Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-03-11
Commander Not to Be Ham
pered by Detailed lnStruC-
tions From War Depart
ment, Is Announcement
PLANS OF OPERATION
NOT GIVEN PUBLICITY
Wide Area of Country May
Have to Be Conquered byI
American Forces Before End
Is Achieved.

tons late tonight were that the car
rying out of President Wilson's order
that American troops re-entcr Mexico
to capture or kill villa and his ban
dts would be left to the man on the
ground. General Frederick Funston.
After a late conference with the pres
ident, Secretary Baker announced
that no invasion of Mexico in force
was contemplated; that the troops
would be sent to disperse or capture
the raiders and would be Withdrawn
Immediately when their work was
done or when the de facto government
was able to insure peace along the
border
Plans Kept Secret.
Officers of the general staff began
at once the preparation Of instruc-
tons to General Funston in accord
ance with this announcement Their
purpose was not revealed. Earlier
in the day General Funston had sug-
gested that the plans for troop move
ments across the border be kept Sc
cret He desired to add the element
of surprise to his weapons for avenG-
| ing the murder of Americans at Co
mmbus
General Funston also urged that
cavalry be sent 10 replace the mount
ed force he might withdraw from bor-
der patrol duty to form the expedi-
tionary clumn or columns. Steps to
comply with this were taken at the
war department.
Whatever new troops arc needed
will be ordered promptly to the bor-
der. Officials of the department ana
Secretary Baker himself worked far
| into the night on details of possible
troop movements, supplies and the
| like,
Not 10 Hamper Funston.
The secretarys call at the White
House followed a busy day at the war
department. The machinery of the
general staff was set in motion inn
medately after President Wilson's de-
| cision to hunt down the raiders was
announced at the close of the cabinet
meeting. The war plans committee
assembled and went over the situa-
| tion. Little detailed information as
| to the immediate situation on the
Mexican side of the border is avail
able here. Such matters are under
| the jurisdiction of General Funston
who has his own intelligence office,
The committee quickly reached the
conclusion. it is understood, that Fun
ston must be left unhampered TO work
out the problem of pursuing the ban
| dit with whatever force he thinks
necessary and at the same time secure
American border towns and ranches
against repetitions of the Columbus
raid.
Suggestion of Drag Net.
| The committee also assembled facts
and figures In relation to q possible
decision to sweep the whole of north
ern Mexico with a military dragnet
to catch the bandits. Such a plan. il
was said, while certain to end the dis
turbed conditions along the border
would involve the use of troops by
the tens of thousands instead of reg
iments. Figures as to the force the
committee thought necessary for OPP
erations in this capture were not re-
vealed. Immediately after they were
submitted to Secretary Baker, how
ever, the latter arranged his confer"
ence with President Wilson and laid
the whole situation before the com
mander-in-chi
Some appreciation of the problem
confronting General Funston may bt
gathered from information in pos.
session of war and state department
officials as to conditions across the
border. General Funston telegraphed
a conservative estimate of Villas
forces today at 5000 men. Other re.
ports indicate he has 5000. Villa Il
understood. however, to be short oi
arms and ammunition which may
prove an important factor in the
struggle to come.
Wide Area of Operations.
Whether Villa will concentrate his
followers or continue to evade pur.
suit in scattered bands can only be
guessed. Department officials realize
however. that the field of operations
may include a territory approximate
" 400 miles long and as many wide
In any of these 100, 900 square mile;
| Villa might operate with a certain
knowledge of every trail and water
hole. villa always has shown pref
ference through his years of outlawry