Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-31
VILLA REPORTED IN
SEVERAL DIFFERENT
GANGS OF BANDITS
Each Little Band Claims That
Chief Villa Is Leading IT.
Each Gang Travels in Diff
ferent Direction
CRv Assoelatsd PEesa.l

Ell, PAsO, Tex, March so-Nilitary
men made no secret OF their belief to-
day that Francisco villa had slipped
through the Gordon OF American troops
and carranza forces pursuing him in
Mexico.
The latest information was that the
bandit leader was moving through the
Santa Maria valley. Once among his
peon friends. villa might escape de-
lection for a long time, II was pointed
out
Rowing bands OF Villa men are re-
ported everywhere in the region of
santa Maria valley. but apparently the
American flying columns have not come
In contact. with them
Mexican ofacials said today they had
nc news as TO the whereabouts Of Villa,
hut that the troops OF the defacto gov
srnment were aiding the American sol
lsers In the attempt to capture him.
Rancners from the Chihuahua district
sid that when il became known that
there was a price upon Villas head
dead or alive the bandit would be in
constant danger OF betrayal. Whether
the American troops have made IL known
that there is a reward for Villa has
not been learned here among the peon
population
The last word from the front was
he statement BY Colonel Dodd that
sour DAYS previously, Villa was report
ed in the Santa Maria valley, moving
toward Santa Caterina- No town OF the
name of Santa Caterina appears on any
available maps OF Chihuahua, but there
= a Terrazzs ranch of that name, some
miles east OF FL Vale. one OF the tenn
1orarv bases OF the American expedi-
rfon This report considerably mys-
titled American observers here, as 1t
would locate Villa some forty miles
northeast of Namiquipa instead OF twice
that distance TO the south. where all
PREVIOUS reports have placed him
VILLAS ELUSIVE PLAIN.
The explanation which is generally
accepted here is that Villa has adopted
a time-honored plan OF deceiving his
pursuers.. He is believed to have scat
tered his forces into several different
bands. Each band travels IN a diner-
emit direction, dispensing the Information
that the chief Fugitive Is with IL
In the absence of any definite In
formation there Is little room left for
anything except speculation. but Amer
leans here who are not only wei &C
quafnted with Mexico but know Villa
himself and his habits OF mind, are un-
shaken in their conviction that he is in
full fight TO the southeast
They point out that the district around
ParraI is the logical place for him to
make for as he has thousands OF sym
pathizers there and the constitutional
st government is almost without au-
JhorIty except in the heavily sarrisoned
towns.
Brigadier General Bell, commandant
~ Fort Bliss. awaited official orders to-
cay To ship supplies 20 the army over
me Mexico Northwestern railroad Case
line. forage. canned goods ana -four viii
20 forward sOon-
Meanwhile Major Elliott, department
uuzrtermaster. is moving supplies in
areat quantities TO Columbus. where
they are carried in motor truck trains
over the Mexican desert TO the army
Ease below Casas Grandes.
Ten carloads were shipped TO COlum-
aus early today and ten new motor
trucks were also sent 10 the army base
Tor the army They point out that no
great reliance can be placed on the
Mexico Northwestern railroad as sole
line Of communication because OF its
condition 20 carry heavy urainlOads OF
supplies
Three companies OF the engineers de-
sartment are working TO keep the road
leading south from Columbus TO the
army base in Mexico in good condition
OFFICERS DISAPPOINTED.
While army officials here did not con-
zeal their disappointment over the first
chiefs refusal 70 permit full traialoans
20 enter Mexico under American mill
tary guard they were visibly relieved
AZ the prospect OF using the railroad in
even a limited way
There had been no question here for
some time that the transportation prob
lem was one OF the most serious raced
BY General Funston
The stories OF soldiers returning from
tine front taken in conjunction with the
guarded admissions BY the military au-
thorities, confirmed the belief that the
motor truck system had proved made
auare and that some better way OF pro-
vfsfoninE General Pershing's forces
must be found very quickly
Anxiety Is now mainly centeIeo on
what can be hoped for from the d.
Iapidated Northwestern railroad FOR
come time a schedule OF only one train
in two DAYS has been maintained De
tween Juarez and Casas Grandes- The
distance is les miles and the Trip Is
made in from Il 10 20 hours heavily
loaded freight train is expected 70 take
u5uch longer than this
one important question upon winch
rhe army officials here are anxious 10
obtain light il exactly what lntefpT
f.tiop will be placed by the Mexican
officials on General Carranza's mstruc-
lions that supplies must be shipped IN
the ordinary manner as commeTclaI
Il. III
Wi ONLY be forwarded on the regular
trains. officials say the amount OF sup
piles TO reach General Pershing's base
viii be very small
The persistent calm which has reign
cd over northern Chihuahua for the last
No weeks has created feeling OF OPP
rfrnisu in some circles here, which IS
strongly in contrast with the pessimism
that was general when the Americans
yyere first sent across the border
While il is felt that the crisis Is still
TAR from past, many Americans VINO leIt
Nrexfeo after the raid on Columbus are
returning TO their old homes satisfied
that no serious outbreak against for
eIEners is on the horizon
The report that Villa had Tuesday
raided santa Tomas, south OF Nami-
quipa. is not confirmed Neither GEN
cr.sI Gavira. commander Of the Jusrez
garrison. OF Mexican Consul Garcia had