The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-08-21
SEND RANSOM FOR
YANKEE FLYERS
United States Rushes $4,000 to
Americans in Mexican Band
it Lair.
WASHINGTON WARNS MEXICO
New Crisis Seen as Sharp Messages
Are Sent to Carranza-Troops OF :
Eighth Cavalry March for tho
Rio Grande.

Washington, Aug 10.-The Amerl-
can embassy at Mexico City was in
structed by the state department to
Immediately call upon the Mexican
government for quick action TO effect
the release of LIeuts. Paul X. Davis
and Harold G.. Peterson, American
army aylntors, who were captured by
Mexican bandits near Candelaria, Tex.
while patrolling the border, and who
are threatened with death unless $15,-
600 ransom IL paid.
FL Paso, Tex, Aug. 19.-Troops Of
the Eighth cavalry were on the march
on the American side toward the Rio
Grande last night and army truck
companies were being assembled for
immediate use.
Maria, Tex, Aug. 10.-Authorlza-
ton for the payment of the $4,000
ransom asked by Mexican bandits for
the release of Lieuts Paul ii. Davis
and Harold G. Peterson, was received
here from Maj. Gen. Joseph t. Dick
man. commander of the southern de-
pGrtment, and the money will prob
ably be delivered late today to an
agent of the bandits at or near Can
delaria, Tex, it was announced here.
The American aviators are being
held somewhere In Mexico south of
Candelaria.
Ii. NJ. Fennell. vice president of the
Maria bank. left for Cadelaria with
the ransom money raised here. He
was accompanied by military guard
commanded by Maj. c. G. Smith.
1t is not known here when the avi-
ators are expected to recross the Dor
deI to the United States.
Ayiators on detached service at the
Big Bend headquarters also left here
for the Candelaria border presumably
to watch from the air for the return
of the aviators.
AS the payment of the ransom has
been officially authorized by the south
the cattlemen of the Big Bend district
at the cowboy camp meeting will be
reimbursed, it was announced. The
money raised by the cattlemen was
used.
Captives Tell of Death Threat.
El PaSo, Tex, Aug. 19-Somewhere
in Mexico, south of the Big Bend DIS
trict of west Texas, Lieuts. Paul ii.
Davis and Earold G. Peterson, U. S.
A. are being held by Mexican bandits
for $4,000 ransom.
After eight days of suspense since
the aviators, patrolling the border, dis
appeared, messages We're received by
military authorities at Maria, Tex, de-
manding payment of the ransom in
gold to Dawkins Fitzpatrick of Candle
laria, Tex, or the Americans would be
killed, according to the message.
Another message, signed by the avia-
tors, accompanied the demand for the
ransom, in which they stated practi-
cally the same facts as contained in
the message from the bandit leader.
They also sent messages to their rel
atives in Strathmore, Cal, and Hutch
inson, Mimi, urging them to see that
the ransom was raised at once.
Another message was later sent to
Candelaria, Tex, addressed to Daw-
kins Fitzpatrick. an American, and
signed by one of the bandit band, say
ing they would kill the aviators if
there were any signs that the Ameri-
can military commanders were pre-
pairing to pursue the bandits.
Replies were received from the pa
rents of Lieutenant Peterson stating
they would furnish the ransom if the
government failed to put up the mon
ey, according to messages from MARTA.
These replies were Immediately
given to a courier, who attempted to
make an effort to reach the bandit rem
devious south of the border.
Whether or not he succeeded was not
known here or at Maria. 1t is also be-
lieved he carried assurance to the ban
dts that the ransom would be paid.
Bandits Near Border, Belief.
This and other developments has led
army officers here to believe the ban
dts are not far from the border and
are holding the American aviators in
some out-of-the-way canyon until the
ransom is paid, whereupon they will
release them and permit them to go
to the border. Nothing has been heard
Of the scout biplane which the men
flew when they We're captured.