New Britain herald., 1916-04-10
OPTIMISM PREVAILS OVER VILLAPURSUIT Washington Expects to Hear Of
 His Early Capture PROVISION PROBLEM ENDS

Commissary Stores And Gasoline Sup
 ply Reach Cases Grandes, Funston RepOrts-Mexico Now Able to Make Her Own Arms and Ammunition. Washington, April 10.-Optimism for the early capture of Francisco Villa pervaded official circles today despite the fact that nearly a week has passed since news of the opera. tions of the American forces in Mex ico has come to the war department. Many officials were of the opinion that important military developments may have occurred and that it was impos- sible for the strong advancing columns last reported close on Villas heels near Satevo to communicate with their field base. The latest report from General Funston saying that an ade- quate quantity of commissary stores and gasoline had reached Casas GrandeS convinced administration of fcials that the general problem of pro- visloning the troops has been relieved. Can Make Own Arms. Eliseo Arredondo, ambassador dele gate of the defactO kovernment of Mexico today received a telegram from Mexico City advising him that official notice has been given by his government that no further contracts will be made with the foreign firms for arms and ammunition in view of the fact that the recently established national supplying the entire demand of the government Communication Hampered. Overnight dispatches from General Funston to the war department made public by Secretary Baker today were summarized in the following state ment.
 ''The latest dispatch from General Pershing dated April explains in- frequency of communication by saying that the wireless has not been able to work and aeroplane communication has been difficult because of lack of suitable landing places.
 "The dispatch again confirms the early report of Villa being severely wounded in the right knee. : General Pershing reports that he has a very satisfactory conference ! with General Herrera and expects to- 1 day to meet General Gutierrez to l whom he sent messages by aeroplane l to Chihuahua and received back re- 1 plies offering full cooperation. General Pershing's comment is that every indication shows the de- sire of the troops of the de facto gov ernment to the extent of their ability. "General Pershing further reports that one aeroplane was badly disa bled in landing April 6, leaving only five out of the original now in service able condition but it is evidence that the aerOplanes in use are perform ing valuable if not indispensable ser vice and that great reliance is placed upon them"
 Secretary Baker received word to- day that the railroad situation in Mexico was much improved and that supplies in increasing quantities were going forward to the American forces in Mexico.
 Anxious For Troops to Leave.
 State department despatches today indicate that officials of the Mexican de facto government are viewing with some anxiety the continued presence of Am nerican troops in Mexico One de-
 
 today as containing 6 hint that cer- tain Mexican officials believed the purpose of the American punitive ex- petition had been accomplished This belief was said to be based upon the assumption that the bandits under Villa have been dispersed.
 Consul General Rodgers, it was learned today, has advised the depart ment that the defacto government off, cials al Querretaro had intimated to him they would like to know how long the United States intended to keep the troops in Mexico. Administration off cials said to be familiar with the Mex ican situation said the de facto gov ernment had not set a date on which they thought the American troops should be withdrawn. It was ad- mitted in various quarters, however, that such action by the de facto gov ernment would not be surprising.
 Dispatches from Consuls in various sections of Mexico described conditions as being generally good.
 Is '.Dcad Linc' Fixcdo
 Secretary Lansing and Secretary Baker both declined to comment today on border reports that an agreement between Washington and the CarranZa government had fixed a dead Hne' beyond which the American troops would not go in their pursuit of the Villa bandits.
 Secretary Baker declared in answer to questions that such agreement would come under the pending proto- col and is a subject not under the war departments jurisdiction.
 The proposed protocol, of which little has become known, still IS under 1rJ.l' 'S yi@iun;l capital. QuerretarO.
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