Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-19
VILLA NEAR SAN
GERONIMO WITH
A LARGE w.. .....s .','ii
Bandit and Considerable Force Re-
ported to Be Making Their
Way to Namiquipa, in
West Chihuahua.
IN THE VICINITY OF MADEIRA
Message to Douglas from Commander
Of One of Csrranza's Columns
to the South.
MUCH AMMUNITION HID IN HILLS

DOUGLAS, Arlz., March 1S.-
Francisco villa and large number
of his bandits have been located near
San Geronimo. Chihuahua, and are
making their way to NamiQuipa, in
western Chihuahua, near the town
of MADEIRA, according to a telegram
received here today by Ives G. Lele-
vier, consul of the de facto Mexican
government. The message was from
General Luis Gutierrez, commander
of one of the Carranza columns op-
Grating near Chihuahua City.
General Gutierrez said that villa
was enroute to Namiquipa, ten miles
south of Las Cruces, where Villa was
located in earlier advices to General
Gavira at Juarez, to recover a guam
tity of ammunition which he left
there several months ago.
Has shells Cached.
1t was said by local Mexicans that
villa has not less than 100000 rounds
Of ammunition cached in various parts
of Chihuahua. These shells and powder
were made by Villa, they said, in his
Chihuahua munitions factory during last
year
The message from General Gutierrez
did not contain any information as to
the size of the cache at Namiquipa, nor
was there any local Information concern
ing the amount Of ammunition hidden
there.
Lieutenant Colonel Dato Campbell, in
command Of Carranza troops guarding
the mountain passes along the Sonora
Chihuahua state line, arrived I'm Aqua
Prieta last night and held a conference
today with General p, Elias Gales, mill
tary governor of Sonora.
Colonel Campbell came to Aqua Prieta
to confer with General Gales concern
ing the disposition OF his troops and to
obtain new supply of food and car
tridges. He stated that he believed that
Villa would not be able to enter Sonora
and at the same time said that in his
opinion the United states troops would
have much difficulty in capturing the
bandit chief.
Sees Gales.
Campbell reported that villa was in
Galeana, Chihuahua. last Monday go
ried Off ali available supplies.
The colonel said that while the Amer
lean troops were searching for villa in
the mountains in western chihuahua the
bandits likely would conduct raids along
or near the Texas border in the eastern
part OF the Mexican state.
Pershing Continues March.
SAN ANTONIO. Tex, March 1s.-Gen-
eral Funston this afternoon had received
no official confirmation of the arrival
at Casas Grandes of a part OF the ex-
pedtlonary force. but he assumed the
correctness of the report. General
Pershing's west column, under Colonel
Dodd, had Casas Grandes as it's imme-
date objective. but It's arrival last night
was a surprise to those at headquarters
who had not believed II likely that the
distance would be covered so quickly.
The main column, according TO the lat
est reports from General Pershing, was
continuing its march without Interrupt
ton, not far northwest from the advanced
cavalry force.
The work of organizing the additional
forces that have been sent into Texas
and New Mexico along the border was
continued today. From many places near
the border. where the population is
largely Mexican. appeals for the protec-
tion OF troops have been made, but these
appeals have been based on no overt hos
tile act Of the Mexicans.
The garrison at Nogaies will not be
materially weakened. although the re-
moval of one company of infantry
brought a protest to General Funston.