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Show VILLA PURSUIT AT STANDSTILL Expeditionary Commander Confronted With Serious Problem Carranza Troops Insubordinate. FIRE ON U. S. OFFICERS Gen. Larrangos' Soldiers Attack At-tack General Pershing's Escort Es-cort Train Mexican Press Misleading. Camp of General J. J. Pershing, at the Front April 17 (by motor and wireless to Columbus, N. M., April 18). The American pursuit of Villa Is at a standstill, because of the unprovoked un-provoked attack upon American cavalry cav-alry men by the Insubordinate soldiers sol-diers of the Carranza garrison at Par-ral. Par-ral. At General Pershing's headquarters headquar-ters today there seemed no Immediate prospect of the resumption of "the chase while there were numerous indications in-dications that a continuation of the pursuit would meet with armed resistance. resist-ance. A small party of American officers was fired upon near here last night, none of the Americans being Injured. This coming on the heels of other icports of sniping Is responsible for the belief that the expeditionary commander Is confronted with a serious seri-ous problem. A report received here from Carranza Car-ranza sources that a Villa colonel, captured near Cusihuiriachic, had promised to lead a party to a grave In which Villa was said to have been burir-d last Friday, Is generally discredited dis-credited by military authorities hero. Newspapers published in Chihuahua reached here today containing reports of the attack upon tho command of MaJorxFrank Tompkins at Parral. According Ac-cording to these, Americans were encamped en-camped in tho Plaza do San Juan, when, despite tho efforts of the Carranza Car-ranza officials, the Mexican populace attacked them with fire arms whereupon where-upon tho cavalrymen fought back. The affair was described as being a repulse of tho Americans, since they retired finally to Lammos. The newspapers pointed out that, despite the unfortunate occurrence, there was no friction between the American commander and the Carranza Car-ranza authorities In Parral. both of whom wero working to establish permanent per-manent relations. Reports reaching hero today from Carranza sources, Bald that a constitutionalist constitu-tionalist force engaged a Villa command com-mand under General Larangas, within with-in a few miles of this camp two nights ago, two Carranzistas and one Vlllista being killed. It was a detachment de-tachment of General Larangos' force that attacked General Pershing's escort es-cort train near here Tuesday night. Consul Receives Dispatch. Consul Garcia today received the following message from Gov. Enrlquea at Chihuahua City: "News of the capture of Villa has not yet been confirmed. Many reports re-ports have been received that he Is dead and these reports are considered worthy of belief. Colonel Carranza and the other chiofs are occupied in tracking down Villa and bringing him back dead or alive." General Gavlra today received word from Cuslhulrlachlo that Gen. Cava-zasas Cava-zasas had not yet returned from San Francisco Borja, where ho went for Villa's body. Gen. Bell Disbelieves Story. Gen. George Bell, Jr., today declined to discuss the boslb of a report ho sent to Gen. Funston at San Antonio, In which ho gave it as IiIb opinion that the story regarding the- finding ot VII-la's VII-la's body, was manufactured In Juarez. "That was my opinion after hearing tho various staries" he said. General Bell has refused from the first to place credence In tho finding of the bandit's body. rn |