Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-02-13
American Soldiers on Patrol
Duty See Camp Fires of
Bandits; Hunting Party is
Warned From Section.
VIGILANCE OBSERVED ,
AGAINST POSSIBLE RAID
United States Troops and
Guardsmen Are Prepared
for Any Depredations Which
May Be Attempted.
10y MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wrseI

Columbus, n NJ, Feb. 12.-Thirty-
two followers of villa camped within
cannon range of American territory
late today and tonight their camp
fires are perceptible to American SOL
diers patrolling the border line gate
below here. The Villa band is camped
at Palomas, six miles south of the in
ternational boundary.
The first intimation of the presence
of the band was given to an American
hunting party by a Mexican cowboy
working 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 Palo-
mas 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 af-
ter riding for two miles, stopped and
trained his glasses southward. He
discerned the figures of over thirty
armed and mounted Mexcans 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 pres
ence of strange armed party at Pa
Tomas and Immediately sent a detach-
ment of cavalry TO reinforce the bor-
der patrol. About the same time, a
report came to the immigration Off
cials that thirty-two armed and
mounted MeXcans had camped at Pa
Tomas, together with information that
this band was probably the one that
had yesterday occupied Twin Wind
mills, twenty-six miles south of the
border.
Salazar Occupies Ascension.
Refugees arriving from the interior
late today said that Jose Ynez Sala-
zar occupied Ascension last Thursday
and before his departure for Molinos,
thirty-six miles northwest of Ascen-
sion, made a speech to the inhabitants
in which he is stated to have said:
"All you who are true Mexicans step
forward three PAGES and those who
are friends of the gringoes stand
firm" Every listener advanced three
paces it is said.
From Ascension, Salazar secured
thirty-four additional followers. At
daybreak, Friday morning, his party
was said to consist of about 500 men
who shouted viva Villa" as they
were leaving the village.
There are approximately 2,S00
American soldiers at Columbus.
The Twenty-fourth United States
infantry, recruited to full war
strength, and the First New
Mexico infantry and squadron
of the Twelfth United States cavalry
compose the garrison. They are un-
der command of Col. H. c. Sickel,
who has given orders to each unit to
be unusually vigilant tonight.
Airmen TO Make Observations.
In order to obtain further informa-
ton regarding Villa followers at Palo-
mas fleet of airplanes with observers
from the First aero squad, stationed
here, will take the air at daybreak to-
morrow and skirt the border.
Persons here who are we'll inform
ed on the movements of the rebels
say that the band is in the nature of
garrison, and that no efforts to
harass American troops or to attack
American border towns will be coun-
tenanced by Villa, who intends the oc-
cupation of Palomas as preliminary
step in his purpose of sounding the
future policy of the Washington ad-
ministration toward his cause In the
event that American troops maintain
strict neutrality and refrain from con-
testing Villas occupancy of Palomas,
simultaneous attacks on other border
towns now garrisoned by Carranza
troops will be made, according to the
same authority.