Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-03-13
WIPING OUT OF VILLA BANDITS
NO EASY MATTER, SAYS
's
s~.'g-,. GENERAL.
CAN'T MOVE TROOPS =
10, I UNTIL OTHERS ARRIVE
Border Must Be Protected by Adequate
Force to Prevent Raids-Danserous
to Send Force Into Mixieo Not Fully
Equipped For Long campaisn-Ex.
eitement Among carranza Garrison.

San Antonio. Tex, March 13.-MaJ
Gen, Frederick Funston Sunday out-
lined his plans for the capture dead
or alive" of Francisco Villa and his
band Of outlaws. ::
I'VE do not ourselves know just
when the expedition will start into
Mexico altho of course it will be soon,"
he declared.
1T will go forward just as soon as
sufficient number Of men with an
adequate commissary can be organized.
1t will not be held back, however. until
all the troops ordered to the border
have arrived.
There Is no use going at this thing
half cooked The task ahead Of Us will
be long and ardous one"
flinders Concentration.
1t became known Sunday that the
plans for the campaign against villa
have been affected by the border stu
alton elsewhere than at Columbus, n.
NJ. The si.uation is so important as to
have hindered rapid concentration OF
the punitive expedition that will go
after the perpetrators Of the Columbus
outrage. ID
Great excitement has been noted. It
is authoritatively stated. in the Car
rama garrisons at Nogales, opposite the
Arizona border town of that name, and
at Pierras Negras, which fronts Eagle
Pass, Tex, from across the Rio Grande.
This uneasiness has extended to the
large Mexican population on the Amer
lean side. Troops now stationed on the
border are sufficient to cope with any
situation that may arise, General
Funston says.
Must Be Replaced.
However. as it Is his intention to
use these troops in the search for Villa
and as they can not be moved until
other attachments arrive to replace
them. complete organization Of the ex-
peditonary military has been held up.
Army circles feel bound to respect
the fear Of residents in American
towns. that, Notwithstanding assur-
ances from General Carranza's repre-
sentatives. uprising may follow the ac-
tual occupation OF Mexican territory by
soldiers. 1t Is felt that the
welfare of the border can not be sacri-
feed to the doubtful success Of q
lasty and therefore unprepared pursuit
of the fugitive Villa. ~. Il
People Must Be Pstient.
General Funston's statements, re-
garding the uncertainty of the punt
tive expeditions departure was In re-
ply to what he termed the impatience
Of the American people for speedy &C
ton. -, g.. 80
The people must be patient" he said.
We must be adequately prepared FOR
this thing.
Tin athe first place we must use. as
much. as possible, soldiers who are ac-
customed TO Mexican border duty.
However, these men can not be re-
moved from their present posts until
they are relieved by troops drawn from
other departments and hurried to the
border. 49,
Transportation Of the relief patrols
Is not anyseasy matter. Many OF these
troops consist Of scattered detachments
that have to be concentrated, somo
times after difficult marches, before
they can be sent southwark.
Must Be We'll Supplied. 10
Concentration mad transportation OF
troops Is'not al lof our problem. how
ever. WeaaTe going to march into
country that will afford US little or no
forage. The commissary must be an
adequately supplied.
"a Villa follower can live on little or
nothing. An American soldier must be
well fed II he Is to give good service.
we would not gain anything by
haste. To send an inedquate force in
sufficiently prepared after Villa would
hinder and not hasten matters"
Speaking regarding the course the
campaign will take, General Funston
said: -@7
There will be more than one ex-
peditinnary-force. altho 1 am not at
liberty to say how many or from what
points they will start.
Left to Commander. r..
All this will be left to the discretion
of the expeditionary commander, who
will have complete charge Of all the
forces in the field. I don't believe in
swivel chair campaigning.
Necessarily, the campaign viii de-
,velop new situations and the disposal
of the troops Is contingent upon these
developn ents. I may at intervals visit
the field forces. $500
"Of course the expedition will not
the troops now being dispatched from
other departmental stations. It will be
gotten under way Just as soon as pos
,sible and as other troops arrive they
will be sent forward as reinforcements.
Ell Paso naturally will be the base
of supplies Tor our army. N . 800 vii;
be supplied thru Fort Sam Houston.
San Antonio" y