Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-03-30
Caffanza's Consent Relieves.
Embarrassing Situation for'
General Pershing in North
efn Mexico,
LIMITATION PLACED
CAUSE OF HARDSHlPS
One Hundred Thousand PouodSI
of Forage Required Daily
for Army Truck Trains Mott
Adequate,

FL Paso. Tex. March 2g.--The
first train bearing supplies to Gem
cral Pershins's troops at the front
will probably leave Juare2 some time
tomorrow Immediately ON receipt
OF the news from Washington that
General Carran2a had permitted the
use of the Northwestern railroad for
the sending of supplies, final prep
arations We're rushed by the quarter
masters department for the for
wardng of forage. food supplies and
gasoline.
The limitations imposed by General
Carranza confnlnP, shipments to
goods sent To concerns In Mexico who
have contracts with the expedition
airy force. caused some disappoint-
ment among army officers 1t was
feared that these restrictions, coupled
with the fact that military guards
could not accompany the trains,
might seriously hamper the trans
mission of an adequate stream of sup
plies,
Line in had Way.
The Northwestern lines between
here and Casas Grandes, near which
town General PershinR has establish
ed his principal base in Mexico. are
admittedly in bad way Almost all
the bridges which spanned the num-
erous arroyus and gulches between the
two towns have been burned by the
bands Of brigands who have roVcd
through this country during the last
couple of years. These bridges have
not been repaired but temporary
trucks have been laid on imprOYlsed
road beds in the gulches themselves.
These tracks cannot stand any very
heavy traffic and make the progress
of the trains very slow.
The equipment also of the road *
poor, most of the cars being In need
of repairs. At the best of times a
train leaving Juarez took eight to ten
hours to negotiate the 1863 miles to
Casas Grandes. At present members
of the quartermaster's staff believe
the trip will not be made in less than
twenty-five to twenty-five hours.
Better Than Truck Service.
This, however. will be a consider
able Improvement over the time made
by the motor truck trains operating
from Columbus These trucks take
thirty hours to reach Casas
Grandes under the most favorable
conditions, allowing only three hours
for halts and rests. But he roads
from Columbus have been terribly
cut up by the constant heavy traffic
they have been forced to bear Con-
tnuous sand storms have caused Sc
rious trouble and trucks are not able
to carry more than a 1000 pound
load. The troops at the front require
100 600 pounds of forage and food
daily and this does not include the
requirements of the soldiers guarding
the lines of communication or the
question of gasoline. The gasoline
problem is becoming very difficult
and expensive and Is far from being
solved. Large quantities of the flnid
are required for the motor trucks and
aeroplanes and the amount needed
increases steadily
Base at Columbus.
Permission for the fun use of the
Northwestern railroad would mean
that the border base of General Per
shing's expedition would be shifted
from Columbus to I1l Paso. This
step, however, will not be taken under
the present circumstances ana in any
event. ii is planned to continue the
motor truck trains as, at least, a sup"
Elementary service.
The complete absence of any defi-
mite news of the pursuit Of villa has
caused a noticeable slackening Of in
terest In the chase as far as the bor-
der is concerned. 1t Is practically ac-
cepted here that the bandit has elud-
ed his pursuers. at least for the pres
ent. and that no clash between the
Nillistas and American troops can be
expected in the immediate future.
Eight Americans who came to El
Paso from Chihuahua city when the
/ n anIbt4ra gpnugnI bn hnr-
der. returned to the Mexican state
capital today. They said they felt
certain that all danger of molestation
had passed. j. w. Hammond, one
of the party. said I'VE do not think
that villa will make any advance to-
wards Chihuahua City under the pres
ent conditions. As far as the con-
authorities are concern
ed they have always been very court
eous in their dealings with us"
Fifty Americans in all came to this
city from the interior when General
Pershings columns started in pursuit
Of villa. Ten have now returned TO
Mexico
Enterprising Merchants.
American business men have beat !
en- the American government In the !
attempt TO get supplies TO General |
Pershings expeditiOnary forces at
Casas Grandes, by way OF the North
western railway, it developed here to-
night.
Major William Elliott, in charge Of (
the United States quartermaster's /
depot said he had been informed that ,
American merchants at the field base I
had succeeded in getting several car !
loads of supplies shipped south from
I'll Paso
Two weeks ago Major Elliott said !
IN American came up from Casas /
Grandes and made inquiries regard
ing getting two carloads of foodstuffs
and other supplies dispatched 10
Casas Grandes. This man. II is said,
was ready for the approach Of the ex-
forces and reaped a har-