Evening star., 1919-08-18
7wo U. S. Air Officers
May Face Death if
Money Is Not
Paid.
Embassy at Mexico City Is
Instructed---
for Release
Assured.

The American embassy at Mexico
City was instructed today by the
State Department to call Immediately
upon the Mexican government for
quick action to effect the release OF
Lieuts Paul H. Davis and Harold G.
Peterson, American Army aviators.
who were captured by Mexican ban
dts near Candelaria, Tex, while
patrolling the border. and VINO are
threatened with death unless $lo,VVo
ransom is paid today.
The State Departments announce,
ment said "the instructions pointed
out the seriousness with which the
United States government views this
situation and called for immediate
adequate action.
Consul Also Instructed.
The American consul at Juarez also
was instructed to take all possible
steps with the Mexican authorities
there to secure release and protection
of the officers.
State Department officials said the
ransom demanded would be paid as
soon as information could be had as
to where and to whom the money
was to be delivered. 1t has not been
decided whether the United States
would furnish the sum and charge it
against the CarranZa government or
call upon the Mexican government to
pay it direct.
In making these announcements to-
day the Department Of State added:
THE attention of the department
was called to the Davis case late last
night by Representative Barber Of
California, and telegraphic instruc-
tions were rushed to the embassy and
consulate. The officers father. DR..
was advised of the steps taken in be-
half Of his son. The Governor of
Minneso'a telegraphed to the depart
ment today regarding the two lieu
which the department had taken.
Peterson is son of s. c. Peterson of
Hutchinson, Mimi"
Reports From Gen. Dickman.
Omcial reports from Maj Gen. Dick
man. commander of the Southern De-
Of the aviators were received by the
department. but Secretary Baker re-
fused to make them public, saying
the State Department had entire su-
pervision over the matter.
AS soon as he reached his office this
morning. Mr.. Baker went into con-
ference with several bureau chiefs,
the Mexican situation was discussed.
Secretary Baker told a Senate COM
mittee today that there was some un-
certainty as to whether the aviators
had landed by mistake in Mexico or,
as they claimed, had landed on the
American side and were captured
there. He added, however, that he
did not care to go into any more de-
= ~, = olv Ifrh
Creates New Situation.
The capture and detention of the
Army flyers is considered by officials
here to be essentially different from
other cases of American citizens who
have been held for ransom. Men,
bers of the military forces of a coun-
try, especially when in uniform, are
direct representatives of their gov
ernment, it was said, and any injury
or affront to them is regarded as a
breach of internatioa1 law.
1t was learned today that the first
intimation that the officers-Lieut.
Paul H. Davis and Harold G. Peter
son-were missing reached Washing
ton the middle Of last week in dis
patches from the border which said a
peon had reported that two aviators
were in a canyon south of the border.
1t was understood that the aviators
had been compelled to land in Mexico
and were in trouble. American Army
officials on the border were then re-
ported to be planning to send relief
to the two men and were given to un-
derstand that the Mexican authorities
had no objection. The next word re-
capture of the two nrsp by bandits
was reported.
Situation Serious.
Coming close on the heels of the
State Departments virtual ultimatum
to the Carranza government that un-
less steps were taken to stop murder
of American citizens and for protec-
tion of their rights a radical change
in the attitude of this government
toward Mexico would be adopted,
news that two American Army avi-
ators were being held by Mexican
bandits caused the already strained
relations between two countries to
be regarded here today as having
reached stage bordering on the
acute.
Official Washington, as well as the
entire diplomatic corps. was awaiting
developm with keen interest. as
the serious potentialities. should harm
befall the flyers. generally were recog-
nized. 1t was regarded as imperative
that some action be taken at once, as
the demands of the bandits required
that the ransom be paid today.
In this connection it was recalled
that recently in two cases in which
civilians were held as hostages ran
SONS were paid with the approval of
the State Department, and belief was
expressed that this course would be
followed in the case of the two