Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-26
TRY TO REASON WITH
VILLA ABOUT BENTON
CONTINUED From Page ~

superior Omcer, IL can succeed in get
ting Bentons body.
No answer had been received today
by representations sent to Carranza
yesterday at Nogales. The mail report
OF the proceedings of the court martial
had not reached Washington.
Secretary Bryan has communicated
to the British embassy the latest mes
sages from Consul Letcher, announc-
ing Villas willingness to permit the
widow to view Benton's body, but his
refusal to allow it's removal That.
however, may not meet the demands
of the British embassy Secretary
Bryan declined today to intimate what
he would do in the event that Villa
persisted in his refusal and Carranza
could not be induced to intervene.
day that John Hnnant, cattleman
from Hebbronville, Texas, who had
been taken into custody by the fed
erals had been liberated at Saltillo.
He added that no fear need be entcr-
tN'aed with regard to an American
named Benavides for whose safety
anxiety was felt.
May Send for Body.
Discussing intervention possibilities
some officials here said there was
really no legal obstacle to Brigadier
General Bliss sending force Of
American cavalrymen from the border
patrol to recover Benton's body IL It
can be located, That such would be an
act Of war, which must first be author
lied by congress, was denied by Such
officials. They pointed to President
Wilson's declaration that there is at
present no government in Mexico
Such a condition, they said, would jus
tify such action, somewhat similar to
that taken in China during the Boxer
uprising when a large international
force entered the country without any
declaration of war Such course
would be one of last resort, but it's
legality was held to be beyond ques-
ton
The eight hundred marines ready or
battleships in Mexican waters will be
reinforced by three hundred sailing
from Pensacola, Fla, on the trans port
Prairie, probably next Sunday.
Secretary Daniels explained that the
Prairie was being sent to Vera Cruz
solely to provide accommodations for
marines on already over crowded bat
tleships.
Bryan In Conference.
Secretary Daniel said today that no
orders had been issued for the land
ing of guard for the American en-
bassy at Mexico City and that no re-
quest for such force had been re-
ceived at the department.. Secretary
Bryan conferred with the senate for
eign relations COMMITTEES at the capitol.
He had with him an armful of books
and documents, some of them, it was
said, relating to Mexico.
..i..s u. s. Recruits Refused.
Chihuahua, Feb. 25.-Fifteen Ameri-
cans who came here with Villas rebel
troops, were mustered out today on
advice from Washington and will be re-
turned to Juarez today or tomorrow
The presence of the Americans, ami
mated by desire for adventure rather
than belief in. the constitutionalist
cause, multiplied possibilities of inter
national complications to an extent
which overshadowed their usefulness
as rapid fire gun operators.
The date of Villas departure for
Torreon is still uncertain. He regards
the capture Of that important railroad
center as certainty and already has
his plans for the campaign further
south.