The Washington times. [volume], March 24, 1916, HOME EDITION, Image 1

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HOME
EDITION
NTJMBEB 8840.
WASHINGTON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAKOH 24, 1910.
PBICI1 ONE CENT.
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GERMANS LAUNCH
TERRIFIC ATTACK ON
FRENCH AT VERDUN
Decisive Battle Believed to Be
Raging 'at Melancourt and
About Dead Man Hill.
JOFFRE'S LINES IMPERILED
Bavarians Attempt to Cut Off
Communications of Troops
at Bethincourt.
AMSTERDAM, March 24
Flushing correspondents of Am
sterdam newspapers today re
port sounds of heavy firing In
the North Sea from the dtrec
' tion of Ostend and Weatende
this morning. Skippers believe
an important naval fight is go
ing on.
LONDON, March 24. German
troops have resumed heavy attacks
against the French front northwest
of Verdun, according to Paris dis
patches today.
Following a twenty-four-hour
lull, the German batteries turned
a terrific fire on the French po
sitions south of Malancourt and
around Dead Man Hill. French
yins roared in reply all day yes
terday. It is believed in Paris that the
decisive battle on this sector has
begun.
PERIL TO FRENCH.
By battering through the French linen
In Avocourt wood, the crown prince
bent the French front In the shape of
a-'dangerous loop. The neck of this loop
la less than four miles wide.
German artillery posted on the ridge
pear Dead Ma.iuJ4lLL.pn. Jfte northeast
side. Is sweeping the four miles ot
wooded plain with a heavy Mre.
On the southwestern side. Bavarian
regiments' are striving to cut. through,
tho Intervening four miles, cutting on
French forces holding Bethincourt and
Malahcourt.
Dispatches from Berlin declare that
the French are In an extremely pre
carious position.
Berlin claims to have captured two
more trenches In the Haucourt re
gion. The Germans pressed forward south
of Malancourt, against the south
western side of tho French salient.
Tho advance further Imperils French
positions at Malancourt and Bathln
court. From Paris comes news of a heavy
bombardment of German positions
In the woods south of Malancourt and
around Douaumont and Damloup.
In the Woevre region the artillery
Are was most violent near Houlaln
vllle and Sparges.
French troops occupied a mine crat
er near Hill 285 IntheArgonne.
Savage Slav Attack
Made on Riga Salient
PETrtOGRAD, March 24. Savage.
lighting Is going on at Jacobstadt.
clhty miles southeast of Riga, where
the Russians, using liquid flro and gas
bombs, arc battering In the German
salient.
At the same time, the Slavs are at
tacking vigorously at Frledrlchstadt.
west of Jacobstadt and at Illuxt, to
the soutn.
General Kuropatkln's aim. apparently.
Is to squeeze von Hlndenburg out of
this Important salient by threats of
envelopment, forcing The retirement of
the whole German line from Riga to
Dvinsk, on a front of HO miles.
Handicap to Germans.
The success of this offensive will remove
tho German threat against Riga and
Dvinsk and handicap von Hlndenburg In
any aggressive campaign he may un
dertake on the Russian front.
Despite optimistic statements from
same sources, best Informed critics here
do not consider Kuropatkln's attacks
tno beginnings of a great Russian of
Jcnslve; Tho spring thaw, due within
possibly a fortnight, is expected to im
pede artillery movements and force, a
lull In tho lighting on the northern
l rout. , .
When the ground becomes Arm again,
big offensive movements by both the
Hermans and Russians arc certain to
dovelop. To Improve his defensive po
sitions to meet the expected German
attack, General Kuropatkln is .spread
Ing out German wedges in the Russian
line and moving to capture highway In
tersections and dominating positions.
For Strategic Railways.
South of Dvinsk. tho Germans are
counter-attacking vigorously. The on
rusn of tho Russian troops has tempo
rarily been halted by tho enemy's on
slaughts. Both sides arc battling for
the possession of strategic railways of
great Importanco In tho expected spring
nffenulves.
Kusslnn artillery is tuning up along
tno wnoio STO-miio rroiu. un sectors
that have been inactive for many
monthn there are Indications that Infan
try clashes, similar to ihtfoo now occur
, ling In the north, aroftbout to begin,
' as u prelude to the lfer offenslvo.
