New Britain herald., 1916-03-10
Cabinet Is Unanimous.

iy agreed that the only thing to do was to send troops.
 President Wilson took the same position and at once instructed Secre- l tary Baker to issue the necessary orders. He also instructed Secretary Lansing to inform Carranza of the attitude of the American government
 Leaders of both houses of congress were immediately notified from the White House of the Presidents action. They approved his course.
 Before deciding finally to send the troops after Villa, the president con- terred over the telephone with Chair man Stone of the senate foreign re- IatIons committee, and told him he believed the sentiment of congress would solidly support his action.
 It was considered possible that within a few days President Wilson might go before congress to recite the series of acts by Villa which led up to the ordering of troops to effect his capture. It was said at the White House that the president had not vet decided this point
 The president desires to move with :. the entire cooperation of congress.
 Funston Wants to Cross Border.
 After an early conference today be-
 
 General Scott chief of staff, it was announced that the Columbus mas sacre is a closed incident so far as Qle war department is concerned Gen. Scott said that unless it was de- cIded to have American troops cross the border again, there was no likli- hood of further initiative action bv the army
 Major General Funston, in an over night despatch, urgently recommend ed that he be authorized to send American troops over the border to finally clean out the bandit gang. E4le state department will pass on the recommendation.
 At the state department it was i made plain that while the incident l was closed for the present so far the { war department is involved it was not i closed so far as the government is concerned and that the negotiations i with General Carranza for permission i to send in troops to clear out the ! bandit gangs will go forward
 Border Shelter a Menace.
 General Funston's despatch added i that So long as the border is a shelter for the band they will continue to harrass our ranches and towns to our chagPin." "N '-+
 Brig. Gen. Pershing reported that the Mexican consul at EI Paso thinks there should be no objection to Amer fcan troops entering Mexico in pursuit of Villa and that he would wire his government recommending co-opera- tion."
 Col. Slocum telegraphed the war department a brief report on the pur- suit by the American troops. A re- quest for further information has been despatched by Gen. Scott at the order of Secretary Baker. The only Information on that point at the war department early today was a report from Col. Slocum as follows: T sent three troops under Major Tompkins across the border. They pursued Villa about five miles, driving him into rough country, where he scattered i after making one final stand which stopped Tompkins advance. These three troops returned to Columbus . again in about three hours Lost one i corporal, Troop G."
 Cabinet Discusses Situation.
 Washington, March 1O.-President ; Wilson and the cabinet took up today i the question of whether a column of 1 troops should be sent into Mexico to : capture Villa and his band of bandits. , Secretary Baker, attending his first l cabinet meeting, took with him the i latest despatches.
 There was no apparent intention on the part of the administration to go so far as armed intervention in Mex i ico but serious consideration was giv- en to a plan of dispatching 8 punitive expedition to round up Villa and his followers.
 Officials Praise American Troops.
 Administration officials, far from disapproving the pursuit of the Amer lean troops, praised their action and expressed regret that Villa himself had not been taken. The hope was eX- pressed that Villa could be eliminated without controversy with the Carranza government.
 When the cabinet assembled nc or ders had been given for the dispatch tngaof American soldiers into Mexico. S The president was represented as determined that steps shall be taken to punish the raiders The return of the American troops rom Mexico complicated the stua- ton somewhat because the United states now is confronted with the nec- essity of issuing orders if they go in hg&4n. Officials openly said they had 'iopeu the troops once having crossed on good pretext would remain until Villa and his band were disposed of. S At the same time they realized that the American force was very small S McCumber Wants Man Hunt. senator McCumber, republican,, of A South Dakota, introduced a resolu- 3 1ons Tn the senate today, providing mat congress shall direct the president aS to immediately send an armed force