French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1917-02-01
PERSHING is OFFICIALLY
ORDERED FROM MEXICO.
American Troops Have Begun EVacu-
alton of COlOnia Dublan 11O
Miles From Border,


Washington, Jan. 28.-The final act
in the entrance into Mexico of 10000
American soldiers as a result of the
Villa massacre OF. IL Americans at Co
lumbus, N. NJ, on March 9, 1916, was
written today with official announce
ment by the war department that Gen
eral Perishing had been ordered, and
actually had started, to bring his
troops back to the United States.
Secretary Baker issued the follow
ling announcement:
General Pershing has been ordered
to bring his troops out OF Mexico. The
movement is to be an immediate>one
and is probably already under way"
Later advices to the department said
that the troops already had begun the
evacuation of Colonia Dublan, lie
miles from the border, where they
had been concentrating during the
past few weeks. The last American
soldier Is expected to recross the bor-
der in about a week.
No official information is at hand as
to whether Villa or Carranza troops
will occupy the territory left vacant by
the Americans, but the belief is strong
| here that the bandit, who is credited
with at least 5000 well armed men and
who is at least four times as strong
as when the American troops vent
across the border, will make a desper-
ate effort to take the territory par-
t1cularly for its moral effect.
The two other phases of the Mexi.
can problem on which interest con-
ters now are the positions of the more
than $4,000 militia still on the border
and the sending of Ambassador
Fletcher no his post Ct Mexico City,
I sass : no aeisiaE been
reached ln either Oh these questions
but that both are dependent on the
turn OF events in Mexico.
At least a part Of the remaining
guardsmen are expected to be ordered
! home as soon as the $4,000 now leav.
ing have been moved out OF the way
and Pershing's regulars have been
redistributed to provide adequate pro-
lection for the border, perhaps In
three weeks time. Pershing,s with
drawal will enable a much smaller
force to guard the border, as large
support has been essential to his long
| line Of communications.
The delay in sending Ambassador
Fletcher is due to the administrators
hesitancy to accord that degree OF re-
cognition to the Carranza government
! which is felt not only to have been
none too friendly, but also to be 5eri-
ously endangered by Villa, Zapata and
! other bandit activities, as we'll as by
the extremely weak economic condi-
| ton in the country.
| The Pershing withdrawal will be
carried out with as much speed as
possible over tn rough, arid water
less section and it is hoped that the
men will cover about Is mics a day.
Railroads will not be used even for
carrying supplies, as it is desired
neither to run any chances of raids By
Villa, nor to incur any obligation to
/ Carranza
| Preparations for withdrawal have
have been going on for sometime. it
was admitted today with the calling
in of outposts and the taking of steps
to protect friendly Chinese and Nor
mons from punishment by the Mexi-
cans.
! A combination of reasons are given
unoficially for the withdrawal deci-
sion. First was the impracticabi1ity
Of actually Capturing Villa" as the
object Of the expedition was explained
to be in a White House statement
issued at the time the expedition was
sent in. Then with the border appar-
entity safe, the demand for the return
| Of the state troops has become more
and more pressing.