Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1914-02-27
BLAST WIPES OUT
ENTIRE COMMAND
Fifty Officers and Men on Train
Slain by Rebels.
PASSENGERS ARE FIRED UPON
Bryan Is Warned by English Envoy
Sir Edward Grey Tells House of
Commons of Crisis Due to
Villa Outrage.
PASSENGERS ARE FIRED UPON

Vera Cruz, Feb. ga federal troop
train carrying company of infantry
from Mexico City, destined for Jalapa,
was blown up by rebels near the Lima
station of the Interoceanic railway, lao
miles from Vera Cruz. The entire
train was demolished. All on board,
including So officers and men and the
English engineer, were killed. A pas
senger train, which was following in
the wake of the troop train, was fired
on by the rebels, but escaped by back
ing rapidly.
London, England, Feb. 25.-The his
tory of the Benton affair as contained
in the information furnished to Sir
Cecil Spring-Rice, British ambassador
to the United States, by the state de-
partment at Washington, was COM
municated in official form to the house
of commons by Sir Edward Grey Mon
day.
When the British foreign secretary
said that Sir Cecil Spring-Rice had
told Secretary of State Bryan that
the public opinion OF Europe was like
ly to be seriously affected by Villas
attitude, an encouraging cheer rolled
through the house.
A full house listened with intense
interest to the explanations given by
Sir Edward Grey and by Francis
Dyke Acland, parliamentary under
secretary for foreign affairs. They
both spoke of the British govern
ment's attitude and discussed their
communications with Washington.
Sir Edward Grey explained that
Great Britain did not hold the United
States responsible for Villas acts, but
he said the British government was
powerless to take any measures in the
disturbed regions.
Several members questioned the
secretary for foreign affairs to make
sure that the government was taking
all possible steps to learn the facts
of the Benton case.
:, In his talk to the house of COM
mons Sir Edward Grey declared that
Mr.. Bryan wSi1e refusing to be held
responsible for Villas doings, prom
ised a thorough inquiry. He said de-
tails would be forthcoming and ex-
pressed deep regret at the occurrence.
"Juarez is close to the United States
frontier and we have no means of ex-
ercising influence in those regions I'M
der existing circumstances. | am in
communication with the British am
bassador at Washington and with the
United States as TO what further steps
can be taken"
Sir John Rees asked whether Sir
Edward Grey had any information
concerning other Europeans who are
said to have disappeared in Mexico.
Sir Edward replied:
mo, but l have telegraphed to Sir
Cecil Spring-Rice, suggesting for his
consideration what steps it would be
possible to take in this disturbed re-
gion to ascertain the whereabouts of
these people"
In the course of his explanation Sir
Edward Grey read a telegram Sir
Cecil Spring-Rice had received from
Mrs. Benton at Ell Paso, which was
as follows:
Il beg to advise your excellency that
my husband, Benton, British subject,
went to JuareZ and after heated dis
cussion with Villa was thrown into
jail A friend visited Villa on his be-
half Villa said: I have not got him
in prison l saw him this morning.
and refused to talk further on the sub
ject"
"The pacifcation of Mexico is an OBJ
iect we honestly desire to see accom-
plished, but it is impossible to effect
it by British Intervention. We do not
intend to make any attempt of that
character, which would be both futile
and impolitic."
This Is the attitude of the British
foreign Office as outlined by Mr.. Ac-
land