(n tho extreme southeast General
lvnnoff Is meeting wJh no sorlbus resist
ance In his campawh to clear Austrian
troops from theJhorth bank of the
untuiir,
New York Dentist Who
Is field in Poison Case
ISiSiSiSisK rf? tJ VvjA,:?;f '"I
w&y p-l
Photo by Underwood & Underwood.
DR, ARTHUR WARREN WAITE.
WOULD ELIMINATE
F
Admiral Fiske Recommends Es
tablishment of Permanent
Chief of Operations.
The elimination of the Secretary of
the Navy, to all practical Intents, was
the suggestlo nof Admiral Bradley
Flake to the House Naval Committee
today. ,
The admiral, over whose appearance
Congressman" Britten- and Chalrmrn
Padgett had fought for weeks, the
chairman finally consenting, startled
the committee with his proposal. He
recommended the establishment of
permanent chief of operations who
would have authority over the prep
aration of the entire navy for war,
and who could not be overruled by
tho Secretary of the Navy without
authority of Congress.
"If we have a Secretary who comes
In every four years and changes the
entire Btrategy of tho navy we will
never get anywhere." Admiral Flsko
said. "We should havo a law that
would make It impossible for the Sec
retary to change conditions and the
policies of the nevy without appearing
before Congress and securing consent."
Chairman Padgett clashed frequently
with Britten and Roberts, of Massa
chusetts, "big navy" advocates.
fadgett endeavored to bring out by
cross-questioning Fiske that navy of
ficers should not have authority over
the civilian heads of the Navy Depart
ment. Flsko said there should not be
divided authority, lie said ho would not
place the naval officers over the
civilians, but that the chief of opera
tions should have a more extensive au
thority. "It would take five years to put our
navy on an effective basts," Flake, said.
"This opinion has been Indorsed by
every naval officer I have talked to.
Our navy will never be as effective as
those of other countries until the system
Is changed. Since 1IW7 there has been
an lncreaslng-ireallzatlon of the Import
ance of "continued policy of strategy.
It Is easy enough to have a big navy,
but not so easv to have a ?nn,i nn.
The policy of strategy ahould be made
continuous."
Britten said he feared that a Secre
tary could come In and nullify all of
tho effective things done by his pred
ecessors. "I have tso fear that any Secretary
who may be appointed will do anv such
thing," chairman Padgett retorted.
"It has been done," Britten replied.
Unknown Woman
Dying in Hospital
Police Trying to Find Relatives
With Meager Clues Before
She Succumbs.
An unidentified white woman Is dying
at Emergency Hospital.
Te police are bending every effort to
lecnte her iclatlves. She Is suffering
from uremic poison and physicians fear
she cannot live, much longer.
Park Policeman Berkeley lmr rr.n.i
the woman early yesterday at Thir
teenth street and Pennsylvania avenue'
northwest and assisted, her to the hos
pital. There she .declared her name was
Clara Wilson, nnd gave several homo
addresses, before she lapsed Into un
consciousness. Tho pollco were notified of tho
woman's condition early today, ' Detec
tives, Evans and Warren wore Immedi
ately assigned to the caso. They visited
all the addresses she had given, but
found no one Who could Identify her.
The only possible clues to hor Identity
Is a laundry ticket, bearing In Chinese
characters the number 491, and a tele
phone nubber.
The woman Is about twenty-threo
yeai-H old. five feet four Inches tall,
weighs about 1) pounds, 1ms light
brown hair, and a round, florid fnce.
She wore a blnck skirt, a lavendar
htrlned waist, a green root with white
buttons, and a black felt hot with a
feather. She carried a umall hand
satchel.
SECRETARY 0
NAVY
T
SAYS PROSECUTOR
Acoused Son-ln-Law of Million
aire Victim to Be Taken to
Tombs.
RECOVERING FROM DRUG
Dentist Reviving From Effects
of "Sleeping Powder" Taken
After Arrest.
NEW YORK. March 24. DIh
trict Attorney Swann announced
this afternoon he had forged the
last link in evidence which he
claims will hold Dr. Arthur
Warren Waitc to answer for the
death of his millionaire father-in-law
and mother.
