The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
No Opinion Will Be Ex-
pressed by Administra-
ton Until All Facts
Are Known
BENTON QUARRE ed
WITH VILLA, SAYS
REBELS VERSION
England VIII Not Take Action Pend
ing stigation-Spaniard Re-
ported Killed, and u. 5.
Asked to Investigate

Washington. February 21.--seerefnry
vcs,iEntiou OF The killing of william
:. Bcntop, the British subject, at Jus
req. lie announced today that until NIL
facts In the ease had been gathered
would be expressed by the state depart
mcnt. All Information received viii he
transmitted to the british government.
Explanations made by General Villa
to Thomas d. Edwards aud George C.
Carrothers, the American consular rep
resentativcs at Jnarez, together With
the courtmartial record are to he sup
plemented by further Information. IN
structions went forth to American Con-
sui Letcher at chihuahua to get adj
ditional details from villa. and It Is
understood that inquiry through in
dependent sources win be carried on Al
Juarez. Mr.. Carrothers Is consular
agent at Torreon temporarily assisting
Mr.. Edwards
Villas Version
Advices received by the state deaprt-
meht up to late today, giving Villas
version of the AFFAIR were that Rem
ton was armed had personally quar-
relied with villa, had been dsarmed.
tried by courtmartial and executed on
the charge of attempting the life of
villa.
Villas explanation, as telegraphed 10y
MN today to the constitutionalist
agency here. was unoffcially exhibited
to state department officials, and
though read with interest, brought no
comment Army Officers took particular
interest in the reference TO Benton as
an unarmed prowler' and as such. not
entitled to the protection OF the rules
OF war The armed prowler described
In order i00' of the American army is
essentially a guerilla, they explained,
ana one who IL caught within military
lines with arms either engaged In the
wanton destruction OF property or as
part Of an invading force. II generally
was admitted that IL Benton made a
onrdsrept assahlt on villa With :.
weapon, he mishr have boon subject, to
the death penalty, but on that point
evidence Is wanting aud army officers
are resefying judgment
Await Investigation
Unless there are other Instructions
from the foreign office the British en-
bassy here viii make no further move
pending the outcome of the investiga-
ton which the state department has un-
dertaken. 1t is understood that Ambas-
sador Spring Rice has emphasized the
unofficial character of the representa-
tions he has made to the state depart
lnent thus far on the ground that the
British government claimed no legal
obligation on the part of the United
states TO look after the welfare of Brit
lsh subjects In Mexico, The action Of
the state department directing consuls
To extend TO British subjects In Mexico
the same degree OF protection as is
given to Americans has been REGARDED
as an act of courtesy for which the
Bfltlsl government was duly grateful
For this reason II Is said there Is no
basis Tor the expectation that any de-
mand VIII be made on the United states
government to obtain reparation for
the killing of Bentoni and determine
ton of the proper course to be pur-
sued towards villa consequently is 10
be left entirely to state department. ,f-
hcials
one result OF the British Incident hax
been TO Great feeling OF apprehen.
sion in diplomatic circles as TO the
tatety of the foreign element In Mexico
So Tar recent diplomats have rested
content in the belief that the under
taking by the american state depart
fnent to look after the welfare OF their
insure protection guaranteed b.. the
rules OF civilized welfare
Spaniards Killed
Closely following the news of the
Killing of Benton under conditions
which European diplomats are inclined
to regard as violative of such rules
has come a report of the killing of two
Spanish subjects in Mexico, The Span
ish government, through it's cmbasav
81 In nuf tpf
state department, and 80 far this has
NOT been available. Consequently there
has been discussion among diplomats
of recommending a general withdrawal
CT huropeans from the disturbed coun-
try The seriousness of the Mexican
situation generally aud particularly the
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