New Britain herald., 1916-03-14
START OF EXPEDITION INTO MEXICO A MATTER OF HOUH VILLA THOUGHT SURROUND
Pershing Leaves for Columbus Where 4 United States Troops are Ready for
 Pursuit of Bandit
CARRANZA SOLDIERS REPORTED
 TO HAVE ENCIRCLED FUGIT

pairing for Battle With 1T
 Force in Narrow Mountain
 Frontier Shows Nervous S
 Dogs as Carriers of Messages
 Trucks for Desert Passage.
 Fl Paso. Texas. March 14.- dier General John J. PershinS manding the American eXpedi force into Mexico, left here on bound train last night, and sii departure military authorities refused all information about h
 General Pershing's train wa to be going to Columbus, N. M.s today some 4,000 men of the ' peditionary force are in readin the dash after Villa.
 Francisco Vilal, heading sout Galeana, Is now encircled by Ca troops, according to advices iron eral Luis Gutierrez, commans chief of Chihuahua today. WI teen thousand men in Chihual1sl heavy endorsements on thei1 he thinks Villa has small chaI escape.
 Embargo on News.
 Soon after General PershingI parture last night, the mass tailed information which had pouring in for several days numerous border points west of about details of troop movement completely stopped. This was I with the policy forecast by ml authorities to keep secret an. portant troop movements.
 No information reached here how soon movements in force De expected. General Funst0nI nouncement last night that th| petition was awaiting only the ing of adequate border patrols di serve to clear up the questiol when the troops will enter, fo though considerable information been obtained about the gatherfl units for the expeditionary col the military authorities have lively concealed their pTepara for maintenance of a secondary for patrol duty along the Anne border.
 [ Overnight reports placed Villa at Galeana, where he had shifte men yesterday. His present pos is still within striking distance o colony of Mormons about Grandes.
 Carranza troops are being gatl in considerable force at va points. No figures were availab to the total number gathering $ of Villas position. |
 Villa Preparing to Resist.
 Official reports say that a cumstantial story reached here from Mexican sources to the that Villa had once more cha his plans and intended making stand against the American pun expedition at Ojitos Pass, the ma gap in the western Chihuahua ras through which he made his derous dash on Columbus. Amer familiar with the country assert the Ojitos Pass is admirably ada for a successful defense if Villa ly intends to risk an open eng ment with the American troops does not care to use guerrilla tics.
 All night long sensational rel came into this city from val points along the border but neara lack confirmation. The most def came from Naco, Ariz. For $ days reports have reached here the border near Naco of heavy tn ments of Carranza troops under Gales. Early today it was asse that a considerable number of [ troops were showing increased ! tility towards Americans and m even espouse the cause of Villa. United States military author were sufficiently aroused by | stories to rush endorsements to garrison at Naco.
 Nervous Strain on Frontier.
 The frontier country between and Columbus is showing unmis able signs of the nervous strain has been increasing in tension $ the Columbus raid. The scatt hamlets which mark this section sisting generally of half a q houses occupied by railroad fore and section hands have sent reql to the military officials for protec
 Stories of the activities of agents have poured into Fort and many have been received by civil authorities. several arrests been made and others expected to follow. One such S IS to the effect that the Villa syn -hizers are using dogs to send 3ages and information across border. The man who brought story is an American living on border close to this city. He le had seen one dog with a rol papers tied around his neck rum