The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-28
ANNA HELD.

|, about the nature of the American ex- petition. They have been told that the Americans are an invading army, a dan- gerous enemy; that they must fight for their lives. But all those whom I saw seemed to be very credulous people.
 They appeared to be waiting-with some suspicion, it is true-but neverthe- less waiting before making up their minds. This waiting took to be hope full sign. It was like going into vil- lages where the inhabitants regard one with open suspicion, but are ready to be friendly, provided they think our mis- sion is friendly. That, I think. is the attitude of the people toward us in many of the places where Villa hoped for re- cruits."
 For two weeks the reports along Villas trail show that he has seized young men and boys of small towns, as forced re- cruits. His custom has been for either himself or one of his lieutenants to line up most of the male population forN in- spection. The best physical specimens have been pulled out of line and told the others because they become ''Villa s men," In the Casas Grandes region, at Gallenea and Fl Valle, Villa secured fully half hundred men by this method.
 The disappearance of the Carranza garrison at Namiquipa and reports that these men had joined Villa was not taken at American headquarters as in- vestigation indicated that the constitu- tionalist troops were cooperating with good will.
 Occasional defections of Mexican troops have been expected but there has been no sign of break reported here on the part of any of the constitutionalist army officers with whom the American forces hQUa haan in, of them appear to be following orders from General Guertierez, governor gen. eral of Chihuahua, to close in on Villa from all sides
 HAS STUNNED FIGHTS
 Villa has not, so far as learned, faced any strong constitutiCualist forces His strategy has been to select points in the constitutionalist lines where onlv small force was available. In such fighs. here. 1t has been a case of Villa coming in on one side of the town while the garrison went out on the other" While Villa is now more closely pressed than he has been for months, there has not been real test of strength.
 Mexicans who have seen Villas men say they are ragged and that their selves rushed into houses in Galeanea de- manding food, some of them shrieking as 1T nearly crazed with hunger
 Wherever Villa has gone he last left behind threats, promising that when he reappears he will kill or torture Mexicans friendly to the Americans or to those who have worked for Americans as em- ployes.
 Meanwhile Villa has been given sur prisingly little time for rest because of the rapid advance of Americans. Little mas been learned about the work of the army organization in pushing south, maintaining constantly lengthening line of communications New difficulties of communication are encountered con- stantly but the fact remains that the men not only have received their SUD- plies on time but that more supplies are available each day, not only in more volume but in more variety.
 Mexicans everywhere during the first days of the American advance kept much out of Eight. Now, however, Mexican traders are beginning to come to the camps. Under hats with brim nearly yard wide shawl of about equal pro- portions draped over them like a cape, and basket of one bushel capacity hooked in one arm, they can be seen at distance as they approach camp and are made welcome by the shouts of the sol- diers. They carry back home reports or cordial treatment and willingness to pay cash In few days the armys monthly pay is due, releasing many thou. sands of dollars among men who have had no chance to spend money for what the soldiers say has been a Hong time."
 The arrival of this spending money is likely to be a strong factor in establish ing friendly relations between the army and the people of Chihuahua. At any rate it will be an event.