NEW YORK. March ?4. Dr. Arthur
Warren Walte, suspected In the ms
terlous poisoning of his millionaire
father-in-law, John E. Peek, of Grand
Rapids, Mich., and tho latter's wife, will
be moved from his palatial apartment
overlooking the Hudson today and
lodged In a cell In the Tombs.
Detectives, who guarded Walte closely
throughout the night, said that he Is
slowly recovering from tho effects of the
drug he took whlie they were Unking
him with tho death mystery. Before
night he may be arraigned on the for
mal charge of homicide.
While the watch was being kept at
Walto's marble-walled apartment on
Riverside Drive, District Attorney
Bwann went over the evidence In what
he asserts Is the most puzzling crlnio
story he has over dealt with.
Charges Against Doctor.
The district attorney gave out today
tho following amazing charges already
made In the probe of the Grand Rapids
millionaire's mysterious death:
That Dr. Walte. the night beforo
Peck died, "poured something rrom a
small vial" into a pinto of soup nnd
also Into a cup of ten placed before
his father-in-law. This charge was
made by Dora Illlller, the West Indian
Degress maid:
' That Dr. -Tflfaltn. while nuUtftalnlTu; va
home for hi beautiful wtfojn tho ex
clusive, Coliseum apartments, also main
tained ' sulle in the fashionable I'Iim
Hotel, near Central Park, for a myste
rious woman who has disappeared;
That Dr. Walte apparently had no
practice and found time to become the
Indoor tennis champion of New York,
though his living expenses must have
.totaled $50.ow a year. .
Search Is being continued today for
the mysterious woman, who Is said lo
have slipped out of the Plaza Hotel
while detectives wero hot on hor trail
for an explanation of her relations with
tho doctor.
Though the district attorney does not
(Continued on Third Page.)
Allies Reject Plan
To Disarm Liners
Joint Reply Received Today at
State Department on U. S.
Proposal.
The Joint reply of tho altfea to tho
Htato Department's proposal that mer
chantmen bo disarmed was received at
the State Department today.
It Is understood from the highest au
thority that the proposal was not ac
cepted, the allies replying that the sit
uation and conditions of naval warfare
did not warrant them in subjecting
those, vessels to the risk of disarma
ment. SUGAR TARIFF RAISE
PROPOSED BY GORE
Would Bring to Treasury Revenue
of Over $100,000,000.
If a plan which was proposed by Sen
ator Gore In the Senate Finance Com
mittee today should be adopted, sugar
would bring In to the Treasury a rev
enue of over $100,000,000.
Senator Gore urged that In addition to
existing duty, sugar near an additional
half cent customs tariff, and an oxclso
tax of a cent a pound, this to be an
emergency plan to last through the Eu
roepan war.
Tho committee did .not act on the
sugar tariff question, and will meet
again tomorrow. Senator Goro said his
plan would bring In 160,000,000 additional
rovenuo from sugar.
A problem which members of the com
mittee are considering In this connec
tion Is hoW to meet tho cost of the
Mexican expedition If It is prolonged.
U.S. Troopers in Mexico
Wear Sand Masks
The sank mask is the latest in
military dress.
The Mexican campaign through
n desert land mothered this
invention, which is gay and
colorful, not monstrous like
the gas masks of Europe.
In fact, all there is to a sand
mask is a handkerchief pulled
up over the mouth and nose,
in bandit style. Red bandan
nas arc the tiling.
EVIDENCE
AGAINS
WAITE IS COMPLETE
HOUSE TO DECIDE
IF DAVIS SPEECH IS
UNFIT
FOR RECORD
Congressman Madden Scores
Texas "Cyclone" for Scur
rilous Remarks.
'RECORD IS NOT A CESSPOOL'
Illinois Member Declares His
Colleague's Remarks Should
Be Barred From Publication.
A speech Inserted In the Congres
sional Record bv Congressman "Cy
clone" Davis, a Texas Democrat,
mused the appointment of a special
House committee today to dotermlno
whether the Dl speech was "unlit
to he printed "
OonirrMsryw JInn'n H. Matfden. of
Illinois 'filed i'le nttentlon of tlis
louse t-( Mr. 1avls" remarks. He de
clarrd tlkt they were "Indecent and
not fit for publication on the Records
of Congiesr."
