The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-03-24

MormonS, who have been in peril Of
Villa for more than a week have beer
received here. Colonia Dublan and
| Casas Grandes are sixty miles as the
crow flies from the New Mexican Dor
der at San Bernardino, where Colonel
| Dodd's cavalry entered Mexico. The
road from the Mormon colony into
the Galean's district is well defined
and so far as known is open to q
quick dash after Villa.
Trained to Build Bridges.
UNITED Press Dispatch
Columbus, Mexico, March 1S.-
Troops are being trained here to con-
struct bridges and do other work
along that line. This practice is in
preparation for the Mexican expedi-
ton.
San Antonio, Texas, March 49,
Late reports from the interior OF
Mexico bring the news that the van
guard of the American cavalry under
Colonel Dodd and the force led in
person by Villa are only thirty miles
apart in the Galena district or farther
south. 1t is expected that news of a
clash between the two forces will be
heard very soon.
The wholesale deportation Of MeXi-
cans of Southern New Mexico, Arizona
and California, and Western Texas,
who are openly hostile to the United
States, and are likely to stir up Sc
rious trouble at any time, is said to
he intended by the government. 1t
is thought that the malcontents will
be taken 10 Cuba. <..
Fresh Troops Started.
Colonel Cushing is reported to have
started out from Columbus with a
fresh body of American troops TO re-
inforce the punitive expedition. He is
following up the line of march of the
main body under General Pershing.
Colonel Cushings force is bringing
a big supply of munitions of war,
food and other necessaries. He has
twenty big new auto trucks with
these supplies. He is making well
established line of communication
with the base of supplies at Column
bus. Along this line of communica-
ton he is establishing telephone and
telegraph lines SentrieS and scout
ing parties are distributed here and
there and patrolmen are at hand to
guard the line. The telephone and
telegraph lines are being laid at the
rate of two miles an hour, most
rate for that sort of work.
1t is intended to have good automo-
bile road in such condition that SUP
plies can be rushed to the main body
of the army at any time from the
United States. Another important
feature is the supply of water. The
water supplies of Mexico cannot be
depended upon in all regions. The
auto trucks must rush great tank
loads of water along the line of march
for the use of the troops.
Ell Paso, Texas, March 18.-Mili-
tary critics here look on Torreon as
the powder house of Northern Mexico
is about to explode it. Both the
United States and the CarranZa
authorities are taking every precau-
ton to smooth over the feelings of
the ignorant classes of Mexicans.
The reports of concessions by the
United States have been spread in
dnstrially by the Carranza author
tiles, in the hope of allaying the
dangerously prevalent feeling of hos
tility to the United States. Mr.. Will
liams, the American consul who has
left Torreon, is reported to have been
detained at Laredo. He has wired to
she state department at Washington,
this report. .-a.
Berne, Switzerland, March lS.-
General Specher Won Bermegg, chief
of staff Of the Swiss army, in an in
terview with representative of The
United Press today, declared that in
his opinion the United States needed
commanders along the Mexican Dor
der with full power to direct their
troops and take action, without con-
sulting the home government at
The general said only
thus could efficient action be secured
to meet the situation promptly as it
developed. The general has been
quite a student of American military
affairs. He declared that on the Pa
cific coast it was. absolutely necessary
LII lilc OIlllcO foIdICS u nave q meet
stronger than the Japanese navy. He
believed also that America should
train her young men to be soldiers
in manner somewhat like the Swiss
system, though the Swiss system as
it was would not do in every respect
for the needs of America. For exam
pie, when the raid was made on Co
lumbus by the Mexican bandits, I'M
der the Swiss system the commander
of the American forces at Columbus
could not have struck blow in de-
Tense of the town, without getting
permission from the officer who
would be analogous to the canton
commander -.-
Washington, March 1S.-Both hous-
es of congress were today busy in
framing up measures to increase the
size of the American ayny and to
provide otherwise for the national
defense. In the house the Hay bill
was under consideration. Congress-
man James Hay of Virginia declared
that this bill had the endorsement of
of the administration. Congressman
James r. Mann of Illinois declared
that the. measure was entirely made :
quate. He said what that bill pro-
vided would do well enough in time