The Detroit times., 1914-02-25

determined: the United States has
obligated itself to Great Britain for
tIiis and England refuses TO be salts
fed with less.
This was the status Of the Mexican
situation a. admitted at the white
house and state department this at.
ternoon.
How the promise 10 to bs kept h
seriously troubling the administration.
Villa has agreed to disinter the body
for inspection Of Mrs. Benton. He
has grudgingly agreed that represen-
tatives OF this government may be
present. Further he has refused to
go. The administration is now try
ing again to have the body delivered
10 Consul Letoher at Chihuahua City.
! !. h believed eventually that he will
succeed. Today was the most tense
In oficial circles 20 far a. Mexico is
concerned since Madsro's assasstna-
1 tion. There was constant inter
change Of code messages between
Consul Letcher at chihuahua City.
Consul Edwards ct Juares. Charge
'Shaughnessy at Mexico City. Spe-
cial Envoy Lind at Vera Cruz and
the state department.
| Little of the information these mes
sages contained was made public. 1t
was stated here that all efforts to
clear up the fate OF Gustav Bauch.
American. and John Lawrence. Brit
ish subject, have failed. Villa categ-
or.cally denies all knowledge OF them.
The secretary Of state went from
President Wilson's reception to the
Army and Navy before midnight. last
night. to his desk In the state depart
ment. After perusing the message
from Consul Letcher at chihuahua
saying that Villa would let Mrs. Ben
ton look at her dead husbands face.
but would Immediately re.inter the
body. he sent new instructions to the
border. These are said to be a re-
newed demand. couched In the sharp
est language, that Villa turn Benton's
dead body over at once.
In addition local constitutionalista
junta has been warned as has Gen.
Carranza himself. that this govern
ment Is under obligation to Great
britain to fully investigate all Of the
circumstances Of BentOn's death and
that II will do 20 whether villa aids
or retards such inquiry. And villa.
Carranxa and their lieutenants in the
field have been warned that British
Consul Perceval Is en- route from Gal.
weston to Juarez to hold an inquiry
OF his own and that he must neither
be harrassed or retarded.
Ugly rumors were afloat here today
regarding other developments In
North Mexico. The state department
/, about convinced that Gustav Bauch.
American, and John Lawrence, British
subject, have already been summar.
| lily executed by villas direction.
Every effort II being made to To-
cate the men and ascertain their fate.
The very fact that the consular repre-
sentatives at Chihuahua city and
Juarex report failure was feared to
confirm the rumor that they have
been made away with. The change
OF sentiment along the Mexican bor-
der was also causing worry. Where
q week ago the constituti0nalists were
In high favor and their success hoped
for, today's Information indicated that
they are cordially and bitterly detest-
ed. The army officers along the Rio
Grande report that open threats are
being made against Villa and his men
and that they fear, II Benton's body
rs not surrendered. well-armed band
OF his friends may try to get across
the border to recover 1t by force -
soon as the grave can be located.
The commanding officers aH aions
the border have been Instructed to
redouble their viligance to prevent
any violation OF neutrality at this time
but the border il long and the guard
10 small and no attempt h being made
| to, minimize this danger.
a
be sent to the border at this time.
although IL ii understood that quiet
tip has gone to four army posts where
cavalry regiments are stationed to be
ready for quick action at short no.
tice. More marines, however, are be-
ing rushed to Admiral Fletcher at
Vera Cruz.
The scout cruiser Chester, her bunk
ers filed with coal and her ammuni-
ton magazines packed. cleared at
daylight this morning from Mobile
harbor. She conveyed the transport
Prairie with $50 marine on board and
the monitor Tonopah. The Tonopah
carried additional small arm and rap
Id fire gun ammunition for the Fletch.
er feet, which ID already the most
formidable ever established In Mex
lean waters, with the single excep-
tion of the great neet which Admiral
Evans took around the Horn. These
marines are all picked men.
They VIII Be held on the Prairie
with orders drafted from the vessels
of the feet ready for action at q mo-
mentS notice. II the crisis comes
they will be rushed by rail to Mexico
City to protect foreigners.
Secretary Bryan visited the White
house shortly before the president
came to his ONCE this morning. Bry-
an declined to make any statement
other than that no additional advices
had been received from Mexico up to
1Q;46 today. He said that % far as
yesterdays dispatches were con-
cerned, the FIRST one was q distinct
and positive refusal from villa to per.
NIT anyone to view Bentons body at
this time.
To this message . reply was sent
through Consul Letcher at Chihuahua
City informing villa that his position
was considered most unfriendly by
this government. Il was after this
message had been delivered and just
before midnight that Letcher notified
the state department that villa was
willing to have Benton's body disin-
TERED and to permit the widow and
relatives to view It. I'm the presence
Of Representatives Designated by the
United States government"
Bryan would not intimate what
reply had been sent to this message.
It 10 said. however, that strong pre-