"I do not Intend that tho Congres
sional Record shall he used as a cess
pool." said Mr. Madden. "Some of ho
language contained In this speech Is
sitch that no respectable newspaper In
the United State would print It. Lan
guage that tho newspapers cannot
print should not be allowed In the
Record nr this tiouse.
Are Called Libelous.
The Illinois member added that Mr.
Davis' speech contained "vile epithets
that could not be published In a news
paper nnd would be libelous If pub
lished anywhere else, but the Rec
ord."
"He seems to have wasnea tne ainy
llnen of some Texas controversy," said
Mr. Madden.
Mr. Madden drat moved that the
speech be expunged from the Record
fortnwitn.
It was suggested by Congresiman
Garrett. Garner and other that the
practice of the appointment of a special
committee to consider th fltnesM of nny
Fpceol' of doubtful proprlcK. On rare
occasions herclofore the House has
caused speeches to be stricken from
Its Record.
Committee Is Named.
Mr. Madden then moved a commit
tee of Ave to Investigate the Davis
speech and Speaker Clark n,med Con
gressrren Webb.' of Jtforth CfrflUn.
UJVkTcy, of Kentucky, Montague, of
Virginia? Cooper, of "Wlieohkln and
Vlatt. of New York.
During the hubbub .Mr. Davis arose
and nshed "under whet rules were wo
proceeding nr.d what right have I as &
member of the House"
The Speaker Informed the Texan that
the Houae was proceedings under Its
general rules, and that If a commltttee
were named he would have a right to
NDDear before It In oerson or bv counsel.
This seemed to satisfy Mr. Davis.
The Davis speech was printed under
unanimous consent for "extension of re
marks," and was not delivered on the
floor. It was published In the Wed
nesday Record, and was In reply to
certain criticisms made of "Cyclone"
by a Texas newspaper writer Mr.
Dav's also paid his respects to Minority
Icsder Menu, with whom he had had a
verbal tilt several days before.
Some of His Language.
As asserted by Mr. Madden some or
the language used by Mr. Davis Is re
garded as unprintable. Some of the
milder terms used by "Cyclono" In his
reply to his Texas critic were:
" To call this man a child of
the devil would be to slander the devil.
"It Is supposed that he had
been hibernating with fallen women and
depraved men In boon companionship
wltn gruesome gangs of gamblers,
thugs, thieves, and sandbaggers.
"I Con't know this man. If man he
be; he may bo some pusillanimous
puppct.( and ponderer for the liquor
"Cyclone" said In the opening para
graphs of his speech that he had been
attacked becaus- ho paid tribute to
Gen. Nelson A. Miles in a prior speech
on the floor. Because he called General
Mlks n "grand old patriot." expjlalned
Ih Texas member, a Houston (Tex )
newspaper had waved the "bloody
shirt."
The prior speech also attacked J. P.
.Morgan, the llnuor traffic, "money
mongers and sordid tr"st master." and
the preparedness program. Thts, he
said, "made Morgan's minions and the
defenders of the damnable liquor traf
fic who runs newspapers furious."
WORTH GWYNN ROSS
DEAD AT HIS HOME
Former Head of Revenue- Cutter
Service Succumbs. '
Capr. Worth Uwynn Ross, retired
captain commandant 'of the Revenue
Cutler Service from 1905 to 1911, died
at his home In Now Bedford, Mass., this
morning, according to a telegram re'
eclved'at Coast Guard headquarters.
Captain Ross was one of the first
officers graduated from the Revenue
Cutter Bcrvlce Academy, He was well
known In Washington. He was a mem
her of tho I.oyal Legion, Naval and
Mllttar Ordor of the Spanish-American
War. and tho I.otos Club, of New York.
Captain Ross was a native, of Clove-
lana, wnero ho was born April 19, 1854.
ills father wns Gen. Samuel Rons. IT. R
A., who was larcelv Instruments In thn
establishment of the Hovenue-Cutter
service Hcnooi of instruction.
