The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1916-03-25
MORE j. s. TROOPS
CALLED TO HUNT
VILLA IN MEXICO
General Funston Sends Request
to Washington.
OUTLAW BANDS MAY. ATTACK
General Persi1ine Must Keep His Line
Of Communication open-Vil'a
Forced Into New Battle by
Carranza Forces.

San Antonio, Tex, March 22.-Gens
eral Funston considered the Mexican
, situation so serious that he asked
Washington for more troops.
The rapid advance of General
Pershing's expedition has placed it so
far from it's border base that addi.
tional soldiers are Immediately re-
quired to protect his dangerously
thin" line of communication, explained
General Funston, announcing the fact
of a call On the war department for
re-enforeements:
Within a day or two, due to the ex-
ceedingly rapid. advance being made
by the American cavalry, General
Pershing's' Communication line will be
200 miles long. p.
Fear Outlaw Bands.
1t. was. stated at army headquarters
that additional troops are needed not
only ais a protection against sudden
rear-guarU action by Viilistas but
against any parties" who might care
to make trouble for the American ex-
peditionery force.
General Funston declined to stats
whom he regarded as possible ene-
mics In addition to Villa bandits.
The only fear expressed at head
quarters was not that any one Of the
detachments had suffered misfortune,
but that Villa might again have eluded
his pursuers
General Funston announced that
the Fifth cavalry, of which one squad
ron is at. Fort Meyer, Va, another at
.ort Leavenworth, Kan, and the third
at Fort Sheridan, ILL.,, would be
brought to the border at once anG
sent out along General Pershing's line
Of communication.
New Clash Due Soon. J.,
The last reports received here told
of Villas encounter with C,arranza's
forces near Namiquipa. II Villa de-
feated the Mexican government
troops, it was regarded as probable
that he had continued his movement
On into the south, where he might
remain unmolested for. some time.
Villa was reported defeated by Car
rama forces at Cruces, just south of
Ell Vale, and to have retreated into
the Santa Clara mountains.
American troops have been dis
patched to the vicinity where Villa
was reported as, fighting with the con-
stitutionalists, according to the Co.
lumbus wireless
The Americans went in separate
flying column. 1t is understood that
constltutionalist troops have been dis
patched to the same neighborhood to
cooperate in attempting to trap
Villa. A separate column of Ameri-
can troops has been sent to the vicin-
lty OF Cruces, where Villa was re-
ported.
More Cavalry Needed.
The additional troops requested the
number and exact composition Of
which later will be announced by the
war department, will consist of cav
airy and infantry and possibly some
artillery. There are now 10000 fed
eral soldiers in General Funstons de-
partment Of the southwest, but of
these only q portion are available for
foreign service, the great majority be-
ing used for border patrol. Five thou
sand are in the Brownsville district
alone
General Funston's latest informa-
ton as to Villas whereabouts locates
the bandit in the region about Cruces.
According 20 headquarters, Pershing's
rapid advance had taken him out of
touch with his temporary base at
Casas Grandes.
Get Request in Washington.
Washington. March 22-Brig. Gen.
Pershing has asked for more infantry
to keep open the lines of communica-
ton behind his flying columns. Ma
jOr General Funston has forwarded the
request to the war department and it
has been taken under consideration.
Villa ia New Battle.
FL Paso, Tex, March 22.-Francisco
Villa and his band OF outlaws have
been forced into another battle with
the Carranza troops near Las Cruces.
This information came as a report by
wireless to the United States army
station at Columbus, N. NJ, and it was
further said that American troops had
been dispatched to Las Cruces to aid
in the fighting.
The fighting at. Las Cruces follow
ing the engagement at Namiquipa in
dictated that the Carranza troops are
pressing Villa hard in his flight north
ward along the Santa Maria river and
that the outlaw soon may be forced to
stand and give battle to the American
troops now moving southwark.
Draw cQrdon Close,
The American and de facto govern
ment, troops are drawing the Gordon
closer around the elusive Villa and