The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1916-03-30
SCOUTS EMPLOYED
TO TRAIL BANDITS
Washington Thinks That Cam
.paign Will End Quickly Un.
less Villa Flees.

paign will end quickly, but It is be
lieved that II he leaves his followers
he can reach a haven Of safety from
his present probable whereabouts In
less than days riding.
In the Guerrero district and In the
country adjacent to Babrlcora, Villa
is at home. For years he operated
there In defiance OF the laws of Mex.
leo and its constituted authorities. The
mountains TO the west offer countless
hiding places and routes Of escape. II
hard pressed. villa. officials believe,
might abandon his men, don the garb
of peon and flee so far into the south
that II would be exceedingly difficult,
IL not impossible. to apprehend him.
Scouts Know Country.
To meet this situation. General
Pershing. II was learned. has decided
TO employ men as scouts who have
| lived all their lives in these noun
tains. These men know the hiding
places and retreats In which the ban.
dts are sure TO take refuge. n hard
pressed. On them as final resort.
will fall the task OF trailing villa to
earth. Elaborate scouting plans are
understood to have been completed.
The war department has. at the re-
quest OF the state department. sent ex.
pliclt instructions to the forces In
Mexico not to occupy Mexican towns.
Such occupation. Il 10 said. might have
the result OF stirring up resentment
among the Mexicans.
Army Bill Ready For Amendments.
With virtually unanimous declara-
tons for national preparedness. the
house army.increase bill reached the
amendment stage after 10 hours OF
general debate. Tho house began dis
cusslon OF details In earnest Monday.
but there are Indications that opposi-
ton TO the measure as n change in ma.
tlonal policy has collapsed. No op-
ponent appeared during the debate
except Meyer London. the socialist
representative from New York.
The senate's army bill also came
up Monday. with administration lead.
ers urging that the senate sidetrack
all other business until II Ia disposed
OF.
Interest centered In President vii.
sens attitude as between these two
measures. which differ essentially,
Bill Called presidents own"
Chairman Hay. OF the house mill.
tary committee. described the house
bill during debate as "the presidents
own bill"
President Wilson let Il be known
that. while he approves the general
features Of the Hay bill. he has not
committed himself as TO Its details.
Administration officials are looking 10
the conference committee which will
adjust the house aud senate bills after
passage 20 produce a measure which
will have the presidents full approval.
Speaker Clark closed the general de.
bate in the house. expressing approval
OF the Hay bill and declaring II was
satisfactory 10 the average American
and as good as could be expected In
the circumstances. The nation as a
whole. he said. wished to hold a mid.
die course.
Air Riches Are Sought.
Three government plants for taking
nitrogen from the air for fertilizer.
munitions OF war and the arts. we're
recommended to the senate agricul.
tural committee by Thomas II. Norton.
former consul at Chemnitz. Germany.
where he had made a close study OF
nitrogen manufacture. He was at
tached 20 the bureau OF foreign and
domestic commerce.
DR.. Norton recommended one plant
near the intersection OF Georgia, North
Carolina and Tennessee. 10 be reason
ably free from a southern invasion OF
a hostile army and near cheap water
power.
A slightly larger plant he recon-
mended In western Pennsylvania, 10
which place power could be conducted
from Niagara. To avoid high freight
rates on nitric acid, he recommended
third plant $50 miles distant from
the Pacific littoral.
Senators Vote to Assure MeSleans.
A concurrent resolution by Senator
LaFollette, declaring that congress ap-
proved the use of the army TO pursue
villa and giving further assurances
that the sovereignty of Mexico was
not to be encroached on by the punt
tive expedition, was adopted unani-
mously without debate by the senate.