The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-23
IS AMERICANS SENT
TO BORDER BY VILLA
Rebel Leader Says Men Re-
ported Missing May Be
Among Them.
REJECTED AS RECRUITS
Gen. Carranza Objects TO For
cigncrs in Army, Chief
tain Says.
REJECTED AS RECRUITS

Eli PAso. Feb. 22-Pancho vilia tele-
graphed to Juarez to-day that he was
sending back to the border by the FIRST
military train from Chihuahua fifteen
Americans and other foreigners who had
made their way south In the last few days
in an effort to join his army. lie said
that in this batch there might be some
Americans and foreigners who had been
reported lately as disappeared and for
whose executions he was blamed by rela-
tives in the United Statse.
Villa asked THE Sun correspondent to
make IL plain that Venustiano Carranza.
who he still calls his chief. does not wish
to see any foreigners in the rebel army.
and he says that they will all be sent back
as fast as they try to Join him
Nothing more has been heard OF the
two Englishmen. Randolph Lawrence and
a. X. Curtis, who are reported to have
gone to Juarez to see Villa In an effort
TO save the life OF their friend Benton.
when he was being held prisoner by
villa. before the rebel chief executed
him Those who have been inQuirinE about
the two men hope. to see them In the
party which Villa says he Is sending back
20 the border.
Searching for Harry Compton.
a thorough search for Harry Compton
OF Oakland. Cal. has been made by United
States agents In Juarez and other parts
OF Chihuahua. but without success. Ac-
cording to w. +. Perry OF Garden City
Cal, Compton wrote him from Chihuahua
saying that he was held in jail there and
would be sent to JuareZ on February lb
which was the date set for his execution
The Const!tut!onallst officers say that they
never heard OF Compton and have no man
Of his description under arrest.
Secretary OF State Bryan has instructed
Mr.. Edwards to look for Compton and to
investigate reports OF the arrest of or
execution OF other Americans. The same
instructions have been received by Consul
Letcher at Chihuahua. Gen. Hugh L.
Scott has received a request from Comp
tons mother in Garden City. Cal. to make
every effort TO find her son.
Fidel Avila, the president of the mill
tary court In Juarez, says that he has not
seen Compton and that no Americans
have been killed within his Jurisdiction
NJ the denials. including that of Gen.
villa, have been forwarded to Secretary
Bryan by American Consuls.
Richard NJ. Dudley has wired to Senator
Fall asking him to have Benton's body
sent to Mrs. Benton. who Is In FL Paso
Dudley believes that villa In concealing
the facts and that an examination OF the
body may throw light on the manner Of
Benton's death.
The first anniversary of the assassina-
ton OF President Madero and Vice resi-
dent Suarez was observed with memorial
services in Peace Grove near Juarez to-
DAY The troops in Juarez were reviewed
by Col. Avila- They wore Madero buttons
and black bands on their sleeves.
Refugees In FL Paso hear that there Is
plan In tho States Of northern Mexico
to form new republic.
A telegram from Yuma ii tho
Lawrence. one OF the missing men. has
been in the employ OF an irrigation COM
pany there and Is supposed to have come
to FL Paso. Messages from relatives are
received frequently here by officers and
newspaper men asking for investigation
INTO cases or persons reported held for
ransom. ard so many of these have de-
velopod TO be merely cases where me sup
posed prisoner had played the races or
one or the gambling games In Juarez and
gone broke that these inquiries no
longer arouse FL Paso to fever heat.
Many Cases Investigated.
Dozens OF such cases have been inves-
'teated here In 'he last year the I'M
lucky individual wiring his relatives that
he must hay" money to pay the rebels
ana the investigation proving that he IL
hVing III III Paso secretly. but badly In
need of cash Tor meal tickets and to sat
isfy rooming house keepers. Nothing along
THIS line or any other, however, has de-
veloped in the cases Of Lawrence Curtis
or Compton and their dsappea rance In
still unexplained.
officials In Juarez reiterated tonight
with considerable emphasis and show OF
cr that none of these men was In
prison or ever had been and declared they
We're tired OF answering 80 many foolish
inquiries"
Domingo Flores Sent to Chihua h q.
The wife OF Domingo Flores, the El
Paso Mexican who has been In prison In
Juarez, stlll maintains that he 10 executed
as she Is unable to locate him and says
the officials Of Juarez refuse to give her
any Information He. too. the officials said
tonight. has been taken to chihuahua for
/ trial. Tho rebel officials say that he
IL not being held for ransom. as
| his wife and relatives claim, but
that he got money from the rebels
20 buy ammunition and then failed to
account for II. They say the family has
been told that they must raise the money
II they would save him. Investigation u,
lei Faso fails to show that he il natu-
rallied American. as his family claims.
United States troops have been busy for
twenty-fou hours investigating q report
that Mexican Federals. planning IN ex-
cursion into Chihuahua against the rebels,
have been gathering In the mountains
near Las Cruces. n. NJ, but have failed
to locate the hlibusters. Capt. Harry N.
Cootes and Lieut. Bowman with q part
OF a troop OF the Thirteenth Cavalry are
scouting near Las Cruces In an ende ayor
| to locate the band