The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-22
AMERICAN SOL DIERS
CONTINUE BANDIT CHASE

MAnFA, Tex, Aug. 22.--The Amer.
iUsn punisixe expedition against Mex
Harold 9. Peterson and paul "a nswis
army aviaforsy for ransom was naaklnc
progress today, ACCORDING TO advicas
from the field, and reports that the
UnIted states forces would be with
etawn az once were denied officially.
MH ostlnlte time has been fixed for the
Wtnarawal but II Is understood that
We plan OF campaign Includes at least
anotner weeks search throuah the
mountains for the Renterla band,
1--we pandlts are known to have been
klned by the Americans 90 far with
h,Sn h,SPp.l.,y py o. sixth one, a bandit
when avlators returned their fire. il
ueNeloped that the two prisoners re
ported captured by Capt. MatIack were
@ men kiIled at the bIockhouse fight on
The American troops canned ias,
night ct place where there was plenty
q water. The soldiers secuted the
surrounding country throughout the
Gay IN separate detachments, but con-
t ttenITated at the camp at dark The
,s.,n na,is are SO rocky and steep that pack
mules carrying supplies fell over cliffs
and several were lost. A number of
norses OF Maj. G. G. Smiths command
also fell off the trail, but none of the
horses' riders were injured.
Inc storms soaked the blankets and
unilotins OF the men, causing many to
sleep IN wet clothes last night.
The American Red Cross sent an an
tomoolle load Of cigarettes, chewing
gum and tobacco to the river for load
ing on pack mules en- route to the
punitive expedition. Aviators loaded
pianes Win the same articles to take
10 the cavalry today.
Additional airplanes are to be ordered
here from the Fort Bliss flying field to
reinforce the eight planes now flyinp
here; -Four airplanes are out of COM
mission because of falls bad oil or
other reasons.
Several planes will operate from the
dfield base being established in Mexico
20 miles from the border They will he
supplied by motor truck train car
rying drums Of gasoline, oil and other
supplies. The aviators will not remain
mere put VIII use the flying field here
as their base, flying to Presidio and
from there to the Mexican field to
reconnoiter.
Four bandits were killed by American
troops "Wednesday, Capt. Leonard Mat
iack, who arrived here by airpane last
nisht' reported. They were surrounded
IN an adobe bockhouse that the Mexi-
cans had constructed in mountain
pass.
The bandits fought desperately when
tNey found they were trapped and two
escaped. When American troops ap-
proached the blockhouse with the in
opened. fire from portfolios.
me ilre was returned and the block
house charged by the American cavalry.
three of the four Mexicans killed
have BEEN identified as Jesus Janir,
francisco Janir and Jose Fuentes. The
identity of the fourth bandit has not vet
been ascertained
All four Of the men are known to
Capt. Matlack as bandits operating
along the Big Bend border for years.
The two men escaped were pursued
put tne tran was lost in the mountain
1t Is known that Jesus Renteria. lead
err OF the outlaw band that captured
Lieuts. Peterson and DaviA was not
among the dead.
Capt. Matlack will return to his troops
an Mexico today. He had a long cam
ference with Gen. Dickman and Col.
George Lar Vhorne last nioht,
II Capt. Matlack had not spurred his
horse carrying Lieut.. Davis behind and
smade a dash for the border last Tues
paid. there Is little doubt but that he
and Lieut.. Davis would have been killed
by the Mexican bandits. This devel-
oped here last night when Capt Mat
lack reported to Gen. Dickman and
Col Langhorne the reason he escaped
TWIN the 7DdTultS without paying the
ransom. Capt Matack said that while
waiting for Jesus Renteria's man to
bring Davis to the appointed place
under an old tree for the exchange OF
the ransom for the prisoner, he heard
Two Mexicans slipping through q corn
field toward the river and overheard
one bandit say In Spanish to the other:
We will slip around between him
(MatlacO and the river and kill him.
Hearing this Matlack told Davis to
Jump on his horse behind him and
made a dash for the line. Upon hear
ing Capt. Matiacks story Gen. Dick
man, who announced in San Antonio
that he would insist that the full