File No. 812.00/17919
[Untitled]
1260. Following just received from Pershing:
Namiquipa, April 17, 1916.
Little doubt people assisted Villa evade American troops vicinity Namiquipa. After Guerrero fight inhabitants without exception aided Villa escape, openly giving apparently authentic information based entirely on falsehood. At San Borja, Tompkins’ command, hot on Villa’s heels, was stopped several hours by Gen. Cavasas, who claimed dangerous enter town because notification his arrival not been received. Same Carranza officers detained Colonel Brown at Cusihuiriachic under same pretense. Several Carranza commanders have asserted they would not permit American troops proceed beyond certain points. Attitude towards columns further south one of decided obstruction. Vicious attack Parral preceded by friendly attitude of inhabitants. These attacks facilitated escape Villa band, possibly including Villa himself.
The swift-moving parallel and supporting columns that I have used has succeeded in covering country effectively. Without anything but unreliable and misleading information, [Page 527] it is my firm belief that success would have been inevitable. Polite offers of use of railroad and telegraph lines nave been only pretense. In nearly every instance the attempt to use these lines blocked by local officials. Several instances known where Mexicans have used telegraph lines falsely reported to us out of condition. Our land telegraph along line of communications constantly molested various points, often 100 yards being removed, compelling most drastic measures to maintain line in condition.
It is, therefore, my conviction, looking back over incidents of campaign to present, that the movements of Carranza forces and the acts of civilian population have combined to offer all obstructions possible to the success of the mission.