Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1914-02-25
Drastic Action PLANNED

fNffAcAAA-c3e~A-g 4 NDs HOs NNAAltC I1OuD
officials, when Secretary Bryan ha,
left after an early visit today in re
gard to the Mexican situation, mad,
this explanation Of the status of tn,
inquiry for Benton's body:
Two dispatches were received yes
terday, one from Consular Agent caro-
theirs saying Villa would not permit
a view Of the body ''at this time but
} would do SO later. That message
came during the afternoon Late last
night message was received from
Consul Letcher at Chihuahua, who had
been in personal conference with vii
la. He reported that villa was will
ing 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 a rep
resentative to be designated by the
American government. The United
States win designate an army surgeon
as one of it's representatives and an
examination Of the body will be made,
according to White House officials.
viii Appeal to carranza
The latest representations to villa
request that after the examination
the body be delivered to the widow
for burial wherever she may wish.
The state department is hopeful that
through General Carranza, Villas SUI
perior officer, it can succeed in get
ting Benton's body. No answer has
been received today to representa-
tions sent to Carranza yesterday at
Nogales.
Secretary Bryan has communicated
to the British embassy the latest mes
sages from Consul Letcher, announc-
ing Villas willingness to permit the
widow TO view Benton's body, but his
refusal to allow it's removal. That
however, may not meet the demands
Of the British embassy. Secretary
Bryan declined today to intimate
what he would do in the even that
Villa persisted in his refusal and
carranza could not be induced to in
teryene,
Cavalry May Recover Body
Discussing possibilities, some Off
cials here said there was no legal OBJ
stacle to Brigadier General Bliss send
ing force of American cavalrymen
from border patrol to recover Ben
toms body, if it can be located That
such would be an act Of war was de- |
MED by such officials. Conditions in
Mexico, they say, would justify action
similar to that taken in China during
the Boxer uprising, when large in
ternational force entered the country
without any declaration of war. The
legality Of such a course was held TO
be beyond question
- SttS9 - ttNt$Et~~N
The eight hundred marines already
on battleships in Mexican waters will
be reinforced by the 300 sailing from
Pensacola, Florida, on the transport
Prairie by next Sunday Secretary
Daniels said that no orders had been
issued for the landing of guard for
the American embassy at Mexico City.
Secretary Bryan conferred with the
senate foreign relations committee at
the capitol. He had with him an arm
full Of books and documents some OF
them, it was said, relating to Mexico
Mo Prisoners In Chihuahua
Later dispatches from Consul Let
cher said General Villa hal given as
surances that he would endeavor to
locate the ten Americans, whom be
says he rejected as recruits for his
army. Villa says when he offered
them special train to Juarez they
preferred to remain in Chihuahua. He
added that he had no record Of their
names, but would try to get one.
There are no Americans in prison
at chihuahua, according to the con-
suls report General Villa reiterated
to Letcher that Gustav Bauch had not
been brought to chihuahua and that
he knew nothing about him. The
American consul had protested against
any summary action being taken
against Bauch if he is apprehended BY
the rebels.
Charge OfShaughnessy reported to-
day that John Hinnant, a cattle man
from HebronyilIe. Texas who had
been taken into custody BY the fed
erals, had been liberated at saltillo
He added that no fear need be enter
tanned with regard 10 an American,
Benavides, for whose safety anxiety
was felt
cawanza Scores villa