Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1916-03-22
AMERICAN ARMY
ENTERS MEXICO
ON VILLA TRAIL
GEN. PERSHING LEADS PUNITIVE
EXPEDITION IN CHASE
AFTER BANDIT.
CARRANZA TROOPS TO AID
Gen. Funston Predicts Hard Cam
pagn in Attempt to Drag Villa
Out of Lair-Food for
Army Problem.

San Antonio, Tex. March IS. -
Gen John J. Pershing. with more than
1000 troops began the pursuit in Mex
leo on Wednesday of Francisco Villa.
Gen Pershing's report that he and
his command had crossed the inter-
national boundary line just south of
Columbus, reached Gen. Frederick
Funston. in charge here of general op-
erations late on Wednesday.
The news of his entrance into Mex
leo served to dispel to a great extent
fears that had been entertained In
some quarters that resistance would
be offered by the troops of the de facto
government. Col. Bertani, the COM
manding officer of the Carranza gar
rison at Palomas, on the south side of
the dividing life, promptly Joined Gen.
Pershing. His force was only some
400 men, but they were reported to
have displayed willingness and even
eagerness to join in the chase. The
Mexican troops will remain under
their own commander, but a number
of them are being employed as scouts
by Gen. Pershing.
Communication Is Difficult.
Reports of progress in the country
where the search has been begun will
be made by Gen. Pershing to Gen.
Funston, but it is not anticipated that
these will be frequent or deal with
any but the more important develop
ments.
Col George A. Dodd, heading a
smaller column, that entered Mexico
some distance west of Columbus, also
is moving in a southerly direction and
the two forces should be within touch
of each other before the end of the
week By that time it is expected an
infantry support will hold the lines of
communication along which motor
trucks for the transportation of am
munition and supplies will be oper-
ated.
Although the censorship imposed
by Gen. Funston was relaxed Wednes-
day night, efforts still were made to
keep secret the details of the plan OF
campaign, the exact number of men
engaged and their actual locations.
Ordered to Get Villa.
Gen. Pershing has gone into Mexico
with orders to overtake and wipe out
Villa and his organization. Unless or
ders to the contrary are received from
those higher in authority than Gen.
Funston, the campaign will continue
until Villa is captured or killed. No
limits have been placed on the field
of operation.
There are now available in this de-
partment for operations in Mexico
more than 10000 troops, and if the
plans for recruiting the companies to
full strength are carried out this num-
Der will, it is expected, be quickly in
creased. Cavalry posts have been re-
lieved by infantry in most cases in
order to furnish a more mobile force
for the pursuit of Villa, although in
the expedition that went in on
Wednesday there is a considerable
force of artillery, which can be rein
forced at any time by several more
batteries that now are held on the
American side within easy distance of
the border.
Hiding Place Is Secret.
If the exact whereabouts of Villa
are known at army headquarters, the
fact has not been disclosed. Gener-
ally, it is believed he has moved
southwark toward the Guerrero dis
trict, in the foothills of the Sierra Ma
dres, but reports from Mexican
sources indicate that the de facto gov
eminent troops will do their best to
turn him northward toward the adj
vancing American columns.
Funston Sees Hard Campaign.
San Antonio, Tex, March 16. =
Gen. Frederick Funston, commander
in-chief of troops on the border, pre-
diets that the chase for Villa will be
a hard and difficult campaign. He
said Gen. Pershing, commander in the
field, has his orders and will move
when ready.
Il hope the American people ap-
preciate," said Funston, that this is
going to be a hard and very difficult
campaign. 1t may be long one, also.
"One of the best features of the bus
mess is the fact that the troops are
in splendid shape for the work. From
a physical standpoint they could not
be better. The time that most of