When [Secretary of War Newton D.] Baker arrived at the War Department, he approached Chief of Staff [Major General Hugh L.] Scott
and said, “I want you to start an expedition into Mexico to catch Villa.” This alarmed
Scott, who asked: “Mr. Secretary, do you want the United States to make war on one
man? Suppose he should get on a train and go to Guatemala, Yucatan, or South America;
are you going to go after him?” The Secretary replied “Well, no, I am not.” Scott
suggested “That is not what you want then. You want his band captured or destroyed.”
Baker finished the conversation with “Yes, that is what I really want.