Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-18
CATTLEMEN OFFER
$4,000 FOR VILLA
Huge Reward for Bandit Dead OF
Alive, stirs Poems in North
ern Mexico.
NEW CITY RISES AT COLUMBUS

COLUMBUS, N. NJ, March IT,
tBy Messenger to III Paso. Two
half sQuadrons OF cavalry left tho
expeditionary main base here today,
striking in westerly direction
Whether they were intended TO re-
inforce the punitive columns was
not known, One report indicated
that they were going out to help
protect the line OF communications
of that portion Of the expedition
under Colonel Dodd. which three
days ago circled to the westward
fifty miles from here and entered
Mexico about the same time with
the main column which went di-
rectly south from here.
Troop trains over night swelled
the Columbus cam to what is said to
be nearly the size of the original ex-
pedition. Heavy construction work
of many varieties was under way to-
night and new city was rising with
almost visible progress to become
80 bNuNs
March t. Quiet.
The report that several men on outpost
duty with the expedition had been
wounded by snipers has not been con-
firmed here. II il significant that the
soldiers about camp who come into COM
munication with returning relays OF
transport drivers receive informati6a
which leads them 20 believe the march
has been quiet thus far.
Except for this occasional gossip and
the secret dispatches coming over tho
wire the men OF the expedition out some
where In northern Chihuahua are com
pletely out of communication Of any sort
with even their comrades at this base.
The body OF First Lieutenant Edward
NJ. zell OF the Eleventh cavalry, who
killed himself here yesterday, was today
sent to Baltimore for burial. One OF tho
chaplains, who was on intimate terms
with zell, said that he had worried for
fear his troop was not up TO standard In
disclpline Lieutenant zeli's troop was
said by brother officers to be among the
best.
When Lieutenant Zsl alighted from a
troop train In Columbus and had Rased
for a moment over the gray. desert-iike
wastes about town. he exclaimed, Great
Godl IA this Columbus. New Mexico9''
His fellow officers paid little attention
TO the remark until few minutes later
they heard a shot and found him. dead
with wound In the head. .isa
Offer RewaSd fsr villa.
Reliable reports hero Indicate that soma
Of thc large ranchlng and cattle Intarests
on the Mexican side OF the border here
have offered reward OF $4,000 for villa,
dead or alive. officers here today said
they had reason 10 believe that news Of
this immense reward had caused com.
motion among the poems who have heard
or IL IN northern Mexico.
Life AZ this military hase was animated
and pictnresdue today. The roar of aero
planes over head was matched by the
rumble OF pounding hoofs as mountain
batteries and cavalry troops sped over
the hard rocky soil OF nearby hills on
practice marches designed to pus the last
touch Of physical condition into tho walt
ing organizations.
Here At least the border has lost all
thought Of apprehension that the Car
rama party in Mexico viii cause trouble
The feeling OF security seems 10 be based
more on the army's comforting presence
than on any reports OF what IL transpir-
ing across the border, II 10 notable. how
ever. that numerous Mexicans have come
into the base direct from Mexico, volun-
teering much apparently useful informa-
uon about the eouutry which the troops
VIII march through. These Mexloans say
that they believe all political factions In
Mexico. except the villlstas, will welcome
the presence Of the Americans once their
peaceful intentions are thoroughly real
ised. They emphasize that what Next
cans now desire is peace so long as their
Independence IL not threatened.
REGARD for Horses.
The troopers respect for a horse vas
shown here today when II became neces-
sary 70 kill more than forty wounded and
worthless mounts, which had been cap
tured from the viilistas. The rifle squad
put thees animals out OF their misery.
but before that the csvslrymen led the
em0ciated beasts TO the American stables,
peted them, cornmiserated with them on
their hard luck. old boy. and gave them
final satisfying feed before their
deaths.
From their appearance these animals
mad been ridden merciiessly by the villa
band. Their hides had been worn through
In. some places.
II was learned today the shot, which
l.NIn