File No. 812.00/20113
General Funston to the Secretary of War
3910. Following received from General Pershing:
Villistas gathering cattle, horses, Santa Clara Valley. Entire district said now to be for Villa. Small parties Villistas reported operating between Lake Guzman and Ahumada. Number Villistas detrained San Antonio and marched north to San Diego Delmonte on 4th instant. Local guards various towns previously reported, said to be concentrating at Providencia. Generally rumored that Villa intends to go south. In view of Villa’s daring, and comparative inefficient Carrancista forces Villa’s power almost certain to increase. Reports regarded as authentic place his forces at 6,000. Four train-loads of supplies captured at Chihuahua arrived San Ysidro 5th instant. A swift blow delivered by this command should be made at once against this pretender. Our own prestige in Mexico should receive consideration at this time. In the light of Villa’s operations during the past two weeks, further inactivity of this command does not seem desirable, and there is no longer doubt as to the facts. As stated in previous communications aggressive action would probably meet no resistance by Carrancistas, and should meet their approval. Civilian element would welcome us, as they now wonder at our inactivity.
I approve of the foregoing recommendation. Villa’s successes, are rapidly placing him in control of a large part of the State of Chihuahua. Carranza forces opposed to him have not been successful; on the contrary they have been seriously and decisively defeated several times during the last month. I can see no reason for believing that they will be more successful in months to come, as Villa is constantly gaining in strength, influence and power and is extending area over which he has complete control. Secret service reports show that there is strong Villa sympathy in Coahuila and Nuevo Leon and I believe if he is allowed to continue his career unchecked that in the course of a few months he will control all of northern Mexico. A quick decisive blow directed against him now by John J. Pershing’s (Maj. Gen.) command would check this rising power and if allowed to continue until Villa is captured would put an end to the whole movement, thereby greatly benefiting de facto Government. John J. Pershing (Maj. Gen.) states that he believes such action would meet with no resistance by Carrancistas. It would certainly seem that it should meet not only with their approval but with their cooperation. This would involve the use of the Mexico Central or Mexico Northwestern Railroads from Juarez, as John J. Pershing must have one of these railroads for his line of communications. There could be no assurance of success in pursuing Villa without provisions being made for following him into Durango, Distrito Federal.