The Washington times., 1916-04-02

have overcoats. and that many of them
as result of their hard rides are now
almost In rags. far in advance of any
supply trains that might take i'm fresh
clothing, IL such trains could be spared
for the purpose.
The same men say that the supply
trucks now In service are barely able
TO keep the soldiers supplied with food
ana that some OF the infantry regiments
have been forced to send their wagon
trains back to the border for supplies
after going into temporary camp along
the line OF communication. Horses are
short of food. and have been virtually
ted on the country" since reaching the
mountainous districts. in which the cam
paign Is now being conducted.
Fear Herrera's Disloyalty. ,
While the latest adviccs from the ex-
nedltion confirm the assertion that Villa
is wounded and in flight, there is a por-
sistent report in El .Paso, credited by
large number of people, that villa
IL not wounded, and that he has not
even been engaged by the American
forces. They claim to have received
messages from Americans in Chihuahua
to the effect that General Herrera, re-
Gently suspected of disloyalty to Car
rama, has permitted his forces to join
those of General Cano. west of Chi
huahua city, and that Cano and his
Carranzistds have revoltcd and arc
lighting the Americans; that IL was this
force and not the force of villa with
which Colonel Dodd fought on Wcdnes-
day. near Guerrero, and that villa Is
planning to attack the state capital.
Juarez officials deny this emphatiCally.
and declare that CanO is still loyal to
CRrranza ana cooperating with the
Americans, and assert that Herrera il
not only loyal, but is In the field after
Villa.
According to those who adhere to the
belief that villa Is near Chihuahua city,
his object Is to capture the state capital.
which Is DEFENDED by but 400 troops, ana
where the live. of eighty-tve Americans
would he endangered should he take
the city.
1t is even asserted in I'll Paso that
General Gutierrez. command'nE tho
Carramza troops IN Chihuahua CITY. has
appealed to Cen Gabriel Gavira, com.
niandi1g the JucreZ garrison. for 70
endorsements, hut General GaNfrn de-
MES this.
Shortage of Oats.
Americans from Chihuahua City rlng
the reports that for more than a month
vegetable men and produce merchants
have been visiting Chihuahua suppos.
edly to sell their wares. hut actually 10
the United States.
The CarranZa soldiers are reminded
that villa. when he left chihuahua city
IN December, informed the troops that
he would no longer kll McXic3ns. nut
only gringces, ana that he would re-
turn.
These men have been telling lurid
stories of tie drprcdatiOEs made by
the American troops, who are reported
TO be Ell route t. Chihuahua to seize
Mexican women and children and to
Kill the entire population.
The army horses and mules in Mexico
are suffering from lack of hay and oats.
The shortage of oats particularly is
proving serious since the allowance for
the 5000 TO 5000 horses and mules has
been cut down. On the basis of twelve
pounds of feed a day to the animal.
more than 10000 pounds of oats daily
are required for the animals
Excepting for the amount being sent
down bN motor truck. and tho capacity
OF a truck is only about 1000 to 5000
pounds. the oats supply Is being about
exhausted.
Two carloads Of 5000 pounds each
were sent to Casas Grandes last Mon
dany. but this amount would only last
one day. Six additional carloads of oats
were allowed to go throdgh the custom
house for shipment to Casa Grandcs
yesterday. and may be started to the
military base tomorrow it the return
trip of the Mexico Northwestern train
is made.
Three carloads of oats. n car of gaso-,
lene and a car of provisions were also
sent to Juarez on Friday for shipment
on the first train to the South.
Several shippers have refused to send
supplies to the troops because of the
great risk and the inability to get any
return on the goods should they be
seized.