The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-27
Not an Inch of Progress Made
In Last Forty-Eight Hours
While Great Britain Is Still
lnsistent.
Temper Of Country
Becoming Aroused
Governor Of Texas Would Send
State Troops Into Mexico to
Arrest Slayers OF Vergara-
Relatives of Missing Amer
cans Worried.

! 1oAAS w cAA ILL.,
I WASHINGTON, Feb. 26--A week has
now passed since the death of Ben
ton the British rancher, was first
! learned and still the efforts by this
government to ascertain the truth
to the killing absolutely futile.
I At every turn the United States has
been baked by the stubborn silence
and contradictory statements of Cen
eral Villa and his subordinates.
| For the past forty eight hours not
an inch of progress has been made. and
with Great Britain stili courteously in
sistent the situation remains I'M
changed, except for its increased ten
sions.
! In the meantime, sentiment in con-
gress and throughout the country is
obviously becoming aroused This has
| been indicated by the attacks on the
president on the floor of congress,
within the last two days and
1 pecially by a development tonight.
| Secretary Bryan announced that he
/ had received from Governor Colquitt,
( Of Texas, an inquiry as to whether
there would be any objection To the
state of Texas. sending men into Mex
/ leo to ascertain and arrest those who
we're responsible for the death of
/ Clement E. yergara. an American.
whose body WAS found swinging from
the limb of = tree near Iidaigo.
| Secretary Bryan declared that the
| to bring about the arrest and pun
ishment OF those responsible for Yer
gara's death. He added. however,
that for the State of Texas TO send
military force into Mexico would
/ involve responsibilities, which only
I the federal government was in a posi-
ton to assume.
! Villa Is Silent.
Secretary Bryan'S hope and aSSur-
ances TO the British government in
state department is doing all it can
regard 10 the recovery OF Bentonis
body, are based solely on the belief
| that Villa meant what he said when
I he gave a vague promise To permit the
body of Benton TO be viewed by the
widow and an American representa-
tive.
I This was about forty eight hours
ago, and Notwithstanding the strenu-
Gus efforts of the state department
to obtain something more definite not
a word has been received as to where
| the body is. or when it Is to be ex-
humed Neither villa nor Carranza
! has replied 10 the strong represen-
tations made 10 them b United States
consuis.
Practically all officials here with
| the exception OF the president and
Secretary Bryan now acknowledge a
| conviction that the body of Benton
| never will he seen by an American
! official, or at least until all evidences
/ of the manner of his death haze dis
appeared This conviction is shared
/ by the British embassy. 1t is also
| learned that those most anxious for
/ the truth TO be learned hold that
progress is impossible until Mr.. Bryan
abandons his view that Villa is man
Of honor and truthfulness, and a re-
sponsible person.
In the face OF this widespread con-
! viction that the body will never be
obtained President Wilson this after
J noon declined to say what the United
States would do about 1T, declaring
that such a question could not be de-
cided in advance. He did, however
! practically close the door to the
adoption of the measure most COM
monty looked to as that of last re-
sort, by declaring that to send Amer
! lean troops into Mexico to recover the
/ body would be an act of war.
The Hating OF Percival.
/ Ell PASO. TEXAS, Feb. 26.--The
sudden decision in Washington
against the sending of British Con-
sui Arthur c. Percival to chihuahua
/ to view the body of William S. Ben
ton. is unexplained here, but it Is gem
orally believed that agents of the
United States state department here.
and at chihuahua, have suggested the
! ;nadvisability of sending the consul
/ aud his party to Chihuahua at pres
Tent. The consul will. meantime. do
what investigating he can in FL paso
and Juarez
| Dispatches today state that Villa is
preparing to leave for Torreon to di-
rect the proposed rebel attack upon
the federals, and the superstition Is
| that the state department thinks that
when Consul Percival reached Chi
huahua he would find villa absent.
lat the front" and that the officers
left behind would declare that they
! had no authority to permit the body
to be exhumed.
| 1t is also gathered here that the
state department and the British am
hassader are not satisfied with Vitia's
promise to give the consul ana his
! journey TO Chihuahua to exhume the
body and inspect it, The state de-
APARTMENT representative and Villa IS
agents here make no explanation u
/ Villas reason for saying he will hold
| the body at Chihuahua after the ex-
animation Is made. 1t is generally
| thought here that Mr.. Bryan's repre-
sentatives have reason to think that
villa cannot produce the body f the
dead EnElishman, and that the trip
would be useless.
Would Do As In China.
| IF were in charge Of our govren-
! ment / would say to villa to deliver
the body Of William Benton damned
quick. or would take his body.
Continued on Second page.)
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