The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1916-03-18
TO CAPTURE VILLA
Object of Punitive Expedition ''-Rela-
tions With Mexican Government Crit
cal-Troops Entering Upon Long
Campaign, General Belief

Campaign, General Belief
The raiding Of the town of Columbus,
New Mexico, on March 9, has brought
border affairs, in the Mexican situation,
to crisis. Seldom has the American pub
lie been wrought up to such pitch of ex-
citement and indignation, as during the
past week. This outrage, following with
in few weeks after the massacre, by
Mexican bandits, of 16 Americans, at
Santa Ysabel, in the state of Chihuhua,
has, at last, caused President Wilson to
take decisive action.
Early on the morning Of March 8, a
band Of Mexican bandits, under the per-
sonal leadership of General Pancho Villa,
estimated at from 500 to 800 crossed the
international border, under cover Of dark
ness, and attacked the town of Columbus.
People were shot down in their own door
ways, as they attempted to escape. The
torch was applied, and hotel, as well as
a considerable number of residences, were
burned to the ground.
American soldiers, stationed at the place,
soon got into action, and a. lively fight
followed, during which shouts of "Viva,
Villa and FtDeath to Americans, were
intermingled with the shots. The bandits
were soon driven back across the border,
leaving more than twenty Of their number
dead on the field.
A company of American cavalrymen
quickly followed in pursuit, but failed to
overtake the willy Mexican leader, who is
familiar with every gulch and gully OF that
wild and broken region.
According to personal documents, be-
longing to General Villa, found later, in
Columbus, on the scene of action, the
bandit chief had decided last October to
wage war on Americans, the step being
decided upon in revenge, Immediately fol
lowing the recognition, by the United
States, Of the Carranza de facto govern
ment.
Very shortly after news of the Columbus
outrage reached Washington, President
Wilson decided to send United States
troops into Mexico on punitive expedi-
ton" against Villa, the capture and ex-
termination of his band being its sole
object.
The President, however, acting with his
usual caution and deliberation, first re-
quested the consent of General Carranza,
president of the de facto government OF
Mexico. This was granted with the pro-
vision that Carranza troops be permitted
to enter American territory at any time,
in pursuit Of these bandits In note
from Washington, on March 13, this re-
ciprocal right Of invasion, was readily
given.
1t seems to be the sincere desire of
President Carranza to maintain the peace
full relations between his government and
the United States, but whether he will be
able to control his followers, the rank and
file Of whom are illiterate and half Wild
in case of American invasion, is question
Hatred for the "gringoes, among Mexi
can poems, is said to be intense, and it is
feared by many, that if Mexican soil is
invaded, all factions will Immediately
unite to repel what they regard as the
common enemy This would result in out
right armed intervention on the part of
the United States, designed to restore
order and a stable government throughout
Mexico.
It is the general opinion that the Ameri
can troops entering Mexican soil, have a
long, hard task before them, in any event
A great advantage possessed by Villa, is.
that practically every Mexican in the
country which he infests, will aid him in
every possible way. He will never lack
for information as to where the American
forces are, or as to what they are doing
On the other hand, it is probable that these
ignorant and prejudiced poems will lie to
the American soldiers, and give them as
much miSinformation as possible.
The administration at Washington, how
ever, is inclined to look at the situation in
a hopeful light Secretary Lansing has
issued statement declaring that the
military operations now in contemplation
will be scrupulously confined to the object
Of hunting down the bandits, and that
under no circumstances, will the move
ments be suffered to infringe, in any de-
gree, upon the sovereignty of Mexico.