Washington Man Injured
In Automobile Accident
PHILADELPHIA. March M.-Thomas
F. Brennun, thirty, of Washington, D.
C. was among four men who were In
jured, one of them seilously. In a col
lision between a touring car and a mo
tor truck hero today. He suffered a
broken arm and bru'scs, and was taken
wih tho other men to tho Women's
Homeopathic Hospital.
The name Thomas K. Hrennan does
not appear In the City Directory.
VILLA TRAPPED, FIGHT
NEAR, SAYS CARRANZA;
"LID OFF" IN SENATE
CULLS IT MOnO
TO VILLA
Senator Lewis Introduces Bill
to End American Trade
With Bandit Chief.
STONE ATTACKS ALARMISTS
Charges "Sinister Forces Are
Working to Embroil' U. S.
and Mexico in War."
The lid blew off the Mexican sit
uation in the Senate this afternoon
when Senator Lewis of Illinois in
troduced a resolution declaring that
persons in this country furnishing
arms and munitions and other sup
pUes to Villa were guilty of trea
son. Immediately after that, Senator
Borah presented a telegram from
Douglas, Ariz., tclljng of the dan
ger to the people there from Mex
ican troops on the other side.
This telegram was addressed to
Senator Fall, who is absent, and
was similar to a message receives
jy Senator Ashursy . j-
SUJNED BY AriOKNfcrt
Roth messages were signed by a
prominent attorney. D. A. Rlcnard
son. Senator Sheppard of Texar, present
ed a telegram from Douglas signed
by F. W. White, which said raports of
yesterday were exaggerated, hut
which -asked for troops.
Senator Btone, aroused by the evi
dent disposition to discuss the Mex
ican situation, arose and In a bitter
speech rebuked Senators for alrlnif
telegrams of this kind at this criti
cal time.
The result was a series of sharp
colloquies with Senators Borah and
with other Senators.
In the course of his remarks. Sen
ator Stone charged that sinister In
fluences were at work In Mexico, co
operating perhaps with Influences on
this aide, to embroil the two coun
tries. He said Senators could do as they
wished. They could say what they
wished.
"Rut Just what good Is to te accom
plished by It surpasses Intelligent under
standing." he declared.
Knows Situation Is Serious.
"Every man with sense enough to
come In out of tne wet knows the situ
ation In Mexico Is a critical one," added
Senator Ston.
"It Is crltlcul in thli scniic that an
effort Is being made by numerous people
In Mexico and num-j.-ous tllilator Influ
ence:) In Mexico to cxcito the people of
that unfortunato country and to mis
lead them, to impress them with tho
Idea that the Unite J States contemplates
aggression tg.ilnst tho Mexican Govern
ment, agalns; the whole people, to their
Injury.
Ho declared shulstcr Influences were
at work In Mexico and this country to
"prcclpitatu a situation the end of which
we know not of."
He pioreoded to read from consular
reports to sk to show the complica
tions had been txacceratcd.
Rebefs Condition
Reported Serious
Several Ribs Broken and Internal
Injuries Sustained in Fall
at His House.
Surgeons at Walter Reed Hospital to
day took x-ray photographs to deter
mine the extent of the Injuries sustain
ed by Lieut. Col. Samuel Reber, U. B.
A., In a fall at his home yesterday.
Colonel Reber's condition was reported
as serious today. Several ribs are
iirokcn, and he is Internally injured.
It has not been determined whether ho
sustained a broken hip. Ho Is attended
by Capt. W. II Moncrlef, chief surgeon
of the hospital.
It will be Impossible to state the ex
tent of his Injuries, hospital plinlciann
said today, until tho X-ray photographs
are developed,
Colonel Reber suffered several attacks
of vertigo at his office yesterday. When
ho went homo In the early afternoon for
lunch ho ascended to tho third floor
to visit his tro young sons, who were
quarantined with measles.
He was attacked with vertigo at the
head of tho stairs, and fell over the
banister to the first fl He W4
unconscious when plclcd t
Tho Investigation . . . nv..ttl.n
rectlon of tho signal ec f wlilsh
Colonel Rebel Is the hi liat been
suspendr 1 temporarily. j!' Itijbor
'; a son-in-law of l.leut. r e.ton A.
