Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-03-15
READY To
CROSS LINE TODAY
General Pershing Seizes Wires at
Columbus, N. M.
ARMY WAITS WORD TO START
Reported That 1,5o0 cavairymen Have
Been on Villas Trail for Two Days
OUTLAW Said to Be
Surrounded.

NeAA <aAIOA4lO, 1cA., NdICu 4O.-0cu
eral Funston announced General Perish
ing had seized the telegraph station at
Columbus, N. NJ. Funston said: "The
seizure Of the station was made neces
sary because correspondents are send
ing out information about troop move
ments and concentrations, the number
t Of field pieces being assembled, and
other facts regarding plans for the ex
petition. The activity was proving
rutnous to our efforts"
Troops Ready to Start.
Funston declares he will give out no
more news until after the forces cross
the line. He said: The start is so
close at hand that to keep telling about
the movement would have the effect of
keeping Villa informed"
1t is believed only matter Of hours
until the troops enter Mexico.
Pershlno's Plans Complete.
Columbus, N. NJ, March 15.-Gen.
John ]. Pershing, at the head of the
cavalry division which will start the
hunt for Francisco Villa, has completed
plans to cross the border today.
-, Troops in Mexico for TWO Days?
! Columbus, N. NJ, March 15.-Despite
the veil of censorship imposed on this
town by the American military authori-
ties, news Of feverish activity all along
the international boundary trickled
through. The actual invasion Of Mex
leo by 10000 troops is expected here
q so
of mere hours" is the word that came
from Funston headquarters in San An
tonic.
Columbus was excited over two bits
of news and discussion at times even
overshadowed the larger fact of the
imminence Of the start after Villa.
Troops Reported in Mexico.
First, the rumor would not be
downed that 1900 picked American
cavalry, with light equipment for
two weeks campaign, have been on
Villas trail for at least two days. The
military censorship prevents confrma-
tion of this report by tally Of the
American cavalry troops Then Colum-
bus almost lost it's breath when word
was flashed from Mexico that Carranza
had asked for two weeks time in
which to get" Villa himself
News Withheld to "Save U. S. Lives"
No information of military value to
Pancho Villa or any other enemy will
escape from Columbus if military au-
thorities can prevent it, and that they
can prevent it has already been amply
demonstrated. A high staff officer in
discussing with correspondents the re-
strictions on news said:
This is matter of saving lives.
the commanders of this expedition are
determined that no life shall be lost
uselessly, and for that reason we must
take every precaution against informa-
tion of military value reaching the
bandits"
That flying column of 1,50O Ameri-
can troopers, under the lightest pos
sible equipment, supplied with two
weeks rations and plenty of water,
crossed the border early Tuesday, is
persistently asserted by men in close
touch with army circles.
The column is said to have crossed
the international boundary, headed
west and south of Columbus, with the
Intention of throwing line of United
States soldiers between Villa and the
Sierra Madre mountains, long a Villa
1t is believed here this
purpose has already been accom-
plished.
This little town is a city of tents,