Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-04-12
Favorite RuSe of Bandit Chief
in Past Has Been to Have
Himself Reported Wounded
or Dead,
PERSHING TOO BUSY
TO SEND IN REPORT
Columbus No Longer Greatly
Alarmed Over Possibility
That American CommuniCa-
tionS May Be Cut,
,sy MORNING JousnAl SPECIAL lsAsso w,sti

MORNING JOURNAL sFtctAt lhtsto WtNtl
Columbus, n. NJ, April 1.-The
report that Francisco villa Is dead
of blood poisoning resulting from the
wound he is supposed to have re-
ceived in the fight with Carrancista>
At Guerrero. was the chief topic OF
discussion in Columbus tonight. There
was much speculation as to whether
the fox of the Serras'' had not him
self spread the report in an effort
to throw his pursuers off his trail.
Natives Believe Story.
Lieutenants II. \. Dargue and f..
s Gorrell, who brought the report to
Columbus after a S30-mile flight from
san Antonio, short distance above
satevo. said that the natives of
southern Chihuahua placed great
faith in il. Students here of Mexican
warfare and particularly of villa tae-
ties, recalled, however that times
without number in previous cam
paisns the bandit leader has had him
self reported wounded in order TO
mislead his enemies. These pointed
out that there is a strong possibility
that villa is not wounded, despite the
persistent reports TO the contrary.
This possibility is recognized by the
military authorities as it is supported
BIZ the assertion of the air scouts
that they had been told that Villa,
in his flight, made on a joltlng litter,
carried on the shoulders of chosen
followers, refused medical assistance
and sent for bandages. which he
bound to his body himself.
Pershine Too Busy to Report.
That General J J. peishing, axpe-
ditionary commander who today was
reported to be removing his heaa-.-
quarters to Satevo, and the advanced
doMchments Of American troops
were still "too busy to report was
Indicated in the lack of dispatches
from the front
Excitement in Columbus as the
result Of rumors current Yesterday
that the town and the American line
Of communication might be attacked
had almost completely abated tonlghl,
the citizens apparently are feellhg IN
creased confidence in their safety
To allay fears further NAL W, X !
Sample, commandant of the eXpedl-
tionary base, directed that the heaNN
guard and outposts maintained last
night be continued.
communications Ghdfucus
Every precaution also was beliS |
taken along the motor supply route !
between Columbus and Casas Grandes
because Of persistent reports that row /
ing bands of Mexicans have Dcen COZ
lectng near it, apparently for the /
purpose of attacking motor tram |
Drivers of train leaving here TO-
day for the front were instructed 10 1
be particularly careful to prevent /
struggling. Lieut.. Inues P. SWIFT. |
commander ordered that the space
hetween trucks should not be greater
than twenty yards and that when
one truck stopped the entire tram
must. halt
The mayor of Columbus today Is
sued A proclamation thanking Major
sample for steps taken to protect the
town from attack.
sabers Are Discarded.
The eavalrymen in the field have
found sabers useless encumbrances
in >the type Of warfare being waged
against Villa, and as a result thc
troops are sending these weapons to
'he base. Eleven hundred sabers ar
rived from the Eleventh cavalry to-
day. Military men here point OUT
that the discovery made by the troops
in the field Is important since here
tofore much attention has been PAID