File No. 812.00/19867
General Pershing to General Funston
Headquarters Punitive Expedition, U. S.
Army,
In the Field, Mexico, November 2, 1916.
In the Field, Mexico, November 2, 1916.
- 1.
- Referring to my letter of October 21,8 information that comes in from many sources, several brief reports of which have been forwarded by telegraph from time to time,8 seems to confirm the opinion that the Carrancista Government, as at present conducted, is wholly unable to put down banditry in the State of Chihuahua. Villa’s prestige continues to grow, and his numbers are increasing. It is known that he is coercing natives to follow him, but men so impressed would probably not remain with him if there were any other alternative. When Villa recently resumed activities, the people in towns along the Northwestern Railroad, including Madera, Guerrero and other towns in that section, sent word through their leaders to the de facto Government that they would gladly take up arms and help the Government against him if supported, but no notice was taken of their offer. The rural people of Chihuahua naturally wonder why the Carrancista Government does not send some of their ablest officers north to command and clean things up. It is almost the general opinion among the people that if this were, done Villa would not last long. To an observer here on the ground, it is inconceivable that the de facto authorities should not know the inefficiency, if not disloyalty, of their commanding officers in Chihuahua and apply the remedy.
- 2.
- One of Villa’s generals has recently issued a manifesto, copy enclosed, which explains itself. It was found on Garcia, now a prisoner of the Carrancistas. This would seem to confirm the view that he is receiving support from the Legalista party. Villa is working [Page 613] south with approximately 1,000 armed men, presumably with Jimenez as objective. He is said to have been in command at the Carmargo fight. His command is not well mounted, and has very little ammunition. He gathered up many horses both north and south of the railroad and has taken quantities of supplies from the people in that section. The territory, included in the Guerrero Valley through which he has been operating, is reported to have good crops, corn and beans being plentiful.
- 3.
- The local Carrancista commanders are doing little or nothing to save their country from the ravages of this bandit. The fact that these northern commanders, including Treviño at Chihuahua, Gonzales at Juarez, Dias at El Valle and Cortina at Madera, do not appear to want peace established. They undoubtedly form a clique to run things in Chihuahua themselves. They collect the taxes and dispose of the products of the mines and ranches for their own benefit. They make only a flimsy pretense of hunting bandits, as numerous incidents prove. In fact, there are many rumors that the commanding officer at Juarez and the troops under him are only awaiting an opportunity to turn over to the Legalistas.
- 4.
- The de facto troops in Chihuahua are variously estimated at from 3,000 to 9,000, the former number probably being more nearly correct. It is safe to say that of these but a small proportion would remain loyal to the Carrancista Government, as they are poorly paid and are short of provisions and clothing. An intercepted radio message sent by Treviño to Obregon stated that the troops were suffering for want of blankets, 10,000 blankets were asked for, but Obregon answered that the contractor had been unable to furnish them.
- 5.
- In view of the conditions it certainly does not appear probable that the Carrancistas can restore anything like order. If further operations on our part should be contemplated, the occupation of the City of Chihuahua by the larger part of this command would be very advantageous, as it would bring us much nearer the theater of operations. It would probably not be difficult now to occupy Chihuahua City, as there could be little opposition on the part of the de facto troops, while the populace would doubtless welcome us.
John J. Pershing