Miles. He Uvea at 1831 Jefferson puc.
FURNISH K
Decides Against Call
For Gaurdsmen
There will be no mobilization
of the National Guard on the
border at present.
The President and his Cabinet
decided today that there is
no present need for a call
for volunteers nor for the
militia.
The question of calling out the
.guardsmen for patrol duty
was gone into in detail.
The Administration believes
that mobilization of tht
militia on the border would
embarrass Carranza and
make it more difficult to con
trol the situation.
In view of the early encourag
ing reports today officrals
view the situation optimistically.
DOUGLAS DECLARED
IN PERIL OF MCK
Telegram to Senator Ashurst
Says U. S. Forces Are Or
dered Not to Prepare.
"With a. Mexican army of 3.C0O cavalry
and forty ileces ot artillery- camped
within ten ' blocks of the' center ' df
i VtowAnTTVctWr hdVlfhA'irterican'
forM ordered not to prepare for aeltve
defense for fear of offending tho Mexi
cans, the Arlzons. city Is In grave dun- I
ger of Imminent attack, according to a
telegram received today by Senator
Ashurst from D. A. Richards, an at
torney. "Do all vou can for us before It Is
too late." said the telegram.
Senator Ashurst was undetermined
this morning whether to present the
telegram to the Senate or j;o the Wur
Department. In both quarters, he de
clared, his pleas for aid have, been
received rather lightly.
The telegram was called to the ntten
tlon of the War Department, which. In
turn, advised Oeneral Kunston of it,
without any recommendation. Funston
la empowered to handle such situations
aa he sees lit.
Army Men Not Alarmed.
The Carranxlstos have had a large
garrison near Douglass for some
months. In November It was about
6.000.
Army men are not inclined to regard
the situation there as in any way crit
ical, tor they believe, even should there
be an uprising, the American forces,
far better trained and equipped, could
easily cope with a vastly larger num
ber of the Mexicans.
In the Carranzlsta garrison arc a large
number of boys of from twelve to four
teen years of age. Few of them are
even fair marksmen. It Is said, as was
demonstrated In the Vllllsta-Carranxa
clash at Agua Prleta several months
ago. when several million rounds of
small ammunition were flred away with
comparatively Insignificant casualties.
Tho telegram to Ashurst reads:
"Mex'can general has fortv pieces of
artillery and 3,000 cavalry stationed ten
blocks from center of Douglas. Seven
thousand cavalry stationed six miles
south of Douglas. We have only 1,800
Infantry, 300 cavalry, and four pieces
of artillery. Our troops stationed two
miles oast of Douglas.
Mexicans Have Entrenched.
"Am reliably Informed It would re
quire one hour for our troops to reach
Douglas In case of night attack. Our
army forbidden by Administration from
matting any active defense preparations
for fear Mexicans might misconstrue
such preparations.
"Mexicans have entrenched against
United States side, and have barbed
wire entanglements, we have no en
trenchment. Mexican troops could
easily repeat Columbus massacre In
Douglas on much larger scale and re
turn to Mexico with similar loss. All ot
these statements can be verified by our
army officers here. Help us If you can
before It is too late."
Senator Ashurst said his Informant
was a responsible attorney,
NEW COMMERCE "
BUILDING CROWDED
Redfield Tells Appropriations Com
mittee of Conditions.
The nev Depaitmcnt of Commerce
building at Nineteenth street and Tenn
t"j'ven'a avenue Is becoming over
crowded, according to testimony given
to the Appropriations Committee of tho
House by o.flcUli of the department.
Members n( the Federal Trade Com
mission have asked for an Appropria
tion for n icporate building, been use
picsent hcaiUiuarlers ar Inadequeto
nnd crowded, Interfering with the ef
ficiency of tho force.
Members of tho committee suguested
that the lrnil commission ask thrt Soc
ietal v of ''oinmerce for more main In
the Commcref building.
Secretary Redfield told the committer
today that he did not have It, and that
tht other bureauj were also crowded.
OUTLAW BAND Ml
EXTERMINATION
ISCLAIM
Constitutionalist Consul Asserts
Bandit Can't Escape Iron
Ring Around Him.
