New Britain herald., 1916-04-18
Attack on Cavalrymen at Parral Reason for Persh- ing's Action in Postponing Further Chase of Villa Advance Detachments Are Reported Recalled.
CONTINUANCE WOULD
 SURELY BE OPPOSED

SURELY BE OPPOSED Shippers Busy Trying to Pick Off
 American Soldiers and General
 Hostility of Natives Causes Leader
 of Expedition to Halt for the Pres
 ent-SoIdiers Will Rendezvous at
 Three Places.
 ! Camp of General J. J. Pershing at the Front, April IT, by Motor and Wireless to Columbus, N M., April 18.-The American pursuit of Villa is at a standstill because of the un- provoked attack upon American cavalrymen by the insubordinate sol diers of the Carranza garrison at Parral.
 A small party of American soldiers was fired upon near here last night, none of the Americans heinz injured. This. coming on the heels of other reports of sniping, is responsible for the belief that the expeditionary com- mand is confronted with a serious problem.
 At General Pershing's headquar- ters there seemed no prospect of the resumption of the chase. There were numerous indications that a con- tinuation of the pursuit would meet with armed resistance.
 A report received here from Car ranza sources that a Villa colonel, captured near Cusihuiriachic had promised to lead party to grave in which Villa was said to have been buried last Friday, is generally dis credited by military authorities here. Advance Column Reported Recalled.
 El Paso, Tex, April 18.-Reports were received here today from Mexl- can sources that the American ad- vance attachments had been recalled by General J. J. Pershing and that the expeditonary force was being concentrated in three places, a strong detachment being encamped near Eatevo, the main column near Nam1- uuipa, and a third division at Colonia Dublan.
 These reports also stated that the Parral fighting had a most unfortun- Bte effect on the people of northern Mexico and had greatly inf1amed the anti-American feeling. The Parral Incident, it was said, had been maN- nified by anti-American and anti Carranza agitators into a great battle i'll which the Americans were badly beaten. The Mexican dead were ac counted for as unarmed citizens who had been killed by the Americans be- fore the Parral garrison could inter fere.
 People Greatly Excited.
 The excitement of the people had been very much increased, according to the same reports, by their know iedge that Villa, dead or alive, had never gone as far south as Parral and their consequent inability to un- derstand why the American cavalry men were in that district except on the assumption that they were really invading Mexico.
 The misery of the peons, ravagad by disease and facing starvation, is making it more difficult than ever for the authorities to keep them in con- tro1 it is said. They have been taught so long to regard the Amerl- rans as their enemies and the cause If most of their woes that it is an Fasv matter for the agitatOrs to rouse - thepo against the United States sol Eiers.
 The failure of the Mexican officials here and in Juarez to obtain any con- hrnoation in two days of the reported discovery of the body of Villa has almost extinguished hopes here of the report being true.
 The situation of the American troops and fears of another incident such as that at Parral have com r1eteIy overshadowed the pursuit Of the bandit. The one question of in terest here is as to whether the American troops are to be recalled.