The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-03-05
Benton INQUIRY
HALTED BY REBELS
Villa Lieutenant Refuses to Per-
nit Probers in Mexico.
CARRANZA STAND IS CAUSE
Incident May Mean Delay or Perma-
mont Prohibition Of Proposed Mls-
sIon-Creat Britain Wont
Recognize Rebsla

Juarez, Mex, March 3.-Col. F1del
Avila, military commander here. de-
clined to permit the Benton investiga-
ton commission to board the regular
passenger train Sunday which was
waiting to carry them to Chihuahua
to examine the slain Briton's body.
An authoritative admission to this
effect dispelled reports that the COM
mission was halted on orders from
Washington.
Whether the incident means delay
or the permanent prohibition Of the
mission could not be learned. The
mytery thrown around the occur
renee led to many rumors of an ap-
parently exaggerated nature.
Persistent inquiry here and in Ell
Paso failed to establish anything but
the one fact that the commissioners
were refused passports on this side
and returned to Ell Paso.
No official In Juarez has authority
to take such action as was taken In
this case. Only two persons in north
ern Mexico have the power-Venus-
tiano Carranza and Gen. Francisco
Villa
The order came as surprise to the
commissioners. Villa at Chihuahua
has repeatedly expressed his desire to
hasten the inquiry.
Washington, March 3.-Off1cials
here have not revealed just how the
expedition to Chihuahua was stopped,
stating merely that 1t had been post
poned until satisfactory arrangements
could be made with General Carranza.
The general superstition here during
the day was that the commissioners
themselves, hesitating to carry out
their mission after General Carranza's
utterance, had awaited futher instruc-
tions from Washington
General Carranza's declaration that
Great Britain instead Of the United
States should deal with him concern
ing the death OF a British subject,
coupled with the broad intimation that
all communications on international
him instead OF General Villa or any
other of his subordinates. injected q
new complication into the situation.
President Wilson and Secretary
Bryan had long conference, lasting
most Of the afternoon, reading the
notes from Carranza and other dis
patches. Afterward Secretary Bryan
motored to the British embassy and
informed Sir Cecil Spring Rice, the
British ambassador, that the expedi-
ton to chihuahua, where Bentons
body Is buried. had been abandoned
until satisfactory arrangements could
be made with General Carranza.
Just what instructions have been
sent to American Consul Simpich at
Nogales, who is In touch with General
Carranza was not divulged, but rep
resentatives Of Carranza who under
stand the American viewpoint were
busy teiegraphing the constitutional
list commander urging change of at
titude.
New Orleans, March 3-Great Brit
ain never will recognize the constitu-
tionalist party of Mexico even to the
extent of requesting that General Car
rama investigate the death OF William
Benton, according to Sir Lionel Car
den, British minister to Mexico, who
was here on his way to Washington
and England.
Washington. March 3.-William 8.
Benton was unarmed and was shot
dead in Villas office with pistol,
says conclusive information that has
reached WASHINGTON Off Gals.