Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-20
TO GRANT THE REQUEST
WOULD EMRARRASS HIM
First Chief Thinks Enemies in Mex
leo Might Make Action Basis
of Agitation for Villa.
REINFoRCEMENTs TO BE SENT
Expeditions Increased Activities and
Gradual But Certain Approach to
Bandits Hiding Place Make
More Soldiers Necessary.

Ell PASO. Tex. March 20. Villa
has doubled east and south TO Nam-
iquipa. according to a Telegram
reived by Gen. GaSira Ht Juarex to-
day. He reports TINT Cnrranya
troops nre advancing from the
south. while the Americans are con-
tinuing their march from the north
In an effort to close the net around
the bandit.
After leaving FL Vale. where he
had abandoned thirty Of his wOund-
ed. villa turned directly west to
san Miguel BabricOra. said Gasira.
who explained that he had lenrned
the BabrtrOra. where villa was re-
ported yesterday. Nas San Miguel
BabricOra. and not the BabricOra
near the lake Of that name some
miles further to the south ON Mrs.
Phoebe Hear.t's ranch.
Ell PASO. Tex. March 20
The problem of granting the
United States government per-
mission to use Mexican railways
to transport supplies to American
troops pursuing Francisco Villa
overshadowed everything else in
the Mexican situation here today.
The reply OF Gen. Carranza to the
request OF the government ior
permission to Use the railroads
was expected to be sent forward
TO Washington today.
A refusal will embarrass the
operations of the American troops,
while the granting oi the request.
it was declared. would be bound
TO be seriously misconstrued by
a considerable section oil the
Mexican people. and to be cN-
plotted by the enemies of Gen.
Carranza.
Advance Forces the Issue.
The unexpectedly rapid advance ef
the expeditionary columns under Gen.
Pershing has forced the railroad ques-
tion to an issue. Americans familiar
with the country into which the col
umns are now entering assert that il il
imperative that the railroads be placed
at their disposal for the bringing up OF
supplies.
DIR. 7. i. Bush. formerly chief sur
gcon of Madero's army. asserted To-Day
that the speedy transportation fsc'l-
tiles were essential to further progress
of the American troops.
The American forces are reported at
Galeana," said DR.. Bush. Twenty
miles south of there is Ell Nalle, and
from tnat point the only practicable
way of bringing up supplies is by rail-
road The valley converges here into
a narrow deep gorge in which about
1000 people live. The territory IN
which Villa probably will remain is
embrace In an ina ginary line between
Chihua hlia and Minaca. with the MeXt-
can Central railroad on one side and
the Sierra Madre on the other HIS
soldiers have the aG"antage over the
Americans in that they will travel
light with only few days provisions
and seasoned men. well able 10
stand the liardships of mountain cam.
palsitins in that climate
Villa Spreading False Reports.
Or Bush said that he had no doubt
that Villa was spreading stories Of his
wonderful victories over the Ameri-
cans. of how he had captured Texas
and that Carranza had gone/over to the
United States. 1t would be easy, he
said, for him to make the ignorant
peons among whom he is operating
believe the widest stories
Another serious situation has been
caused by the action of Gen. Gales, mill
tary governor Of Sonora, In demanding
that the La Colorado Mining Company
OF New York reopened IT'S mine at Her.
mosillo at once. Gen Gales mas Wfed
the New York offices of the company
that il the mine is not reopened imm--
diately he will take 1t over and run ii.
The property is said to be a rich gold
mine and formerly employed 1000 MeNt-
cans according TO Gen. Gales. He de-
,lared today that he had no intention
Of confiscating the mine. but that the
Mexicans were suffering through being
thrown out of employment and that he
int ended TO put them back TO work.
The governor said that the La Coloraad
Company was the only one that had sus-
pended operations in Sonora. and that
there was no reason for the action that
he could see. and would give ample pro-
lection.
To Send Reinforcements.
Increased activity on the part OF the
.roops stationed at Columbus and the
arrival during the night of a number
If troop and supply trains indicated