The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-03-23
MORE ]. S. i % Y.
CALLED TO HUNT
VILLA IN MEXICO
General Funston Sends Request
b to Washington.
OUTLAW BANDS May ATTACK
General Pershlng Must Keep His Line
Of Communication open-NiIla
Forced Into New Battle by
Carranza Forces.

eral Funston considered the Mexican
situation so serious that he asked
Washington for more troops,
The rapid advance of General
Pershing's expedition has placed 1t 80
! far from it's border base that addi-
| tional soldiers are Immediately re-
quired to protect his dangerously
thin" line of communication, explained
General Funston, announcing the fact
Of a call on the war department for
requirements. .a. n.. &, . ..
Within day or two, due to the ex-
ceedingly rapid advance being made
by the American cavalry, General
Pershing's communication line will be
200 miles long.
Fear Outlaw Bands.
| ~ was stated at army headquarters
t,sat additional troops are needed not
only as a protection against sudden
rear-guard action by Villistas but
against any parties" who might care
to make trouble for the American ex.
peditionary force.
General Funston declined to stats
whom he regarded as possible enc
mics in addition to Villa bandits, .
The only fear expressed at head
quarters was not that any ono of the
''etachments had suffered misfortune,
but that Villa might again have eluded
his pursuers.
General Funston announced that
The Fifth cavalry, of which one squad
ron Is at Fort Meyer, Va, another at
Tort Leavenworth, Kan, and the third
at Fort Sheridan, ILL.,, would be
brought to the border at once and
sent out along General Pershing's line
of communication,
| New Clash Due Soon.
The last reports received here told
OF Villas encounter with Carranza's
forces near Namiquipa. If Villa de-
feated the Mexican government
troops, it was regarded as probable
that he had continued his movement
on into the south, where he might
I remain unmolested for some time
Villa was reported defeated by Car
rama forces at Cruces, just south Of
Ell Vale, and to have retreated into
the Santa Clara mountains.
American troops have been dis
patched to the vicinity where Villa
was reported as fighting with the con-
stitutionalists, according to the Co.
lumbus wireless.
The Americans went in a separate
flying column. 1t is understood that
constitutionalist troops have been dis
: patched to the same neighbOrhood to
= cooperate in attempting to trap
. Villa. A separate column of Ameri-
/ can troops has been sent to the viCin-
, ity of Cruces, where Villa was re-
ported.
More Cavalry Needed.
The additional troops requested, the
number and exact composition of
which later will be announced by the
war department, will consist of cav
airy and infantry and possibly some
: artillery. There are now 10000 fed
eral soldiers in General Funston's de-
|, partment of the southwest, but of
these only portion are available for
foreign service, the great majority be-
ing used for border patrol. Five thou
) sand are in the Brownsville district
, alone.
!. General Funston's latest informa-
tion as to Villas whereabouts locates
: the bandit in the region about Cruces.
. According to headquarters, Pershing' s
, rapid advance had taken him out OF
/ touch with his temporary base at
: Casas Grandes. -,
: Get Request in Washington.
5 Washington, March 22.-Brig. Cen
Pershing has asked for more infantry
to keep open the lines of communica.
> tion behind his flying columns. Ma.
jor General Funston has forwarded the
request to the war department and II
has been taken under consideration
> r.. Villa In New Battle.
Ell Paso, Tex, March 22.--Francisco
: Villa and his band of outlaws have
been forced into another battle with
the Carranza troops near Las Cruces
y This information came as a report by
wireless to the United States army
station at Columbus, n. NJ, and it was
further said that American troops had
been dispatched to Las Cruces to aid
in the fighting. ... e..
The fighting at Las Cruces follow
ing the engagement at Namiquipa in
Dictated that the Carranza troops are
pressing Villa hard in his flight north
ward along the Santa Maria river and
that the outlaw soon may be forced t
stand and give battle to the American
troops now moving southwark.
Draw Gordon Close.
The American and do facto govern
, ment troops are drawing the Gordon
! closer around the elusive villa and
a within few days. army officers her,
3 believe, It will be known whethe
villa is to meet his fate in battle %
!. baffie his pursuers by successful es
, cape into the Sierra Madre. A serie
OF running fights is anticipated