The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-15
Funston Worried Over Silence
of Expedition Leader.
Unofficial Report Minimized
ParraI Incident.
LOCATE GOMEZ FORCE OF 4OOO
AviatOrs Find De FactOs Re-
main in Camp Several Days.
Greatest Activity at Columbus
Since Invasion Started.

San Antonio. April lo--Mucn I'M
patience and some uneasiness were
manifested a General Funston's head
quarters today over General Per-
shing's unbroken silence concerning
the fight between American troops and
Mexicans at Parral Wednesday night.
II became known today that General
Funston last night directed to General
Pershing d communication sharply
urging him to expedite a report on the
ParraI incident and on operations ir
general
The last official knowledge here of
General Pershings movement was
that he was expected to arrive at Sa-
tevo. approximately ninety miles
northwest of ParraI, Tuesday night.
General Funston received from the
war department today a rather long
communication but he refused to dis
cusS its character. There was reason
to believe the substance of his late re-.
ports to Washington dealt largely with
the positions and activities of Car
rama troops in northern Mexico and
the failure of them and other Car
rama authorities to cooperate more
effectively with the Americans m the
pursuit Of Villa.
Army officers here and in Mexico
that cooperation was being given
when. as they Indignantly assert. con-
tiuued refusal to use the railroads and
to permit the transmission of code
messages OVER land wires has been
made
Greater Force Than L. s.
The number of Carranza troops in
northern and central Mexico is far
greater than of the United States force
in Mexico. but officers here pointed
out villa had no apparent difficulty
ia passing through their lines when
pressed forward by the Americans.
1t is believed that General Funston
also called the attention of the war
dcpartme Mt to his inability to protect
more adequately the detached forces
at the front without materially weak
cnins the border patrol or using the
railroads for troop movements.
General Funston explained that he
had not the authority to bring addi-
tional troops into his territory; that
he had not the authority to substitute
with militia and that he did not regard
the present instructions as authorizing
him To use the railroads.
This was the sixth day since Cen
eral pcrshing has made a direct report
to headquarters General Pershing's
chief Of staff. Lieut.. Colonel Cabell, is
now at Casas Grandes, where he went
TO supervise the work ordered by Cen
tGdI QlSlon. TO ascertain Ine move
ments of Carranza troops in the region
through which the line of communica-
tion passes.
Gomez i'm Camp.
Reports indicated that General
Arnulfo Gomez's troops are still in the
Bavispe valley. are being provisioned
for field work.
The three new companies of motor
trucks have arrived at Columbus. pro-
viding the quartermaster's department
with the full ten companies. 270
trucks The chief difficulty now en-
countered in getting forward supplies
is the bad condition of the roads.
Army officers report that the adobe
soil will be in such condition after the
first heavy rain that the operations of
the heavy trucks will be rendered al
most impossible.
Rioters Destroy Property.
FL Paso, April 15.-Rioting in which
much property was destroyed follow
ed the clash between American troops
and residents of Parral, according to
advices received by A. J. McQuatters
of Boston. president of the Alvarado
Mining and Milling company OF Par
raj Carranza Consul Garcia, quoting
a telegram from War Minister Obregon,
denied there was rioting and stated
that the situation quieted down after
the fight.
A message from the mill officials
said:
In retaliation for the recent trou-
bles, armed men yesterday, (Thurs-
day) at noon assaulted the mill.
breaking in doors and windows of
residences, offices, warehouses and
mill, robbing and destroying.
They repeated the assault at mid
night again, robbing and destroying
and will probably repeat the incident.
Military authorities know everything
connected with the same"
All reports seem to contradict ad-
vices received by mining men yester-
day that the American forces took
possession of Parral
AViatorS Find De Factos.
san Antonio, April 15.-Encamped
in a pass between the Baviste valley
and the Casas Grandes region, sew
eral thousand Cerranzista troops
tContnued on Page Four.l
Help Up Woman for 5000 Payroll.
New Haven April I5-MiSs Frances