region and
a reinforcement of 800 cavalry is being
sent. Gen. Luis Gutierrez will reach
Juarez tomorrow with additional troops.
Our military men are developing intense
activity and the bandits must soon be
exterminated.
May BE Fighting Now,
Corralitos is just twenty miles from
Casas Grandes and about eighty miles
south of Columbus. From Culbsrson's
ranch. New Mexico, from which point
the Seventh United States Cavalry is
reported to have already started across
the line, however. Corralitos is less than
so miles in a straight line. II, as report
ed, the Seventh crossed Saturday night.
it is possible that contact with the Willis
tas may have already occurred.
Officers of the army at the War De-
partment profess to have supreme con-
tempt for the fighting abilities of the
Mexicans. They declare that though they
are armed with Mauser rifles almost as
effective, when properly used, as the
American army rifles, the Mexicans
shoot so badly as to rendeE them in
effective. They practically have no scien-
tific knowledge, It is stated, cpncerning
the proper use of artillery.
Ground Offers Difficulties.
At the same time the American officers
do not conceal the difficulties of the
ground over which the fighting will have
to be done. Throughout this section,
they state the ground is cut up by deep
arroyos or bitches, in which whole regi-
ments might lie in ambush. The growth
is practically limited to milk weeds and
cactus. the former Of which grows to the
height of horse.
One element of concern to officials here
is the fact that the population of the
American border towns is largely made
up of Msxicans. whose action in the
event Of trouble is not trusted. Fl Paso,
which is connected with Juarez by q
bridge across the Rio Grande, has an
especially large Mexican colony, and this
fact is one of the reasons given for the
sending Of the Twenty-third Infantry
there.