The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-02-26
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.


Washington. Feb. 25-The Mexican
situation, which has cen cred chiefly
in efforts to determine how and why
the Constitutionaiists executed ". S.
Benton, a British subject, was broad
ened today when Consul Garret at
Nuevo, Laredo, was instructed to in
quire into the hanging by Mexican
Federals of Clemente Vergara, an
American citizen. The consul was di-
rected by the state department to de-
mand the body of the dead American
from officers of the Huarta govern
ment In the vicinity of Hidalgo, Mexico
where Vergara was killed. Earlier in
the day the American consul at Chi
huahua had been instructed to insist
that General Villa permit the delivery
of the body OF Benton to his widow for
burial where she wishes. These with
an explanation by Secretary Bryan to
the senate fcl eign relations commit
tee OF all the state departments infor-
1nation on the Benton killing, and the
Mexican sitl alton generally. consti-
tuted the principal Developments of the
day. 1t has developed that the Amerf-
can government is informally looking
to General Carranza, as the titular
head of the Constitutionalsts. to clari-
fy the Eitua ton in connection with
roe Benton incident. News that Luis
cabrera was at JuareZ comforting with
Villas friends, and urging the imme-
diate delivery of the body for exami-
nation. was received with satisfaction
by the state department. Cabrera is
understood to be an enissary from
Carranza. Is said the state department
on previous occasions has benefftted by
his activities for the protection of for
eigners.
TO ExHUME REMAINS.
British Consul Perceval at Galveston
was today ordered to proceed to FL
Paso at Lnce where he is expected to
arrive tomorrow, to go to the grave in
Juarez with delegation of Americans
Major General Scott, commandin the
United States troops there, will detail
an American army surgeon and any
other officers to accompany the British
consul. A member of Benton's family
viii be taken with the party.
That course has been decided upon
pending the outcome of efforts to Sc
cure the sur ender of the body to
Ben: on's family, which will not be
abated in the least An immediate
examination, even under limited condi-
tions, has been decided upon in order
that decomposition, which is very rapid
in the Mexican climate, may not oblit-
crate the mute evidence of the wounds.
SITUATION MORE TENSE.
Further complicated by dispatches
telling Of official confirmation received
by Consul Garrett at Nuevo Laredo,
of the hanging by Huerta troops of
Clemente VeIgara, an American, near
Hidalgo, the Mexican situation took on
more tensity, If it could be said there
was any change at all.
Secretary Bryan discussed the situa-
9on with the senate foreign relations |
committee for more than two hours. |
Both the secretary and senator's de |
cIined to discuss their conference ex- |
cept to say the trend was to set at |
the facts.
''Was there any suggestion OF a |
change of policy IN the part of this |
government toward Mexico" Mr.. Bry- |
an was asked,
I'VE did not, talk policies" he re- |
piled. What to do on the basis of the |
facts established was left for further |
consideration"
The secretary of state was ques- |
toned concerning the strength of the |
ConstitusionaIist movement in Mexico, |