Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-28
us. TROOPS BEGIN !
TRIP FROM MEXICO
Pershing's Men Start From
CoIonia DubIan and Refu-
gees Are Following.
0BREG0N REPLACING THEM

By the Associated Press.
Ell PASO. Tex. January 27-Amsr.
lean troops of Maj. Gen. Pershings
punitive expedition tramped along the
high road leading from Colonia Dublan
to the border today on the nrst leg Of
their return from the march which
took them into Mexico In pursuit OF
Francisco Villa.
Tonight the troops were encamped
along the road, with the head OF the
column twenty miles north of tho Nor.
mon colony. where Gen. Pershing has
made his field headquarters since the
expedition ceased its pursuit Of villa.
At sunrise the advance guard OF the
expeditionary forces was on the way
to the border. according to Americans
who came from the front late today
on truck trains to Columbus. N. NJ.
Gen. Pershing With Rear Guard.
pected to be among the last to leave
field headquarters. and will ride to the
first nights encampment in automo-
biles with the rear guard. these ar
rivals said. The march will be re-
sumed tomorrow.
The Associated Press was the FIRST to
inform Gen. Pershing OF the formal or
der for the withdrawal Of his column
today. and he Immediately made =
change In his plans for the exodus. the
soldiers said upon their arrival.
Instead of establishing a field base
at Ojo Federico. forty miles from tho
border, as was originally planned, there
to await the formal order for with
drawal. Gen. Pershfng was said to
have arranged to establish his tempo
rary field headquarters at Las Palomas
lakes. seven miles south Of the border.
where he would hold a general review
before completing the march into CO.
lumbus. The actual crossing Of the
border would NOE occur, 1t was pre-
Refugees Following Troops.
Following the troops were hundreds
of refugees. Prosperous Mormon fam-
lilies rode In comfortable farm wagons
or in small motor cars. Some Mexi-
cans rode in carriages. on horses, mules.
burros and on the motor lorries Of the
expeditionary forces. while hundreds OF
them and Chinese residents from the
deep dust which had been made by the
feet Of hundreds OF troops.
At Columbus camp has been laid
out and tents were being pitched late
to-day tod ,;s dSr loo Loo Iss e. s.ns a
lumbus and one part OF IL will be arr
ranged as an asylum for the 200 or
more Chinese who are coming out
with the expedition. The first Of these
day.
The exodus Of civilian residents was
caused through fear that villa might
take vengeance upon them for having
served the American troops while In
Mexico.
obregon Taking Up Positions.
MEXICO CITY. January 27-Gen.
Obregon. minister of war, announced
today that complete preparations had
been made for the occupation by gov
ernment troops of the positions in
northern Mexico from which Gen.
Pershing withdraws and that orders
had been given to Gen. Murguia for
prevent any raid by Villas command
The military situation throughout
the republic has improved immeas-
urably during the last month and
is proceeding with the utmost suc-
CESS" said Gen. Obregon.
'This is the first real campaign in
the north against villa and will be
ment never again will make the mis-
take of simply defeating and scatter
ing the bandits. but will crush them
beyond any chance of recovery or OF
future menace"
Villa Near Sonora Border.
Villa. said Gen. Obregon, now, is in
the mountains of western Chihuahua
near the Sonora border. The assign
ment of Gen. Manuel Dieguez to the
command of the de facto troops in the
Laguna district near Torreon, he said,
gives Gen. Murguia a free hand for
the pursuit of Villa, and Murguia has
been instructed not to stop until he
captures the bandit.
He will be assisted materially by
Gen. Dieguez, who is expected to shut
Off Villas escape to the eastward, and
by the Yaqui troops of Gen. Gales in
Sonora, which are counted upon to
close the passes of the Sierra Madre
mountains
Gen. obregon expressed an urgent hope
that on the departure of Gen. Pershing's
the American embargo on
shipment of arms and ammunition to Mex
leo would be lifted, saying that such
action would be material aid toward the
prompt pacification Of the entire coun-
try.
Luis Cabrara, the Mexican minister or
finance. who has been in the United
States since last August, serving as
Chairman of the Mexican section Of tho
yesterday. but ofhciais said
"a, noI1 l,ad mn stpnidcance and merely