Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-03-23
Strict Silence That Prevails
Regarding Conditions in
Mexico Lends Color to Re-
ports of DiSaffection.
RAILROAD SITUATION
HOLDS MAIN INTEREST
Funston Known to Be Expef-
iencing Great Difficulty in
Forwarding Supplies to CoI-
unn Under PerShing.


tBN MorNiso Journal SPECIAL LEASED wtRkl
El Paso, Texas, March 22--The
silence which for two days has envel-
oped the Mexican situation as far as
any definite news OF the pursuit of
pancho villa is concerned, gave fresh
force today to the numerous reports
from various sources of grave disaf-
fection among the Carranzsta troops.
ON the border al least il Is firmly
belved that the soldiers OF the first
chief are far from giving any real
cooperation to tho American expe-
dictionary force. 1t Is admitted that
General Funston and some of his lieu
tenants are sincerely anxious to avoid
friction with the United States but II
is not believed that the head of the
de facto government represents the
attitude or sentiments of his army or
fellow citizens.
From several different sources, u
clrcumstantial report was received to-
day that the garrison OF Chihuahua,
composed of 1000 men had revolted
and that their cammonder, General
Luis Herrera, had declared in favor OF
Villa. Andres Garcia. the Carranza
consul here emphatically branded this
report as q lie, but I'm high official
circles here is was accepted az at
least possible in view of the fact that
more than half of the Mexican troops
at Chihuahua were former Villstas,
Since yesterday morning General
Gavira at Juarez has claimed that the
wires along the Northwestern railroad
between Juarez and Casns Grandes
have been cut and that consequently
he could give no information in re-
gard to the reported battle at Nami-
quipa between the Carranzistas and
lNillistas. Americans here, especially
refugees from Mexico. are frankly
slteptical, both as to the reported bat
tie and the cut wires. They point out
that severed communications is one OF
the most familiar ruses used by Mex
lean officials when they wish to with
hold Information and that it is strange
that the wires to Casas Grandes, u
distance of only 80 miles along a
railroad. could not be repaired in two
days time.
That General Pershng and some of
his forces are close TO Namiqupa
seems reasonably certain and If the
bandits had received serious check
lat the hands of Carranzistas clash
between his followers and the Ameri-
cans should be imminent. The fact
that Carranza victory would have
ttI. "A. n 10,
wide by this time instead of suppressed.
adds to the contentious of the skepties.
Whatever the real situation is In the
section of the Sierra Madre where
Americans. Carranzistas and Villistas
are operating, the main interest here
lies in the railroad situation. Even
before the American government re-
quested General Carranza TO permit
the use of the Mexican railroads for
the transportation of supplies, omin-
Gus rumors had reached here thas
General Funston was experiencing
serious difficulty in forwarding sup
plies to General Pershing's columns
These rumors have reached the stage
now where they may be classed as
definite information.
Arrivals from Columbus today re-
ported that the transportation service
across the desert was being badly
hampered by sandstorms. There are
no roads except those which the Amer
lean engineers have been able to inn
pr0vsc and these are said to be cut
to pieces by the heavy transport wag-
ons. An American mining man who
has lived for twenty-five years in Cri-
huahua declared today that it would
be little less than miracle if the
American army staff was able to send
the needed supplies for 5000 men a
distance Of 20 miles for any period
OF time
Funston Alive TO Situation.
That General Funston is fully alive
to this situation is evidenced by the
elaborate arrangements being made
heer for using the Mexican North
western railroad if Carranza grants
the needed permission. Conductors.
engineers, flremen and brakemen.
most of whom have seen service on
the Mexican National railways are be-
ing listed for service. All of the equip
ment in the III Paso yards has been
inspected and enumerated and exact
information obtained as 10 how many
trains can be counted on with fun
American crews for each.
There has been particular activity
in the quartermasters department
where plans are being made TO estab-
ish base here larger than at Col
umhus. At the same time it was
said that no attempt was contemplated
to send troops across the border at
this point but supplies alone.
One of the most popular reports
here today was that Villistas spies,