The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-22
Pneumonia and Dysentery De-
seend Upon Z. s. Soldiers.
Hot Days and Cold Nights Re-
suit i'm Serious Epidemic.
MORE TROOPS TO FUNSTON
Fort LeavenwOrth Cavalry Or
dered South Today.
War Dept Acts Immediately
on Generals Request.
PERShING CLOSE To BANDIT
Meager Details Received of
Yesterdays Battle.
New Protocol viii Be Opera
tive in Few Days.
War Dept Acts Immediately
on Generals Request. s
PERSHIAG CLOSE TO BANDIT
Meager Details Received of
Yesterdays Battle.
New Protocol Will Be Opera
tive in Few Days.

Eel Paso. March 22.-American sol
diers. unaccustomed to weather con-
ditions south of the border, are drop
ping out from pneumonia and dyser-
tery
Seven soldiers who reached Ell Paso
today for treatment in the Fort Bliss
military hospital told a graphic story
of how sickness was thinning the ranks
of Pershing's column.
The immense heat of the semi-trop-
ical desert has claimed its victims by
day they asserted and the extreme
cold of the Mexican night has result
ed in pneumonia epidemic of serious
proportions. insufficient water caused
much suffering.
Too Meager Rations.
After months of camp fare along
the border, many soldiers have found
it impossible to march on the meager
rations allowed by the quartermaster
in the last hurried hours before their
departure. One week of marching on
a diet of beans, bacon, coffee and
bread has placed many soldiers un-
der the care of physicians and the
mot seriously afflicted are being sent
pack to the border as rapidly as pos
sible. %
Private r. ]. Harding, Company A.
Sixtieth infantry, the latest arrival
today said pneumonia is very p- eva
lent in the column due to the extreme
temperatures encountered.
Funston Not Disturbed.
San Antonio March 22.-Generai
Funston has not had any direct WORD
of the operations about CasaS Grandes
since Sunday night, he told newspaper
men today
General Funston stated that he was
not disturbed because of the fact that
he had not heard from General Per
shing regarding his operations about
Ell Valle. since Sunday. but stated he
was making every effort 10 gel INTO
communication with him to find out
just what has happened in the district
south of Galeana.
Poor Wireless.
At headquarters this morning it was
confirmed that Captain Chacdler, the E
wireless expert of the army. had been
sent to Columbus with orders to 50
south and investigate why the Amer
lean wireless was apparently WORKING
. SO poorly.
1t was confirmed that the Twenty
fourth infantry, colored, now at Fort
B. A Russell. had been ordered to CO.
lumbus, where their headquarters VIII
be located Two battalions of the reg
irnent win go into Mexico to protect
the line of communication. the third
being distributed along the border.
The regiment numbers 1.600 men.
Trouble With AeropIanes.
The apparent trouble with which
American aviators are meeting their
work at the front is frankly disturb
/ ing officials at headquarters. New
motors were recently installed on all
machines and it was supposed that the
machines were capable of performing
all work expected of them in this cam
paign,
That the land wires between Colum-
bus and the infantry column now
south of Ascencion has been out Of
service and that reports had been re-
ceived it had been cut in a number Of
places, was stated at headquarters to-
day. ~
Il believe General Pershing has ad-
vanced so rapidly that he has not
+ touched anv point from which he
could communicate with headquarters
/ by wireless said Funston. Il have
no fear for his safety"
Close on Villas Heels.
/ Washington, March 22.--Latest Of
ficial advices from the American ex-
/ pedition in Mexico say that General
Pershing and his men arc close to
Villa and his bandits. All dispatches
told of the cooperation of the Car
rama soldiers in the bandit chase.
Despite unofficial reports of unset
tied conditions in the interior of Mex
! leo and along the border, Secretary
Baker said that although the situation
was fraught with many possibilities,
to date there had been no unfavor-
able Developments.
In response to a request from Cen
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