NO NEWS YET OF BATTLE
Brigand Will Not Permit Troops
to" Capture Him Alive, Is Be
lief on Border.
EL PASO, March 24. Villa fU
surrounded and may be engaged by
American troops, reports from
..exican sources stated today.
A message filed by Col. Francfeco
Bcrtani after his column had root
ed Villa's force just east of Nanif
.iupa, in the Sant xvz canyon
said the VilHstas were surrounded
by his troops and by United States
soldiers under Brigndic Gener'al
Pershing
Cturanza Consul Garcia, who
made public crtani's report.startd
there was no possible chance of
.Villa cutting Jrl; way,outr.and.-4hat
his capture was momentarily ex
pected. NO NEWS OF BATTLE.
Consul Uarcla shortly before S a. m.
today said he had not received any word
from the front, although he expected
the fighting with Villa to start at day
breau. Fort Bliss authorities said they had
no word from Pershing to Indicate that
a battle with Villa was at hand or that
Villa was surrounded.
Major Sample, commander at Colum
bus, stated he had absolutely no In
formation of any engagement between
Pershing's troops and Villa. The,armyB
wireless is now In good working order,
bompie said but early today he had re
celled no Information.
hil'lf".0 f5mlllar wlt!1 v,I,a' tn'M nd
his hatred for Americans believe he will
never be token alive, and that his en-
ilrf.nc..mJ,lJfnA may b0 wPcd ou' I" "
predicted tight.
Oarcla said Villa might try to escape
?,.,"ur.pr,'"s during the night.
Uortanl reported that In the prelim!-
rar&.en,?lgement the Vllllatas rotreated
to t.l Oao, flvc miles south of Naml-
Uhn?,".' infttehrJLMlnB' " billed and
about 100 horses captured.
Got Behind Bandit.
The American troops In touch with
the Carranzlstas surrounding Villa are
bclloved to be either Colonel Dodd'a
cavalry column or Pershing's men. who
got behind tho bandits by a railroad
trip from Cases Qrandcs southward.
This repbrt of Villa's whereabouts
did not exactly conform with the
story brouR-it by rtarcla Florcs. & re
putable Spanish business man of Chi
huahuu City.
He declared on his arrival In 151
ft:i,Sal.VI,l.':eM up a Ml ? Na
tional train at Montezuma nearly lOti
S.'.?,", SLJiai?lqulna- Wednesday.
Yli,a.ind 2 00 followers wer seeklnir
American passengers to kill aild
Flores. He was positive It was Villa,
In person who went through the
cotchej.
ith ,J?la,r.d!y ?r,n"led Possible that
the outlaw' large force could have
covered the difficult country to Nam
lqulpa within a dav.
I'lores reported VIII said that Gen.
Luis Herrera had rovolted from Car
ranza and Joined them. On the other
hand there Is evidence that Herrers. is
itllUoyal to tho de facto government!
Threw Off Yoke, Report.
Other reports say Herrera recently an
nounced he would no longer be dicta
ted to by the de facto government Ha
was said to have been angered by being
displaced from command of the Chihua
hua garrison.
Herrera was reported to have made
an antl-Amerlcan speech at Parral re
cently. Since the rumor spread that ho had
repudiated Carranza. Herrera told his
followers In Chihuahua City that the
American troops had no right to be In
Mexico, He said he would not Join
Villa, however, according to these ra
ports. urlg. den. George Bell, Jr., command
er at Fort Bliss, Is one of the few offi
cials here who believe tlm rumors of
'Herrera's swing to Villa. He de
clined to make public to newspaper
men thn source pf his Information.
Udll held a conference with J, O.
Crockett, vlco president of the Mexico
Northwestern railroad, and Consul Gar
cia, to discuss the use of the line by
the American expedition. It Is generally
believed tho railroad will be used to
transport provisions, supplies, and am
munition to pershlng's base In the Casts
Qrandes district.
General Bell put out the usual strong
provost guard In Kl Paso, and along
the border last night. Heavy patrols
wero also on duty throughout tht night.
The local sltuaUon continued qult da-
'W.I
4
T
r