The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1916-03-16
ARMY ORDERED IN
PURSUIT OF VILLA
Washington Decides Bandits
Who Raided Border Must Be
Captured or Dispersed.

WashinVton.-Gen Funston, un.
der orders from President Wilson TO
hunt down Villas bandit army in
northern Mexico. moved his troops at
the border behind a veil of rigid Sc.
orecy.
While extensive troop movements
were in progress along the border, the
state department received from Gen.
eral Carranza head of the de facto
government Of Mexico. a request for
permission to send HIS troops, should
occasion arise, across the border into
the United States in pursuit Of the
bandits
There was every indication that Of
flcials viewed General Carranzas re.
quest in a favorable light.
Intervention Not Intended.
The general instructions to General
Funston, II is Understood, lay stress
on the necessity Of imprcssing Mexi.
cans on both sides Of the border with
the fact that the United States Is in
terestod only In defending It's own Dor
ders and that the movements now In
progress or contemplated have no 9th.
er object Instructions are explicit, it
Is said 10 capture or disperBo the ban.
dts and return to United States ter.
rffnrts tt.tu,Hf,t,f.s
General Funston" said Secretary
OF War Baker. has been ordered TO
hunt down villa. When he sends hls
command over the international limo
he viii keep Il there until nc takes
him--or otherwise"
Besides directing all action taken,
General Funston will be the sole
Judge regarding the publication OF
news from the border aud from Mexl.
CO.
Villa In Mountains, 10 Belief.
War experts said that there Is small
expectation OF fighting until the "fy.
ing columns' that will be the central
division sent into Mexico get into the
foothills OF the small range OF noun.
tains about 20 to 80 miles south and
slightly east OF Columbus.
Should villa concentrate his mon,
the problem Of his capture would be
simple. say officers here. but they do
not believe that he can be lurcd into
an open fifht The most promising
factor from the American viewpoint
Is shortage OF ammunition. II Is
known that Villas men have been con.
serving their already reduced stock
OF cartridges and have no source from
which to obtain more. Their guns are
IN bad condition and many weeks ago
they lost practically all their artillery
and machine guns. lt Is doubted here
II villa has any cannon or more than
two or three guns. wlth little ammunl
ton for them Tae killing at Colum
bus OF Pablo Lopez deprived him o.
his most efficient aide,
General Satisfaction Felt in Congress-
Shocked indignation oecasionod By
news OF Villas outrage was quickly
succeeded by undlsguised satisfaction
In official and congressional circles
over the knowledge that after three
years OF patient forbearance United
States troops actually were 10 ayenge
the death OF their comrades and bring
TO justice the outlaws whose depreda.
tions have terrorized Americans on
both sides OF the border.
Washington stands squarely behind
Colonel Slocum In sending his cavalry
men into Mexico in pursuit OF Francis.
co villa and his band OF outlaws who
raided Columbus, n. NJ, numbering
American soldiers and citizens and Nh.
ing the town,
Water Power Bill Passed by Senate.
The senate after four weeks OF de.
bate, passed the Shields bill TO pro
vide for development OF waterpower
in navlgable water by private capital.
The vote was A6 TO 22 Conservation
champions fought hard 10 amend the
but without avail.
Senator Jones, of Washington, was
the only senator from the Pacific
northwest who voted for the passage
Of the Shields waterpower bill.
Senators Chamberlain and Lane, ol
Oregon; Poindexter, of Washington,
and Borah, OF Idaho, voted against the /
bill.
Events Cain Congress.
The ordering of American troops in |
to Mexico and the administrations vic |
tory in the armed ship controversy .
have had steadying effect on con
gress. which for several weeks has
been a storm center over international |
affairs.
With these issues apparently out OF /
he way, congressional leaders hope to |
make rapid progress with important I
domestic business, particularly the ap- |