White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1916-03-17
OUR SOLDIERS NOW
HUNT GENERALV|L
HE AND FOLLOWERS MURDER &c
CITIZENS OF THE AMERICAN
BORDER TOWN.
WILL GET HIM DEAD OR ALIVE
President Wilson Orders Gen. Funston
and Army to Penetrate Mexico
President carranza Says, go
to It," and Wants to Help.

Washington, March 12.-General
Funston, under orders from President
Wilson to hunt down Villas bandit
army in northern Mexico, is moving
his troops at the border behind a veil
of rigid secrecy.
War department officials, who had
given the border commander free
hand in working out details Of the ex-
petition, made it clear that they re-
garded it imperative to success that
all information which might aid Villa
in Guiding the American forces must
be guarded scrupulously.
Drive Quick and Sure.
1t was apparent only that the mill
tary plans contemplated a drive into
Mexico that should be both quick and
certain. The war department is will
ing to take no chances by weakening
the border patrol, and General Fun
ston's orders were not to move until
he was fully prepared.
While extensive troop movements
were in progress along the border
during the day, the state department
received from General CarranZa, head
of the de facto government Of Mexico,
request for permission to send his
troops, should occasion arise, across
the border into the United States in
pursuit of the bandits.
". s. Force is $500 Men.
1t is generally expected that the
American forces, which probably will
number in the neighborhood of $500
men, will be we'll on the trail of the
bandits this week who raided Colum-
bus. One of the chief causes Of delay
has been the necessity of replacing
with infantry the cavalry troops that
nave been performing border patrol
duty. Movements Of troops has been
in progress ever since General Fun
ston received his orders to catch Viii
la, but their exact nature may not be
known for several days.
WILSON'S course InoOrSeo.
Discussion in congressional circles
indicates further that congress
stands squarely behind the president
In his determination to run down the
| Villa marauders.
carranza Proposal Favorable.
Administration officials received
General Carranza's proposal as favor
able. 1t seems to indicate that he will
not protest against American troops on
Mexican soil as has been feared. Prac
tically such a reciprocal arrangement
probably would never result in a single
Carranza soldier crossing the line, as
the possibility of bandits taking ref
uge in American territory is consider
ed remote.
1t is realized that such an arrange
ment, however, would go far to salts
fly General Carranza and permit him
to comply with popular sentiment in
Mexico.
The Reason.
Columbus, N. M.-The bandit Villa
has moved southwest toward the So
nora state border in the general direc
ton of the Ell Tigre mining district.
Troopers of the Thirteenth cavalry
which beat off Villas raid on Colum
bus March are fully prepared tc
move into Mexico at moments no
tice.
The town, in contrast to the nerv'
BUSINESS which bordered on panic on
March TO-, was calm and quiet when
darkness fell and the Thirteenth reg.
mental band resumed its concerts.
Fifty-Nine Chase Army.
Colonel H. j. Slocum's general re-
port on Villas attempted invasion
showed as it's outstanding feature that
Villa, with from 1900 to $500 men, was
chased from the border Is miles into
Mexico by SO officers and men OF
troops f and H, under Major Frank
Tompkins. This force fought four &C.
tons with Villas rear guard of at
least 900 men, killed at least rs Mexi.
cans, recovered a number of horses
stolen from the cavalry by the bandits
and emerged with the loss of only two
mounts killed and with no casualties
During the pursuit, which Major
Tompkins could not continue without
rest and reenforcements, the Next
cans, apparently badly disorganized
and fearful of a chase by the entire
American force, abandoned large
quantities of loot stolen from the mer.
chants of Columbus The army corral
here was crowded with cavalry and
transport animals captured from Villa.