Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-02-25
MEETS DEMANDS. OF UNITED
STATES IN. BENTON CASE WITH
PARTIAL CONCESSION.
INSISTS ON RElNTERMENT
AFTER BRIEF INVESTIGATION
Opportunity For Medical Examination
to 30 coneedsd-unitsd States Re.
news lnsistenes That Body Be De-
Iiversd to Mrs. esnton-froops May
Be Sent to Secure Possession.

Washington. Feb. 25.-Further rep
RESERVATIONS by the American govern
ment were made today to General Villa.
pointing out the necessity of giving up
the body Of William s. Benton Sec
rectary Bryan visited the White House
before going to his Office to read over
night dispatches. He made no COM
ment on the situation.
White House officials after Secre-
tary Bryan had left made this explana-
ton Of the status OF the inquiry Two
dispatches were received yesterday.
one from Consular Agent Carothers,
saying Villa would not permit view
of the body "at this time" but would
do SO later. That message came dur
ing the afternoon.
Villa Partially Decides.
Late last night message was re-
ceived from Consul Let cher at Chihua-
hua. who had been in pes onal confer
ence with Villa. He reported that Villa
was willing to have the widow and
relatives of Benton see The body when
1t was exhumed and that. their. visit
would be permitted in the presence Of
representatives to be selected by the
American government.
The change of attitude was said to be
The resul, of the Representations of the
United States. The[United States Will
designate an army surgeon as one Of
the representatives and an examina-
tion Of the body Will be made
While apparently satisfied that an
opportunity for medical examination
has been made, the latest request of
Villa is that after the examination the
body be delivered to the widow for
burial wherever she may wish
Appaal to Carrsnxa.
The state department Is hopeful that
thru General Carrahsa. Villas superior
officer It can .sscceed in getting Ben
toms body. No answer rad been re-
ceived today to representations sent
yesterday to Carranza at Nogales.
Secretary Bryan has communicated
to the British embassy the latest mes
saEes from Consul Letcher announcing g
Villas Willingness to permit the widow
to view the body but not to remove it.
Secretary Bryan declined today to
intimate what he would do in the event
that Villa would refuse to submit.
Might Recover Force.
Discussing the possibility. some Off
cials said there was really no legal
obstacle to, Brigadier General Bliss
sending a force Of American cavalry
men from the border patrol to recover
Benton's body If 1t can be located.
That such would not be an act of war
which first must be authorized by con-
gress was denied by such officials.
They pointed to President Wilson'S
declaration that there Is at present no
government in Mexico. Such a condi-
ton they say would Justify such ac-
II n somewhat similar to that In China
during the Boxer uprising when a large
international force entered the country
without declaration OF wal. Such a
course would be a last resort but its
legality was held without question.
The eight hundred marines already
on battleships in Mexican waters will
be reinforced by 300 sailing from PEN
sacola, Fla, on the transport Prairie.
Secretary Daniels explained that the
Prairie was being sent to Vera Cruz
solely to provide accommodations for
marines on already overcrowded bat
tleships.
Secretary Bryan said today that no
orders have been issued for the land
ing OF a guard for the American en-
bassy at Mexico City AMI that no re-
quest for such a force had been re-
ceived.
Secretary Bryan conferred with the
senate foreign relations committee al
the capitol. He had with him an arm
full of books some OF them said to
relate to Mexico.
Villas Proposal Accepted.
General Villas proposal for an
American examination Of the body o:
william m s. Benton without permitting
its removal from Mexico has been ac-
cepted by this government without
waving, however, any further move
:::emt &c demand .:s delivery on Amer
ican soil.
British Consul Perceval at Galveston
was ordered today to proceed to FL
Paso at once, where he Is expected to
arrive tomorrow, to go to the grave at
Juarez with a delegation OF Amer
leans. General Scott, comma ntfing the
United States troops there. will detail
an American army surgeon and many
other officers to accompany the Brit
ish consul. member Of Benton's
family will be taken with the party.
Still Demand Surrender.
That course has been decided on
pending the outcome OF efforts to oh
tain the surrender Of the body to Ben
tons family, which will not be abated
in the least. An immediate examina :
tion even under limited conditions has
been decided upon in order that de
composition may not obliterate the
mute evidence of the wounds.
Further complicated by dispatches
telling OF official confirmation re-
,ceaved by Consul Garrett at Nuevo La
redo Of the hanging by Huerta troops
Of Clementa Vergara, an American
near Hidalzo, the Mexican situation
took on more tensity. II 1t would be
said there was any change at all. =
Oryan drilled by Committee.
{ Secretary Bryan discussed the sit