The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-08-20
border would soon be issued.
More Troops to Enter.

Maria, Tex. Aug. 20.-Indications
here today were that more United
States troops will be sent into Mex
| leo If the bandits who held up two
| American army aviators for $4,000
ransom are not rounded up.
The troops Of the Eighth cavalry.
that crossed the border early yester-
day are now forty miles south of the
international line, AS they advance
they are aided by airplanes.
! Additional cavalrymen and sup
plies have reached temporary head
quarters at Candelaria.
Two More Planes.
McAllen, Tex, Aug. 20. Two
United States army bombing air
| planes were today ordered from Me-
Allen to join the American punitive
| expedition in Mexico. Other planes
are being held here in readiness to
leave for the scene of the trouble on
short notice.
Holes in Wings.
| Maria. Tex, Aug. 20.--A report
was received here today from Lieut..
| Estill, pilot, and Lieut.. Cooper, OBJ
server. dated Presidio, Tex, giving
details OF firing on their biplane by
the Mexican bandits. While flying
over a mountain trail, the American
aviators observed three Arexicans
mounted riding south. The plane
swept down low to investigate. The
bandits opened fire with rifles, bull
lets puncturing the wings of the
American machine. Observer Cooper
returned the fire and saw one horse
and rider fall. A short time after
ward, one horse was observed stand
ing without a rider. The third horse
man dismounted and climbing up the
side of the mountains disappeared.
Neither aviator was hit.
Reports from all troops in the field
In Mexico indicate progress is being
made in searching the mountain
canyons and passes for the bandits
who held Aviators Peterson and
Davis.
Spotted by Aviators.
Ell Paso. Tex, Aug. ,2O.-With the
Mexican band of bandits. who kid
naped two United States army
aviators, reported spotted" by
United States army fiiers, acting as
scouts for the troops of Eighth cav
airy, now believed closing in on the
bandit rendezvous, word of the cap
ture or killing of the entire band is
expected hourly at Maria, according
to word received here early today.
The bandits, led by Jesus Renteria,
are known in the Big Bend district
as the most desperate of the many
rowing tribes of outlaws which have
terrorized residents of the border sec
tion, and 1t is not believed that they
will be captured without the most
desperate resistance.
According to reports reaching
Maria during the night. the bandits
were sighted by American aviators
near Candelaria, Tex. The Ameri-
cans are said to have dropped sew
eral bombs on the gang of fleeing
bandits. This report, however, could
not be verified at army headquarters
ut Maria.
Takes Shot at Fliers.
One aviator returning to Maria
during the night reported that he
had been fired upon by three Mexi-
'ans. There was a bullet hole in a
wing Of his airplane. He reported
hat he had swooped down on the
bandit trio and fired a round from
lis machine gun into them as they
ook to cover. He said he was al
most certain" he killed one of the
dexicans.
The American punitive expedition
which took the trail Of the kidnap-
ng bandits within five hours after
he release OF Lieuts. Peterson and
Davis, the ransomed aviators, are
repaired for an indefinite stay in the
eld. While the troops are on field
atlons. they are strongly backed up
" motor trucks and ammunition
rains with a perfect line of COM
with their base at
Iarfa.
Possibility that the American SOL
iers already have had their first
kirmish with the bandits was in
icated last night when two avlators
eturned to the American side with
ullet holes in the plane of their
lachine and a report that they had
cen attacked by three Mexicans, one
whom they believe they killed with
1eir machine gun bullets. Another
as believed to have been wounded
nd the third put TO fight.
First reports said the cavalry was
pursuit of the remaining bandit.
ut communication was interrupted
nd no further word came from the
lnitive force.
Four airplanes, which arrived from
ort Bliss, near Ell Paso, were to
Igment the air protection of the
ighth cavalry in Mexico today.