Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-18
TWO COLUMNS BELIEVED \
TO BE IN CONJUNCTION
Reports From Across Border Dis
close Strategy of Campaign
Against Bandits.
REAL TEST IN FOOTHILLS
Villa Reported to Be 40 Miles South
of Casas Grandes, Where Per-
shing's Advance Is
Camped.
Ell PASO, Tex. March

Ell PASO, Tex, March
18.-Gen. Gavira, Carranza
commander at Juarez, in
statement given today to
the Associated Press de-
clared that the crisis in the
relations between the United
States and Mexico is past.
and that there is no further
need to fear trouble.
Francisco Villa is in the
neighborhood of Cruces,
no miles south of Casas
Grandes, according to in
formation received today by
Gen. Gavira.
Camp at Colonia Dublan.
Ell PASO, Tex, March 49,
American cavalrymen pursuing
Francisco Villa were camped at
dawn today at Colonia Dublan,
one of the environs of Casas
Grandes. They arrived in the
night.
Through Colonia Dublan runs
the road to the Galeana district,
twenty-five miles southeast. where
Villa was last definitely reported.
Allays Fears of Clash.
The news of the encampment
at Colonia Dublan dispelled fears
OF any disputes with constitu-
tionalist authorities over what
position the American troops
should occupy at Casas Grandes.
Mormon scouts dashed into
Colonia Dublan last night with
the news that the Americans were
near. The column which was
first into this important Ameri-
can settlement was said to be the
cavalry from Hachita.
Columns May Be United.
Dispatches direct from Mexico, and
the official announcement from Maj.
Gen. Funston, made it evident today
that the two American columns, one
shing, and the other from Hachita. y.
NJ, under Col. Dodd, had gotten into
and probably had formed an actual
junction when a little more than half
way on the route to Casas Grandes.
Something of the strategy of the dash
on Villas trail also was revealed. The
Hachita column made its start from
San Bernardino ranch, which is about
the size of a large county, where the
state of New Mexico extends some forty
miles south of the general east and
west line of the American border. BY
using this American territory for the
first part of their advance from Ha-
chita the flying cavalry command OF
Col George Dodd was able to strike
into Mexico at the shortest distance
from Casas Grandes. a little more than
sixty miles of march.
Pershing Veered to West.
The main column, under Gen. Per-
shing, at Columbus, \. NJ, starting
from a point considerably farther
north of Casas Grandes, did not go due
south, but apparently veered to the
westward to get into touch with tho
cavalry command from Hachita.
Reports here that Gen. Pershings
,rmy intended to establish a base at
Iuzman were discounted in dispatches
hat Guzman was still held by Car
-anza troops and that the American
columns were marching about twenty
I've miles to the westward. This
would put them very close to the route
~ the cavalry command of Col. Dodd.
,uzman is an important constitutional
st garrison town, about thirty miles
iirectly south of the point where Gen.
oershing entered Mexico, and by going
asst ii to the west no question of oc-
.upa tion was raised
A young American, the son of j. F.
Stanford, who arrived here today from
Suzman said that early yesterday he
vas informed that the American main
.olumn under Gen. Pershing already was
veil to the south and west of Guzman.
some Americans left Guzrnan for the
vest, he said. to see the American
roops.
Free Lances a Menace.
One Of the real menaces which the
Americans in their rapid progress south.
yard are continually leaving bekind them