The Sentinel=record., 1914-02-21
KILLING OF BRITISH SUBJECT BY MEXIcANs MEANS IMMEDIATE
 ACTION TAKEN.
VILLA IS NOW IN TROUBLE
Interesting Developments are Expect ed Now That England Has Lost One of Her Subjects, and Has a Policy of Demanding Answer.

Washington, Feb 29-A slumber- | ing Mexican situation was brought quickly to a point of intense interna- l tional interest today by the flash of a message saying William s. Benton, a British subject had been killed in Juarez by order of Gen. Francisco Villa, the rebel commander
 Sir Cecil Spring-Riee. British am- bassabor, conferred with Secretary Bryan about it; President Wi son and his cabinet discussed it briefly and the state department ordered a thor ough investigation by consular repre- sentatives on tine border.
 In this case, for the first time since the present revolution began year ago the general warning from the United Stat4s government to Mexican factions to protect foreign CTS went unheeded though there is evidence to show that both the Brit isih ambassador and the state depart ment were advised too late of Ben tons impending fate to inteTcede specifically for him.
 The news shocked officials gener- | ally who had come to believe that General Villa fully realized the posi- tion of the American government in regard to the protection of foreign CTS in Mexico. particularly in the north of that country, 4 have not sufficient facts on which to base an opinion" said Secretary Bryan today. Until have, the department wi l express no opinion.'
 This was the official view of the situation with messages passing be- tween the state department and Consul Edwards and his temporary assistant, c. C. Carrol, consular rep resentative at Torreon. Only a few details were announced by the state department-one fact was that Ben ton had been executed.
 A copy of the sentence of the mili' tary court setting forth evidence in the case was promised the American consul representatives. MT Bryan said a full report of the affair was on it's way by mail from Consul Ed wards, to whom Gen. Villa personally had explained the incident.
 The killing of a British subject un- der circumstances such as dispatches from the border portrayed caused q stir in diplomatic circles. Those familiar with the aggressive attitude | Great Britain assumes in pressing | for .eparation when her subjects have been wronged were inclined to foresee interesting developments. l Discussion of the case between the ambassador and the secretary Of state developed clearly the absence of any responsibility on the part Of | the United States for the killing ot Benton even though the investigation should prove it to have been unjusti- l fable
 l The United States, it was asserted had acted as a friend and exerted every effort to save the mans lie and the fact that through it's concu- lar officers the American government might have virtually recognized the defacto control of Villa over cer- tain portion of northern Mexico, it was held in no wise increased It's lia' bility for the actions of that indiyid- ual
 The British government through the embassy, was informed that the state department is waiting the mail ed report upon the tragedy from American Consul Edwards.
 Though the report referred to is not likely to reach here for few days. details of the incident began to filter into the state department in brief dispatches tonight. The depart ure of Gen. Villa for the south was not looked on by officials here as having any connection with the death of Benton. The information which reached the state department was that Villa had been planning to move south for several days.
 HUERTA PARDONS FIVE.