River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1916-03-23
BATTLE IN PROGRESS At NOMI-
OUIPA THREE DAYS-DE FACTO
TROOPS COMMANDED BY
COLONEL CANO.
MEXICANS FAIL TO GIVE
SUPPORT TO AMERICANS
constitutionaist Forces in Certain
Instances Are Reported to Be Ac-
tusfy Withdrawing-Gr Growing
Uneasiness in FL Paso as Sol
diers Approach Border.

Fl Paso, Texas, March 21.-General
Gavira, commander Of the JuareZ gar
rison. and Consul Garcia have just re-
ceived dispatch that battle be-
tween Villa and Carranza forces is
il progress at NamiQuipa District OF
Guerrero, Chihuahua. The Carranza
force ig commanded By Colonel CanO,
Of the staff Of General Luis Cutter
rev.
Colonel Cano is in command Of
force 81 900 cavalry which came in
contact two days ago at FL Vale with
Vilfstas who on this occasion fled
without giving battle
Mexican Troops Withdrawing"
eIn spite of reports that the Car
rama forces had engaged Villas men
at NamQuipa, there seems to be
feeling here that the Carranza forces
have failed to hold their end of the
net closing about the bandit chief.
There were cOnfrmatory reports of
the news received for the last week
that the Mexican troops were not only
Ealing ID cooperate with the Ameri-
can troops, but in certain instances
at least, we're actually withdrawing
from the field Of operations.
Refuse to Fight Villa.
Tie Associated Press learned on
unquest:onable authority that the
troops Of the de facto government
which had been stationed at Casas
- 49, i ~ I,o,. Il 80, ,,-itJ, II 20 ,t7,o apd aro
now in or about Juarez.
From the same source it was learn
ed that at least one detachment Of
Carranza troops had refused to fight
Villa and had withdrawn on the bam-
dts approach, leaving him free to
pass.
In the last few days Villa has been
variously reported by General Gavira,
the Carranza commander at Juarez, at
points along a line reaching north and
south from Galeana to Namiquipa, a
distance Of about seventy-five miles.
rranzistas Move to Border.
By the same accounts he has not
been moving steadily south but row
ing north and east. The mountain
GUS canyon-split, roadless country in
which he is operating adds many
miles to the country he has covered
as compared with it's distance on the
map. The reason for the Carranza
troops moving to the border, remains
unexplained 1t is impossible even to
make a fair estimate of the number
Of men under General Gavira at Juar-
eZ. The large staff at his headquar-
tiers and the fact that new troops are
arriving daily indicate that his force
is a large one. The most cOnserva-
tive estimate places it at 5000, and
calculations range from the point up
ward to 5000. Every precaution has
been taken to prevent the facts be-
inc known and most of the men are
kept outside the town among the hills.
Reports from Aqua Prieta and DIN
aga tell Of Mexican reinforcements
reaching those points also, but moth
ing is known as to their numbers.
Uneasiness in FL Paso.
There is no question that there is
serious and growing uneasiness in EI
Paso which has been sharply accen-
tuated by the problem which has arts
en- over the request Of the United
States government to General Carran-
"a for the use Of the Mexican rail
roads to transport supplies. Ameri
cans here do not believe that Carran-
"a dare grant this request, especially
as it is understood that General Funs-
ton proposes. if it is granted, to take
train crews and equipment into Next
co and place military guards at the
stations. The presence of American
soldiers on Mexican railroads, it is said
is very likely to be misunderstood by
the poems. and it is feared, would be
sure to provoke outbreaks.