Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-02-01
PERSH|NC ACTS ON
OFFICIAL ORDERS
NOrthward Movement from Mex
leo of Punitive Expedition
Has Actually Begun.
WILL BE IN u. S. IN WEEK.
villa Is Eour Times as strong rs Tic
WINS when American Troops Crossed
Mexican border Inst spring.

withdrawal of American troops from
Mexico were officially announced to-day
by the war department with the state
nnent that the northward movement of
General Pershings men begar early this
morning with the evacuation Of Colonia
Dublan
The final act in the entrance into
Mexico of 1000 American soldiers as a
result of the Villa massacre of Il Amer'-
cans at Columbus. y. NJ. on March q.
19i6. was written to-day with official an
nouncement by the war department that
General Pershing had been ordered. and
actually had started. to bring his troops
back to the United states
Secretary Baker issued the following
announcement:
General Pershing has been ordered to
bring his troops out of Mexico. The
movement is to be an immediate one and
n probably already under way"
Later advices to the department said
that the troops already had begun the
evacuation of Coiona Duhian. 40 miles
from the border. where they had been
CONGO. .trating during the past few weeks.
The last American soldier is expected to
recross the border in about a week.
VILLA OR CARRANzAc
No official information ia at hand 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
lease 5000 we'll armed men and who Is
now at least four times as strong as
when the American troops went across the
border. will make desperate effort to
take the territory. particularly for its
moral effect.
The two other phases Of the Mexican
problem on which interest centers now
are the disposition of the more than $4,000
militia still on the border and the send
ing Of Ambassador Fletcher to his post
at Mexico city. Officials say no decision
has been reached in either of these ques-
tons. but that both are dependent on the
turn of events in Mexico
WILL WITHDRAW GUARDsMEN.
At least a part Of the remaining
euardsmen are expected to be ordered
home as soon as the Is, 900 now leaving
have been moved out of the way and
Pershing's regulars have been re-dis-
tributed to provide adequate protection
for the border. perhaps in three weeks
time. Pershing's withdrawal will en-
able a much smaller force to guard the
border as large support has been es-
esntial to his long line of communica
tons
Fletcher is due to the administration s
hesitancy to accord that degree of rec
oetnition to the Carranza government
which is felt not only to have been none
too friendly, but also to be seriously
endangered by Villa zapata and other
bandit activities. AS well as by the eX-
trenely weak economic conditions in
the country.
The Pershing withdrawal will be car
ried out with as much speed as possible
over the rough, arid waterless section
and 1t is hoped that the men will cover
about fifteen miles a day. Railroads
will not be used even for carrying sup
plies, as it is desired neither to run any
chance of raids by Villa nor to incur
any obligation to Carranza.
Preparations for withdrawal have beer
going on for some time it was admtted
to-day. with the calling in of outpostS
and the taking of steps to protect friend
ly Chinese and Mormons from punishment
by the Mexcans. No announcement
could be made, it was added. before tho
actual march was underway, as 1t was
feared some unexpected event might come
up which would require further delaN
and embarrassing explanations TO Sout'
American countries which have . beer
watching every step in the critical Sltut
ton with the utmost interest.
REASONS FOR WITHDRAWAL
combination Of reasons are given nm
officially for the wthdraWa. decision
First was the impracticablity If actually
Capturing Villa as the object of the
expedition was explained To hc in a White
House statement issued AZ tho time thu
expedition was sent in. Then with the
border apparently safe, the demand TO
the return of the State troops has becon1'
more and moro pressing.
Moreover. Pershings present location
was recognized AZ a source Of miltar,
weakness both in the face Of attacks On
his long fanked and also in the eVentualt.
Of "A larger expedition in Mexico,
Probably more decisive than al
these reasons, however, was the he
lief that the situation would neve
be solved one way or another s.
long as PershnG stayed, and that
would be best to withdraw all Amer
lean soldiers from the Stricke
country in order to remove any Amer
lean or anti american issue. In othe
words, there is a disposition to leaN
Mexico to work out its own saliva
to give Carranza diplomatic victor
in the hope that in some way stabl
government may arise there
with the last American soldier on
Of Mexico, the Mexican problem ca
be viewed in new light. From no,
on, it will not be possible for Car
rama to meet American demands wit
counter demands for the withdrawa