Arizona republican., 1917-02-13
VILLA FORCE
 IN CAMP NEAR
 U.S. TERRITORY
Republican A. P. Leased wire]

COLUMBUS. N. M., Feb. 12.- Thirty-two Villa followers camped within cannon range of American territory late tonight and their camp fires are perceptible to American sol- diers patroling the border line gate below here.
 The Villa band is camped at Palomas six miles south of the international boundary.
 The first intimation of the presence of the band was given to an American hunting party by a Mexican cowboy on the ranch of the Palomas Land and Cattle company, who warned the party back
 The cowboy said he had just re turned from the vicinity of the Palomas lakes to which the party was bound, and saw a band of horsemen headed in his direction He spurred his horse toward the frontier and after riding for two miles, stopped and trained his glasses southward He discerne0 the figures of over thirty armed and mounted MeXicans who had dismoUnted and camped near the lakes. On the way to the border he met the American hunting party
 Later the American military officials here received intelligence of the presence Of a strange armed party at
 
 tachment of cavalry to reinforce the border patrol. About the same time report came to the immigration of ficials that thirty-two armed and mounted MeXicans had camped at Palomas, together with information that this band was probably the one that had yesterday occupied Twin Windmills, 26 miles south of the bor- der
 DOF,Y late today said that Jose Inez SalaZaI occupied Ascension last Thursday and oefore his departure for Molinos, thirtysix miles northwest of Ascen- sion, made a speech to the inhabi- tants in which he is stated to have said All of you who are true Mexi- cans step forward three paces and these who are friends of the Giingoes stand firm Every listener advanced three paces, it is said.
 From Ascension SalaEar secured thirtrfour additional followers. At daybreak Friday morning his party was said to consist of about 800 men who shouted viva Villa as they were leaving the village
 There are approximately twenty eight hundred American soldiers at Columbus. The twenty-fourth Unit ed States infantry recruited to full war strength and the First New Mex leo infantry and a squadron of the Twelfth United States cavalry com pose the garrison. They are under co1nniand Of Colonel H. C., Sickel. who has given orders to each unit to be unusually vigilant tonight
 In order to obtain further informa ticn regarding Villa followers ali Palomas, fleet of aeroplanes with observers from the First Aero squa7 stationed here will take the air at dayoreak temorrcY and skirt the bor der
 Persons here who are well inform ed on the movements of the rebels say that the band is in the nature of a garrison. and that no efforts to tarass American troops or to attack Amer ican border towns will be countenanc- ed by Villa. who intends the occupa- tion of PalOmas as preliminary step in his purpose Of sounding the future policy of the Washington ad- ministration towards his cause. In the eVert that American troops main tain strict neutrality and refrain rom contesting Villas occupancy of Palomas. simultaneous attacks on oth- CT border towns now garrisoned by tarranZa troops will be made, accord ing to the same authority
 Murguia Gathering Troops
 EL PASO. Feb. i2.-While General Francisco Murguia is engaging the main body of Villas followers in the neighborhood of Santa Rosalia. a hun dred miles osuth of Chihuahua City, his brother, General Jose Murguia, is ra- pldly gathering d body of 1,500 men at Ju1rez with view to going after the reDels In the territory recently vacated by the American expedition.
 In addition to the regular garrison of 800 men at Juarez General Murguia received endorsements today of 300 and expects, two more troop trains in tonight from Chihuahua City. The rebels in the north have been carrying on an active guerilla war
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