Evening star., 1916-03-29
CARRANZA TROOPS SEEM
TO HAVE NO TRACE OF HIM
De Facto Government Officials at
Juarez Have Ceased to Receive
Reports About Brigand.
MAY GATHER LARGE FORCE
Outlaw Expected to Concentrate In
dependent Bands and Then Begin
Extensive Marauding Campaign
and Give Expedition Trouble.


Ell PASO. Tex. March 90
The hunt for Francisco Villa BY
the flying columns of American
cavalry continued relentlesSly to-
dav. but from the meaSerness OF
the official dispatches from Gen
Pershin2s ; advanced base it was
impossible to learn the position OF
the American troops and how Tar
they were in the rear of the flee
ing bandits. Villa was last heard
of heading southwark toward the
Tarahunare mountain country,
his command driving their Mexi-
can ponies at full speed and be-
ing closely pressed by the Amer-
can troopers.
Commanders OF the Carranza
troops now in the Chihuahua re-
gion apparently have lost trace
OF Villa and his men. for no re-
port has been received by Mexi-
can officials here for some time
concerning the bandit 5 where
abouts.
operat ting Around Torreon.
Armed bands of villa forces are re-
ported in various parts Of Chihuahua
and in some numbers around Torreon.
but they are operating independently
of the main Villa command.
Carranza officials in Juarez express
their belief that Villa will try to es-
ra blish a main base at some point after
he has thrown the American cavalry
off his trail and then recruit his com
msnd to one Of larger proportions from
tho hands now rowing about the south
ern chihuahua district villa, the Car
rama officers think. will then engage
IN a maraudine campaign that wouIu
give the American and CarranZa FORCES
no end of trouble.
ARMY officers here do not belleNe
Villa will ever make stand ana hsh'
the American cavalry, hut VIII con.
,inue in flight until he escapes OF Us
cornered.
Speculate Along the Border.
In the absence Of any official news cf
tho chase. the border has settled down
to speculation. based on such slim facts
AS are brought back to the nited states
bv American mining men and ranchers
who stra gele i'll here
Americans familiar with Mexico are
almost unanimous in their opinion tha'
the troops of the north. operating IN An
unfamiliar country and riding the corn
fed horses of the plains. are tremendously
ba ,,dicappetl against the Mexican bandits
on their mountain bred ponies. II is NOT
q question of nerve or courage ~ II
problem of climatic. topographic ano other
natural conditions against Whicn the
stoutest heart and strongest muscles are
practically helpless.
Saws Americans Are Handicapped.
An American raucher who is familiar
with the country through which villa
is retreatiug expressed the following
view of the situation today:
81 have known Francisco Villa for
a,,y wears" he said For many
wears | was the only white man IN the
country in which he lived. 1 know ms
habits. his processes of mind ana the
Ia ra hunlara Indians. among Wnom ne
is at present | have very little nope
that the American cavalry can ever
catch him now that he has. presum-
ably. fifty or more miles start OF II
Villa and his men, mounted on tnelr
Mexican ponies. can traNei iorIH 'i'ie
3, day with ease and fifty miles III
All his men need is little dried
heaf and some cornmeal With TINS ana
a blanket strapped behind tne'r sac
dies they can travel indefinitely. Com
mar. this with the equipment Of an
american trooper. who makes thirty
Ave miles day at best.
Tarahumares Will Help Villa.
The Tarahumare Indians Will not
give the slightest assistance TO the
=. americans, but they dig up their last
Grain of corn wheat for villa. More
han that. they will give him speedier
about pursuers than the
fastest horseman could give. There is
no horse that could keep pace with
these Indians in that country. nave
often sent one of them from my ranch
tn Ninaca distance of eighty-two
miles He could start in the evening
and reach Mnaca the next morning.
il is almost impossible to tire them,
and all they need for subsistence is
title ball of dried meat that they carry
with them.
Another difficulty is that there In
practically no water in that country
low, and what little there is will he
iried up soon. There may be a few
showers in May. but there will be moth
ng like what is needed for large
,ody of troops until after June 20. the
late when the real rain begins"
Difficulties of the Aviators.
The rancher was asked what differ
.nce he thought the introduction of
,eroplanes in the chase was going to
make.