The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-03-19

bus was seriously impaired.
According to the best obtainable
information here. Pershing's main
division had split into two columns,
which, with Dodd's cavalry squadron,
makes three columns in the held.
Pershing's main and secondary forces
were reported to be midway between
the border and Casas Grandes, while
Dodd's men were below Dublan-
Julio Sanford, American member
of the Carranza garrison at Ascen-
cion. arrived in Ell Paso with the re-
port that Pershing's cavalry Scouts
had passed southwark short dis-
lance west Of Guzman- He said the
Ascension garrison knew OF tne 81.
pedition and It's purpose and tnat
thara was no resentment against the
invasion.
sanford's claim that the American
expedition had not aroused the Mex
cans to revolt, was confirmed oy Sar-
rama Consul Garcia here today He
renorted all peaceful in northern Chi
hnahua and stated that when Dodd $
column passed the large Mexican
quarter in Casas Grandes there was
no sign of disorder.
To show mis- good faith in cooper.
Grating with the expedition, General
Gayira. CarranZa commandment IN
Iuarez. threatened with court marual
any Carranza soldiers in Juarez VINO
gives out information Of the Snlted
States troop movement. The Colum-
hns censor refused all information
exceprtng the statement that no nos
file act 80 far has marked the Am
can advance.
Net Drawing About Him.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, March 10
Pancho Villa, in his retreat near 90
loofa Gracia, in the Galeana oistrlc1
ia tonight mentally balancing tue
problem of fight or run.
With less than four hundred men as
an immediate personal booysuaIo
about him, the willy leader, desperate
murderous raider, is beginning TO feei.
FOR the first time since he galloped
ont OF the battle-torn village OF 70
lumbus, N. NJ, the tug of the enclr-
cling net being drawn about MIN oy
Uncle Sans forces, aided by those OF
the First Chief Venustiano Carranza
From the American consul at Chi
huahua, General Funston late re-
ceived his first information or VIVA ;
whereabouts other than reports from
MEXICAN sources. The American con
sui wired that Villa was seen Friday
at Colonia Gracia, q small Mexican
hamlet near the village OF Galeana
This seems to effectually dispose OF
reports that the bandit leader had
reached Las Cruces, more than a
hundred miles south Of Casas Grandes
With Villa at Colonia Gracia were
four hundred men. They are known
to be merely a personal body guard
and officers at Fort Sam Houston dc
not regard the number as at all lndlca
tive Of Villas real strength.
AS the bandit chieftain passed-south
from the direction Of the Columbus
raid. he detached at various points
bodies of troops In order to secure
the double advantage OF faster time
and confusing a punitive force SEM
| in pursuit.
In spite Of his craftiness, the me-
! is closing in, according to authentic
Mexican sources. South Of GaIeana
1 Carranza is massing a body OF severa
thousand soldiers along the Mexican
| Northwestern railway to the west b
tween Villas present position and the
Sierra Madres, are strong detach
menus Oh a. SSAoeOof>
points along the right OF way Forging
south at a speed that up to today nae
been really faster than Villas retreat
| is the cavalry column under Colone
Dodd which made the wonderful dasf
of 100 miles in forty-eight hours tt
| make certain of the safety OF Mormon
| coIonists about Casas Grandes. and tt
| intercept Villas suspected flight t.
| the mountains west. Close behint
| Dodd is the main cavalry column O
| General Pershing. Protecting Perish
/ ing's line of communications are in
fantry regiments. The Immediate fu
ture seems full of trouble for Fran
| cisco Villa.
| General Funston officially stated to
night that American troops will mas:
! through Mexican cities and town
when such passage is necessary, blu
! viii not encamp nor occupy them In ;
military sense. It was pointed on
that there would be no military ad
| vantage in occupying towns and tina