File No. 812.00/20619
Vice Consul Blocker to the Secretary of State
British Vice Consul O’Hea reports following late this evening:
It is evident Government troops are trying to capture and surround Villa, the several thousand Government troops moving in a westerly direction from Torreon in accordance with troops from south. Among these troops are numbers being sent by General Murguia from north. It is probable under pressure of pursuit Villa has already moved in a westerly direction toward the Sierras, where of course it is difficult to catch him. The overwhelming forces certainly will be able to eliminate, if not annihilate, rebel forces, and he probably has got away with not more than a few hundred men and all news states he has broken his forces up into guerrilla bands.
Other information brought to border to-day states five troop trains passed through Saltillo 6th and also 2,000 men under General Dieguez have left railroad south of Torreon cutting across country hoping to intercept Villa before he gets into Sierras. Pursuit of Villa seems well organized and complete dissolution of his bands probable. Authorities express hopes announcing his capture if Dieguez can only reach border of Sierras ahead of him.