Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-03-28

GERS have said they had reason to ne-
Heve that news of this immense re-
ward had caused some commotion
among the poems who have heard of 1t
in northern Mexico.
More Men Leave Base.
Two half squadrons of cavalry left
the expeditionary main base at Co
lumbus on Friday, striking in west
erly direction. Whether they were in
tended to REINFORCE the punitive col
umns was not known. One report in
dictated that they were going out to
help protect the line of communica-
ton of that portion of the expedition
under Col. Dodd.
Carranza troops are cooperating
with the 1000 American forces which
crossed at Columbus and are accom-
panying them Gen. Pershing is in
command of the expedition and prac-
tically his entire command crossed
the border about noon Wednesday.
This announcement was made by Gen.
Funston.
1000 Troops After Villa.
San Antonio, Tex, March 16. =
Gen. John j. Pershing, with more than
1000 troops began the pursuit in Mex
leo on Wednesday of Francisco Villa.
Gen. Pershing's report that he and
his command had crossed the inter
national boundary line just south of
Columbus, reached Gen. Frederick
Function in ohio roo bo,a IF oe1ara1 on
erations, late on Wednesday.
The news of his entrance into Mex
leo served to dispel to great extent
fears that had been entertained in
some quarters that resistance would
be offered by the troops of the de facto
government Col. Bertani, the COM
handing officer of the Carranza gar
rison at PalOmas, ON the south side Of
the dividing life, promptly joined Gen.
Pershing. His force was only some
400 men, but they were reported to
have displayed willingness and even
eagerness to join in the chase. The
Mexican troops will remain UNDER
their own commander, but number
of them are being employed as scouts
by zen. PerSnlnS.
Communication Is Difficult.
Reports of progress in the country
where the search has been begun will
be made by Gen. Pershing to Gen.
Funston, but it is not anticipated that
these will be frequent or deal with
any but the more important develop
ments.
Col. George A. Dodd, heading
smaller column, that entered Mexico
some distance west of Columbus, also
is moving in a southerly direction and
the two forces should be within touch
of each other before the end of the
week. BY that time it is expected an
infantry support will hold the lines of
communication along which motor
trucks for the transportation of am
munition and supplies will be oper-
ated.
Ordered to Get Villa.
Gen. Pershing has gone into Mexico
with orders to overtake and wipe out
Villa and his organization. Unless or
ders to the contrary are received from
those higher in authority than Gen.
Funston, the campaign will continue
until Villa is captured or killed. No
limits have been placed on the field
of operation.
There are now available in this de-
partment for operations in Mexico
more than 10000 troops, and if the
plans for recruiting the companies to
full strength are carried out this num-
Der will, it is expected, be quickly in
creased. Cavalry posts have been re-
lieved by infantry in most cases in
order to furnish a more mobile force
for the pursuit of Villa, although in
the expedition that went in on
Wednesday there is a considerable
force of artillery, which can be rein
forced at any time by several more
batteries that now are held on the
American side within easy distance of
the border.
Funston Sees Hard Campaign.
San Antonio, Tex, March 16. -
Gen. Frederick Funston, commander
in-chief of troops on the border, pre-
diets that the chase for Villa will bt
hard and difficult campaign. He
said Gen. Pershing, commander in the
field, has his orders and will move
when ready.
II hope the American people ap-
preciate," said Funston, that this is
going to be hard and very difficult
campaign. 1t may be long one, also
Of hn Of he htrc
mess is the fact that the troops are
in splendid shape for the work. From
a physical standpoint they could not
be better. The time that most of
them have had on the border has
hardened and toughened them for just
the character of campaign that they
will have to undergo.
But it is going to be a hard Job
Villa has fed to one of the naturally
most desolate countries in the world
What nature did not do for it in to-
respect the fighting factions in Mex
leo have done. Unless We go in there
sufficiently supplied with food and
fodder to take care of the problem CT
subsistence. we would be defeated GS
nature long before we meet Villas
forces. There is nothing left in eli
that vast and naked region for us to
buy or take Our prisoners, taken in
the Columbus raid, tell us that Villa
and his men are living off 'jerked"
beef. They have no other food sup
ply of consequence"
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