New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-11

making ms way WeSs ana SCUM 10 seeh
shelter IN the hills He is known TO
practically every peon there aud IN the
south. near Guerrero, are the people
among whom he was born.
Ammunition May Determine Issue.
Once back in the mountains and be
rriended by those who fear him as
well as those who idolize him the ban
dts capture will tax American IN
penuity. In hiding and lodging from
place to place ne is recognized as an
adept. and once "The Fox" was n popu-
lar sobriouet applied to him.
Should Villa concentrate his men the
problem Of his capture would be simple,
say officers here, but they do not an
ticipate that he can be lured into an
open fight. The most promising fac
tor, from the American viewpoint. Is
shortage of ammunition. II Is known
that Villas men have been conserving
their already reduced stock OF cart
ridges and have no source from which
10 obtain more. Their guns arc IN bad
| condition. and many weeks ago they
lost practically all their artillery and
machine guns. IL is doubted here J.;
Villa has any cannon or more than
/ two or three guns, with little smmuni-
/ ton for them. The killing at Column
/ bus, of Pablo Lopez, deprived him OF
| his most efficient aide.
The country through which Villa will
i be forced TO fight or fee has been so
/ harried in the last few years of civil
war, that the opportunities for forage
I have been greatly reduced. His Owl.
/ plan Of driving of and selling herds OF
cattle has further reduced his means
OF continuing the fight.
Carranza Well Armed.
To the south Of Chihuahua. across
sandy and unproductive stretches Of
country, there are operating an un-
known number OF Villas men, about
Torreon and in the State Of Durango
/ These have lately conducted daring
.aids, and are said to be in better shape
/ than those Villa has with him.
Carranza's army at the present is
said TO be not less than $4,000, and he
has increased his store of ammuni-
/ ton. He has approximately 200 can
I non, most of them 70 millimetre guns
Of French make. His store OF am
munition for these is not great, how
ever. and the guns have seen hard
/ service in the past two years.
The de facto government forces are
almost evenly divided in the north AMI
south. General Obregon has in So
nora, his own state, more than o.
600 of the best men, and an equal
/ number is operating against rebels
in the states OF Morelos, Oaxaca and
Puebla. south of Mexico City.
In the region where Villa is now
operating. small Carranza garrisons
are located at most of the towns along
the railroad from. Juarez TO chihuahua
and on the Northwestern Railroad thai;
makes a wide sweep westward from
Jusrez 10 chihuahua. This district
includes Casas Grandes, where there
is Mormon colony. MADEIRA. where
Americans and Canadians ara en-
ployed By lumber concern. and Pear
son, where foreign interests also arc
located. The 5000 troops Carranza
to-day announced he had ordered to
join in :he pursuit OF Villa. 1t is be
lioved, will be taken from those gsrri-
sons.
No Request Made for Invasion.
II was learned tonight that the
State Department did not ask Ambas-
dor Arredondo TO request permission
Ct his government for American troops
20 enter Mexico or for the cooperation
O. the de facto troops. because IL
wished 70 avoid placing Carranza in an
embarrassing position. The depart
nent realized that II he were forced
70 refuse the dispatch OF tho punitive
expedition would be an act Of VIZ
while for him 20 accede might create
friction for tho First Chief with the
radical element, ALWAYS sn1ious 70 re