The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-02-23
DRASTIC ACTION
IS DEMANDED
Englishmen Urging That Uncle
Sam do Something About
the Mexican
Turmoil.
OVER BENTON MURDER
OVER BENTON MURDER
Feeling 10 Running High Against Villa
by tho People Living
Along tho
Border.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Servtce.]
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-In the
face of urgent demands that it force
drastic action in Mexico. the British
government today was refraining
from bringing additional pressure to
bear on the United States. Sir Cecil
SpringRice stood Arm in his posi-
tton that he would await full de-
tailed report Of all the circumstances
surrounding William S. Benton's death
before taking Judgment. And, al
though leading senators and repre-
sentatives were privately talking
armed intervention, as seemingly in
evitable, the administration heads
were still hopeful that no such step
would be necessary.
The situation was admittedly grave
in the opinions OF the president and
his secretary of state. Not alone the
death of Benton but the apparent dis
appearance of two Englishmen, Roger
Lawrence and Jas. Curtis, and an
American. Harry Compton, Of Oak
land, with the fear that they, too,
| have been killed, were most serious
complications. Compton wrote from
chihuahua that he was to be taken to
Juarez and executed for some un-
4 known crime. Lawrence and Curtis
have not been seen since they started
flor Villas headquarters to seek their
companion villa and his subordinss
ates positively swear that none OF
the three are in Mexico so far as they
know. But in this connection 1t Is
recalled that Villa said that Benton
was alive and we'll twenty-four hours
after he had been executed.
i Sir Cecil Spring Rice has been told
by his home office that the opinion is
4 general there that the reported Ben
ton court martial was in reality a
frame up" to cover cold blooded
murder. 1t is understood that he has
so informed the state department.
But Secretary Bryan and his chief as
sistants refuse positively to discuss
this matter
When the secretary was asked
whether he had sent formal order
to Consul Edwards at Juarez to de-
mand Benton's body for the latter's
: wife, he declined to answer. 1t is
| believed however, that this has been
done as the British ambassador told
, the secretary Saturday that he believ-
ed the widow should get her dead.
Recovery of the body would show how
: ever, whether Benton was first beaten
J to death by the infuriated Villa and
, then stood up against wall before a
| firing party to cover the initial crime
as alleged by the friends OF the dead
Englishman. Senator Fall. OF New
Mexico was today prepared to intro
! duce resolution in the senate that
the state department recover Ben
l toms body.
: An additional distinctly important
note in the Mexican situation was the
: action of Germany in sending ma
I chine guns, 10000 rounds Of ammuni-
I tion and picked marine guard to Its
legation in Mexico City. They were
sent with the consent of this govern
ment. Army officials, familiar with
the entire situation believed this was
| the beginning OF the end of the peace,
= fuI conditions in the Mexican capital
Gi Germany, they said, would not have
+ acted unless 1t was absolutely be
S lieved her subjects were in danger
a and 1t is believed Huerta has priv
IN ppUa D