The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-18
Outstanding Feature of Border Messages Is Cap ture of Six Mexicans in Columbus Raid
NO INSTRUCTIONS
 HAVE BEEN SENT
 GENERAL FUNSTON
Intimated That Washington Might Be Willing to Ac- cept Carranza Statement and Withdraw Troops

Washington, April 17.-Conirmation Of the death of Francisco Villa still was lacking tonight at the state and war departments and at the Mexican em- bassy. The only dispatch from Ameri- can sources in Mexico tendir~ to lend color to the report was a brief state { ment from Major Howze, of the Eleventh cavalry, now near Parral, that he had information which led him to believe that the bandit and few followers had fed some days ago toward Barja, close to the place where unofficial Mexican reports say the body was found.
 The outstanding feature of the day g border messages were reports that six Mexicans who confessed to having taken part in the raid on Columbus N. M., had been captured, and sent to Columbus for trial by state authorities. Another official report relieved anxiety as to the supply problem for the troops at the front It said the forces now were fully supplied with the exception of a small shipment of horseshoes and clothing, which would go forward tomorrow.
 The body supposed to be that of Villa was said by the last Mexican reports to be en route to Chihuahua City. It was pointed out at the war department, how ever, that the point where it was found was nearly two days journey by wagon from the railroad. That may account for delay in obtaining confirmation or denial of the report that the bandits career has ended
 NO INSTRUCTIONS TO FUNSTON
 If General Funston and General Per shing have taken any steps to make cer- tain the identification of the body they have done so on their own initiative. No instructions to that end have been sent from Washington This fact may be significant of the attitude of the state department It was intimated today that the Unites States might be willing to &C., cept formal declaration from >arranza that Villa had been killed and order the recall of the troops
 Chairman Stone of the Senate foreign relations committee, after a conference today with Secretary Baker. expressed tho view that the Carranza authorities hardly could have any object in circulat- ing report of Villas death unless they believed 1t true. He agreed with Sec retary Baker and other officials, however, in accepting the report of the finding of Villas body with utmost caution.
 POSSIBILITY OF CLASHES
 It is generally admitted that every day that the troops remain in Mexico in- creases the possibility of serious clashes. While there has been no evidence of op- position to the movements of the Amer ican forces by de facto military or civil officials, the Parral incident has served as a warning that the civil population and even the troops cannot always be con- trolled. The attack on Major Tompkin' s command at Parral came after cordial re- lations had been established with the Carranza military commander there. The Mexican officers efforts were unavailing to curb the disturbers, many of whom were said to be his own soldiers. It is known that the United States would gladly withdraw the troops tomorrow if it could consider the object of the expedi- ton accomplished
 In some quarters the suggestion was made that reports of Villas death might have been. circulated for the effect on the Mexican people, and that they were not intended to reach beyond the border. It was pointed out that it would add to the estimation in which Carranza military chieftains are held if they were able to show the body as proof that the Ameri- can expedition was unnecessary.
 Secretary Lansing would not discuss
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