22 APRIL 1916, Page 2

. The Mexican news is involved in a good deal

of mystery. In the tzst place, there seems some ground for the belief that Villa is dead. At any rate, the agents of Carranza's Government appear to be latent on suggesting that he has died of wounds, and his body is said to have been identified. Next, it is stated that Carranza has sent a somewhat peremptory request to Washington that the United States troops should at once be withdrawn from Mexico. If -Villa is actually dead, that may prove the easiest solution of the very difficult military situation created by the despatch of General Pershing's column in pursuit of Villa. If, however, Villa is not dead, the Mexican demand can hardly be regarded except as an additional aggravation of the situation.