Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-24

Bauch, an American accused by the
rebels at Juarez of being a spy and of
two Englishmen who disappeared In
Juarez last Wednesday.
Bauch disappeared from his cell
last evening. This was discovered by
relatives who discovered the fact
when they went to take bedding and
food to him. He Is believed to have
been shot.
OF the Englishmen, one is said to be
a rancher named Curtis, from New
Mexico and the other, John Lawrence
chief engineer of the California, De-
velopment Co., Yuma. Cal.
To Attack Torreon.
"The Torreon attack will begin just
as soon as I can get at the head of my
troops" said General Francisco Villa,
commander of the constitutionalist
troops at Chihuahua yesterday before
he departed on a special train for the
south. 1t is Villas intention to delay
for day or two at Chihuahua before
proceeding south. He does not intend
| to return to the border until after the
battle, he said.
load Of ammunition. The cannon for
| winch lie Hdu Dteu WdlllHS at IhS
border, did not arrive and when they
do they will be sent south on a spec
ial train. Another carload Of ammuni-
ton is expected to arrive tomorrow
and this too will be forwarded
| The constitutionalists will be handi-
capped in the Torreon battle because
of the inability to get shrapnel am
! munition in the United States to fit
the foreign made pieces Of Villas
artillery.
England Is Killed.
London, Feb 21.-The British gov
eminent up to noon today had not TAX
en- any action in regard to the execu-
ton at Juarez of William S. Benton,
the Scotch ranchman, beyond instruct
ing Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, British am
bassador at Washington, to obtain
from Secretary Bryan all possible in
formation on the affair.
! Although the tragedy has created a
sensation throughout the British Isles,
it has not aroused any disposition on
the part of responsible members of
the British government to change their
policy in regard to Mexico.
There is no concealment of the fact,
however, that murder of British sub
jects in Mexico unless followed by
punishment of the murderers and pay
ment of indemnity, is likely to arouse
public opinion here tc the point where
it will demand that the British govern
ment take a more aggressive attitude.
This fact had been impressed on the
state department at Washington by Sir
Cecil Spring-Rice before any British
lives had been lost in Mexico. In its
official attitude Great Britain is look
ing to the United States government
to protect British subjects and has no
doubt that the United States will do
its best. ..-
The state department at Washing
ton has already informed the British
government that where there are no
British consuls in Mexico. the consuls
of the United States will look after
British interests.
The British government has no COM
,>.unication with the Mexican constitu-
7nalisl through diplomatic or. consul
II channels. .,
The members of the British govern
ment consider that the recognition of
the constitutionalists as belliGerents
would be mistake. ~
The Evening Standard says:
"The execution of Benton empha-
sizes the fact that some kind of inter-
national compulsion will soon be nee
essary to stc- Mexico from wallowing
in this stv Of corruption and cruelty,
The G-Jbe, after asking what is 60
ing to happen in case investigation
proves the guilt of Villa says:
"The United States has not only the
responsibility involved in it's asser-
lions Of the Monroe doctrine but the
responsibility of having supplied Villa
and the rebels with arms, thereby pro-
noting the lawlessness which has had
such grievous results for British, lives
and interests.
president Wilson has gone too far
to shrink from going farther
Villa is Defiant. 1882.
Later today Villa telegraphed Pes
quiera as follows: ~
The attention of the commanding
general of the division of the north
having been drawn to the published re-
rorts in respect 10 the recent execution
of William S. Benton, he desires to
make known that the action of the
authorities in that case was entirely
justified by the laws and usages of
war
Under article "a of general order
100 for the government of the United
States in the fed. it is provided that
armed providers who come within the
line Of the army of occupation with
hostile intent, are not entitled to the
privilege of prisoners of war.
ARTICLE IS provides that persons
within occupied territory who employ
violence toward the established author
tiles are subject to the penalty of
death whether they arise singly or In
numbers.
There is absolutely no doubt but
what Benton. a Huertista sympathizer
and a murderer of Mexican citizens.
deliberately attempted an act of VIC
lence against the person and life of
the commanding general, and for that
reason in accordance with the laws
and usages of war he was tried bv a
military tribunal, constituted for that
purpose and executed pursuant to it's
sentence. a proceeding sustained by
; American and European martial law.