The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-22
PERSH|NG REPORTS HIS COLUMNS NEAR VILLAS TERRITORY Declares Carranza Troops
 Have Co-Operated
 With Him
PROPOSED PROTOCOL
 WILL BE ACCEPTED
Decision Reached by President Wilson and His Cabinet-The Information Asked by Provisional Govern
 ment Sent to Queretaro

Washington, March 21-General Persh- ing, leading the American expeditonary forces in Mexico, reported to the war department today that he had reached point near Villa and his outlaws. It
 was made clear in the dispatch that Gen eral Pershing believed the troops of the de facto government were cooperating in the bandit hunt and that it is quite possible Villa may be trapped. Officials continued to assert today that
 all dispatches to the war and state de- partments told of cooperation between the American and Carranza forces, and of generally favorable conditions in the interior of Mexico and along the border. NO UNAVOIDABLE ACT Unofficial dispatches picturing a very different situation were brought to the attention of Secretary Baker, who said that while the situation was fraught with many possibilities, so far there had been no unfavorable developments. One of General Pershing's reports tonight said the attitude of the natives continued friendly. MT. Baker, in referring to this, explained that the department had no
 
 tile shot had been fired against or by the American troops since they entered Mexico.
 While Acting Secretary Polk of the state department and Elizio Arredondo, Mexican ambassador designate, were con- . ferring during the day over the terms of the protocol proposed by General Car ranza to govern the joint pursuit of Villa, the war department was ordering addi- tional troops to the border in response to a request from General Funston. The Fifth cavalry, the squadrons of which are stationed at Fort Myer, Va, Fort Sheridan and Fort Leavenworth, Kan, and >the Twenty-fourth infantry at Fort D. A. Russell, Wyo., were ordered to entrain immediately. The point to which the troops will move was not disclosed. A squadron of the Second cavalry at Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont will be sent to Fort Myer to supplement the garrison there.
 CONFERS WITH POLK MT. Arredondo conferred at length with MT. Polk after President Wils,n and his cabinet had decided to acce/5 the pro- posal for protocol. Later 1t was said that the terms of the proposed conven- ton Virtually had been agreed upon and that 1t was quite probable it would be in force within few days
 IL IS understood that it is proposed to have the agreement cover such questions as how many American troops shall en-
 ter Mexico. how far, into the country
 they shall penetrate, methods of co-opera-
 tion and the use of railroads for mili- tary purposes. MT. Arredondo is under stood to have been given complete in- structions by his government, and for that reason it is probable the protocol will go into effect as soon as he and MT. Polk have definitely agreed on all the points.
 The state department today sent to consul General Rodgers, at Queretaro, TOT presentation to the de facto gov ernment the information asked for in regard to the request of the United Stat<e for permission to use the railway from Ell Paso to Casas Grandes for the ship
 ment of supplies to the American ex- peditionary forces. It was pointed out that the United States had no intention of shipping troops over the line and that the request was made solely for SUD- plies.
 Entraining of the horses and equipment or the headquarters and Third squadron or the Fifth cavalry began at Fort Myer immediately after the orders were re. ceived. Col. Wilber E. Wilder. com manding, expected to be ready to start south early tomorrow morning.