The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-21

\
number of soldiers taking their night
off and sprinkling OF women.
TWO MORE ENGLISHMEN
HAVE DISAPPEARED
El Paso, Tex. February a0.--Two more
Englishmen are reported as having dis
appeared" In Juarez.
The report came tonight from Samuel
Stewart, who says the men, John Law
renee and a companion named Curtis,
went TO Juarez Wednesday to search for
William S. Benton.
Stewart tonight expresses the fear that
they, like Benton, had been shot.
Gustav Banch, who was on trial for
being spy, also disappeared in Juarez
today
El Paso Tex, February 2o-stewart
with Major Holmdahl OF Villas staff, was
permitted to search the jails and guard
houses of Juarez today, but they found
no trace of the two missing E,nglishmen.
Lawrence is chief engineer of the Caiifor-
mia Development company and came here
on vacation from Yuma, according to
Stewart
Stewards status here is not exactly
clear although he told a circumstantial
story of his search for the missing men.
At first he gave the name of Thomp-
son, but when told that his name would
be published, he said he was known here
as Stewart He is an Englishman and
said he had served in South Africa as
a lieutenant in the Forty-third artillery
He wore the South Africa and Orange
Free State medals, with several service
bars.
Lawrence. he said went to school with
Benton in England Curtis. he said, also
was an Englishman by birth, but now
is the owner of ranch in New Mexico.
na-tc tola tl...tl
Bauch would be SHOT. Consul Edwards
is confident Bauch was nor removed TO
Chihuahua, as he watched the train de-
part this morning with General Villa en-
board.
Stewart quoted a rebel officer, whose
name he did not learn, as remarking:
well, we've gotten rid of three more
gringoes."
Washington, February 20,--A slum-
bering Mexican situation was brought
quickly to a point of intense interna-
tional interest today by the fash of a
message saying William S. Beii.on, a
British subject, had been killed in
Juarez by order of Gen. Francisco villa,
the constitutfonaiist commander.
Sir Cecil Spring Rice, British ambas-
sador, conferred with Secretary Bryan
about it; President Wilson and his cab
met discussed 1t briefly. and tt.e state
cation by consular representatives on
the border.
Officials Shocked
In this case, for the first time since
the present revolution began a year
ago, the general warning from the
United States government to Mexican
factions to protect foreigners went un-
needed, though there is every evidence
to show that both the British ambassa-
dor and the state department We're ad-
vised too late of BentonsA impending
fate to intercede specifically for him.
The news shocked officials generally,
who had come to believe that General
Villa fully realized the position of the
American government in regard to the
protection of foreigners in Mexico, par
ticularly in the north of that country.
Il haven't sufficient facts on which to
base an opinion" said Secretary Bryan
today. Until l have the department
will express no opinion"
This was the official view of the
situation, with messages passing be-
tween the state department and Con
sui Edwards and his temporary assist
ant, @. G. Carrothers, consular repre-
sentative at Torreon. Only few de-
tails We're annoupced by the state de-
partment-one was that Benton had
been executed after a military trial. A
copy of the sentence of the court, set
ting forth evidence in the case was
promised the American consular repre-
sentatiyes. Mr.. Bryan said full re-
port of the affair was on its way by
mail from Consul Edwards. to whom
General villa personally had explained
the incident.
Stir in Diplomatic Circles
The killing of British subject un-
der circumstances such as dispatches
from the border portrayed caused a
stir in diplomatic circles. Those famil-
lar with the aggressive attitude Great
Britain assumes in pressing for .repar
alton when her subjects have been
wronged were inclined to forsee inter-
esting developments.
Discussion of the case between the
ambassador and the Secretary of State
developed clearly the absence of any
responsibility on the part of the United
|States for the killing of British subjects,
even though the Investigation should
prove 1t to have been unjustifiable. The
United States it was asserted, had
acted as a friend and exerted every ef-
fort to save the mans. HE, and the fact
that through its consular officers the |
American. government might have yir-
tually recognized the de, facto control of
Villa over a certain portion of north
ern Mexico. 1t was held. In no wise in
creased its liability for the actions of
that individual.
The British government, through the
embassy. was informed that the state
department is waiting the mailed re-
port upon the tragedy from American
Consul Edwards. ~
Though the report referred to is not
likely to reach here for few days, |
details OF the incident began to filter
into the state department In bricf dis
patches tonight. The departure OF Gen.
eral Villa for the south was not looked |
ON by officials here as having any con-
nection with the death OF Benton. Tie |
Information which reached the state de- |
partment was that Villa had been |
planning the move south for severN |
days.
Tampic0 Without Water
Port Arthur, Tex, February 20-The |
water supply of Tampico, Mex. has
been cut on since February IS and the |
city practically in state OF seige, ac-
cording to reports brought here 5y per- !
sons on tank steamers today. 1t Is re-
ported that sanitary conditions are not
good and with no water the city Is
threatened with pestilence. 1t IL said
that on February II force OF fcderals =