New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-14
Assumes Command OF
Main Column That viii
Enter Mexico.
tn MAKE MARCH
ACROSS DESERT
Force Expected To Be Ready
for Start Thursday or
Friday.

c,lumbus. y. NJ, March l5.-ApproX-
,n,,sly 10000 troops. with forty noun
-, and field gun batteries, were on
=, border tonight between Douglas
A., and FL Paso. line about 200
IL. long 4 little more than one
.,,rd Of this force was cavalry.
General John !. Pershing arrived
&c Tonight from Fl Paso and as
,umed immediate command Of troops
,lreasy concentrated here for the puni-
i've expedition into Mexico.
From q camp Of few hundred men
Columbus to-day grew to a military
Establishment Of nearly $500, with in
d;,stiors that about 1000 men are TO
\. concentrated here Immediately. Fur
.hs- evidence that this point may be
n, starting place OF the largest col
nm, in immediate pursuit Of Villa ap-
,,.,sd in the erection OF headquarters
-, prigsdier General John J. Pershing,
vbo Msior General Funston announced
,o.dsv would be the leader Of the expe-
ditionsry force.
Officers here talked Of march
,,raigh, southwark in pursuit Of Villa.
Troop movements seemed to bear out
reports that, while the Columbus col
unn is striking south, another move
nsnt will be made from the vicinity Of
81 Paso. snd 8 third from the Arizona
line somewhere near Douglas. Both the
81 Psso and Douglas movements would
bs able 70 follow railroad lines, while
he central column from here would
rave 70 20 overland across desert
To start Thursday or Friday.
Belief here tonight was that the
Columbus column would be ready TO
tart By Thursday or Friday. lntelli-
eenee department officers secured maps
and topography charts Of the noun
famous Chihuahua Sonora border into
which it seems possible for Villa to en-
Ter easily, with his present start.
Villas position to-day. according 70
reports received By General Pablo Ber-
,sni. in command Of 1000 soldiers just
across the Mexican border from here,
rss stil near Corrsltos, where he
stopped more than two days ago.
Troop trains bearing cavalryE.en, IN
.sntrymen. artillery, signal and hospital
attachments and several trainlOads Of
freight unioaded here to-day. Lum-
bering gray army wagons rumbled al
isy through clouds OF dust. Zach wagon
piled high with supplies, such a. arms.
nunitons. knapsacks, boxes OF uni
forms. shoes. blankets, forage and food.
In the town Of Columbus the conduct;
o. Mexicans who are strangers wa,
closely watched. This work was rem
dsred delicate By the large numbers Of
NsXioans who are American citizens ~
birth, and among whom the newcomers
we're difficult 70 distinguish. One pros
porous American ranchman Of HERNIA
ras. who comes OF a Mexican family,
vas taken into custody before MS iden-
lily vas established.
To Be Main Unit of Expedition.
Several other commands are expect
I'd. the plan apparently being 70 make
the column 20 move out OF Columbus
ne main unit Of the eXpeditio9ary
force. With field wireless and aero
plane equipment.
Organizations now here arc eight
troops Of the 18th Cavalry. with tie
arst squadron en- route from Maria,
Tex and other border points cas-;
ne 9Th ard 10th regiments Of in
tsntry, three companies Of the fr Z
battalion Of the goth Infantry. Bat
ieries A, \ and e. composing twelve
mountain guns. OF the 4th Field Ar
nllery: Battery Of the 9Th Field Ar
nllery, field wireless organization. ic'i
hospital and ambulance
Il vas reported tonight that IN ad-
iiuon % me lst. 9th, 10th and llth
fesments Of cavalry. TWO souadrons
d the 18th would be dispatched here
~ once. Another report stated that