Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-03-19
VILLAS FAILURE
To MAKE STAND
WILL ALTER PLAN
Four Thousand Troops Marching
to Make a Stand and
Fight.
BANDIT MAY REFUSE
TO ENGAGE ARMY
General Gavira Says Mexican
People Place Trust in
Carranza.

Dan AulOulO, MdICu 1o.-T dllulc Wy
Francisco Villa, on whose trail more
than 1000 American troops are
marching, to make stand and fight
before the end of next week will radi-
cally alter the methods, so far en-
ployed by the commander of the puni-
tive expedition.
What General Persings plan is,
however, has not been revealed and
will not be, il General Funston can
prevent it.
Every effort will be made to keep
secret the movement Of troops, it it
becomes necessary to abandon the d.
rect line of pursuit with the units of
the little army practically in contact.
The One Chance.
When General Pershing led the ex-
peditionary force over the boundary
line into Mexico, the juncture OF
troops which has taken place near
Casas Grandes was planned with little
|.expectation. ,taat Villa would be- sight
ed before this time It, was realized
the only chance Of the Americans to
catch him at that stage of the opera.
tion was that he would gather his
forces and resist their advance.
Not only did he not do that, but ac-
cording to General Funston's reports,
not shot was fired at the invaders.
To force Villa to fight or trap him
in one Of his many hiding places has
now become the object of General
Pershing's plan. Whether Villa will
resist fight or play out the role of
common fugitive is subject for spec
ulatiOn.
Relieves Tension.
Unofficial reports that General Per
shing did not insist upon sending into
Casas Grandes the advance cavalry
force, after it was intimated such
entry would be resisted, lowered the
tension at General Funston's head
quarters. General Funston was con-
vinced that General Pershing would
not pass his troops through any Mex
lean town unless he regarded it as a
military necessity, but in case OF ne
cessity he was prepared 70 endorse
the action of the man on the spot.
General Pershing continued his re-
port of developments of the plan, none
of his reports dealing with unexpect-
ed or unusual incidents.
Maria, Texas, March 1S.-A mes
senger from Mexico arrived at the
Preside this morning with report
that Villa bandits were mObilizing to
attack Presidio.
Most of the American women left
Maria this afternoon. Capt. 'Sibley
of the 14th Cavalry conferred today
with Col. It0jas, cOnstitutionallst
commander at Ojinaga, opposite Pre-
sidio.
CarranZa troops were reported CO.
operating with the American forces
for possible defense against the ban
dts.
Trucks Arrive.
The arrival of trainload of motor
trucks in Columbus tonight made 1t
certain that the American forces in
the field will be amply supplied where
ever they may go.
It is also known that the American
expeditionary force is taking every
pIeCduIlOu dSodtloI ihC uloSooS "AiSA'
has followed four long years OF civil
warfare in northern Mexico All along
the border, also, medical officers of
the United States immigration depart
ment are taking increased care to pre-
vent the introduction into the United
States of the smallpox, which is ram
pant in Mexico, particularly in the
western part of Sonora.
Prosecutions under the national de-
fense law of 1911 will follow violation
of the censorship order.
ALI correspondents were obliged to
register today and present credentials
at military headquarters. Major Sam
pie, the censor, frankly informed
them their services would be of little
value and intimated that the censor
ship may be extended to other border
towns. The ruins of the Commercial
hotel has been searched for souvenirs.
Several sabers, presumably dropped
by Villa officers, have been picked up.
Villa boasted three months ago
that he would foce intervention in
Mexico by the United States. accord
ing to stories told here today by
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