Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-03-13
GEN. FUNSTON NOT PERSONALLY
TO COMMAND EXPEDITION INTO
MExICO--A ARRANGING DETAILS
Aeropane Squadron under Command of Veteran man to En-
ter Mexico with ExpeditonaYy Force and to Have First
Real Test as Fourth Arm of the Service

! San Antonio. Tex March ,e--In-
sfructed by the War department at
Washington that he vas not PERSONAL
Ily 10 command the troops that VIII
cross the Rio Grande into Mexico TO
search for Francisco Villa. Maj Gen.
Funston Saturday began 70 arrange
the details of the expedition 10 plan
for the safeguarding Of the entire
Mexican border.
! Close Censorship
| During the day Saturday the gen
eral conferred frequently with his star,
al Fort Sam Houston. Southern de-
partment headquarters. = close cen
sorship was established. however. on
proceedings. All announcements were
made by Gen. Funston himself.
/ From Gen. Funston came this in
formation:
I That an officer subordinate to him
la brigGdier general. would command
| the punitive expedition
-ha, this officer would have COM
ple,e charge in the field ana Wouio
mot be hampered by unnecessary IN
structions.
That it would take Two or three
days to organize tie force OF forces
that will 60 in pursui, Of VIA.
i Tha, the hrs. aero squadron, sta
toned at Fort Sam Houston. wll! oe
a part Of the expeditionary force.
/ Tha, a close watch will be kept at
all border points for any symptoms
Of disorder that Will necessitate the
movement Of troops.
| Gen. Funston, for military reasons
refused to state how large the expedi'
,ionary force would be, the time tne
| forward movement would start. "he'h'
er there would be one or several FORCES
and the point or points at when the
Rio Grande would be crossed Wher
the search begins.
| II was known yesterday that Gen
Funston was willing 10 lead the force
searching for Villa. II was explained
here. however. that the war depart
ment thought it best 10 keep Gen
Funston at southern department head.
quarters. where he would be in touct
! with and could direct the entire bor-
der situati
If there should be more than one eX'
peditiorary force. the common direc-
ton would fall to Gen. Funston.
In Two or Three Days
Another reason assigned was thai
the entire routine Of the southern de
par,ment would be interrupted if tht
| commanding general were in the field
:, General Funston said. too. that hi!
place probably would have had 20 b.
filled by an officer OF lesser rank, no
in touch with the border situation. 1
is expected. however, that Gen. Fun
ston will make frequent visits to tn.
positions occupied by the invading
troops.
The movement of troops from depart
HeEts other than that commanded b,
Gen. Funston. toward the border. al
ready has been initiated, it is under
stood. The amalgamation Of scattered
fragments. transportation. the equip
ment Of the commissary and other de
tails, Woulc require. il was estimated
by the general, a I least two, and prob
ably three DAYS. All such troops viii
be transported directly 10 the border
The utmost secrecy regarding the!l
exact destination will be maintained
Gen. Funston has insisted on this pre-
caution to the war department in orde
that Villa may be kept as much in tn
dark as possible.
Army officers at Fort Sam Houston be
lieve the border is infested with Mex
cans friendly to Villa. who will do all il
their power to keep him informed.