New-York tribune., 1919-08-20
Baker Orders Expedition

lcan expedition INTO MEXICO IN pur-
suit of the bandits who held Lieuten-
ants Peterson and Davis for ransom
was authorized by Secretary of War
Baker. The United States troops will
remain on Mexican territory until the
bandits are captured or their appre-
henslon deemed impossible. the War
Secretary said to-day IN his first an
nouncement since the capture Of the
American aviators.
The order to take up the "hot trail'
Of the bandits was conveyed to Cen
eral Joseph 7. Dickman, commander Of
the American forces on the border,
Immediately after the first report of
the capture of Peterson and Davis.
The character of the expedition into
Mexico was not known by Secretary
Baker
Reimbursement of the ransom paid
by this government through Captain
Matlack. who effected the rescue of
the two aviators, it was said at the
State Department, will be demanded
OF the Carranza government.
Bandit Leader Has Sixty Men
General Dickmans report to the
War Department OF the return of the
avlators to-day said the bandit leader
was Mexican who spoke English. and
commanded a force Of sixty men. The
pilots said that twenty of the men
they saw were mounted.
Secretary Baker characterized the
punitive force sent into Mexico as q
"swittly moving force" He said that
General Dickman has authority to use
ms Judgment IN meeting the situation
as it Develops
When the report came of the cap
ture of these two officers" Secretarv
Baker said, "and their execution was
ilXed on the next day in default of
the ransom. OF course there was no
opportunity to make military rescue
within such time. | therefore directed
that the ransom money be paid and
that force be arranged to take up
the hot trail of the bandits and pur-
sue them with the hope of being able
to capture as many as possible of the
perpetrators of this wrong"
La Guardia Attacks Payment
Mr. Baker would not indicate what
disposition would be made OF any of
the bandits if captured
he payment OF ransom to bandits in
Mexico was attacked in the House to-
day when Representative La Guardia.
OF Now York. introduced a resolution
calling for full information on the pol
icy OF the Administration in the cases
Of the kidnapped Americans. The res
olution calls upon the Secretary of
State to inform Congress whether this
government has paid money to bandits
to obtain protection or liberation of
American citizeEs nn!awfully detained,
and If so, what instances and under
what circumstances, giving names,
oates, place, amount paid and from
what funds and by what authority."
Inc resolution also inquiries it. the
cases have been called TO the atten-
uon of the Mexican government and
whether amy form of retalitory meas
ureS have been suggested TO Car.
rama.
Asks Complete Details
IN the cases of Lieutenants Davis
and Peterson the resolution specifically
seeks:
a. All facts concerning the capt
ure by citizens Of the Republic Of
Mexico of Lieutenant Paul II. Davis
and Lieutenant Harold c. Peterson,
the manner in which their capture
was reported to American officials
and what demand, if any WAS made
tor the payment of ransom for the
e release of said officers. giving names
OF persons who transmitted mos
sages, nature of such messages.
names of United States officials to
whom such information was trans
mltted and the action taken by such
officials.
"2. Information as to the payment
OF any money for ransom for the
liberation and delivery Of said Off
GERS. if any such money was paid. bv
whom paid, to whom paid in what
manner, how transmitted, in what
currency, and from what funds was
such money taken and by what au-
thority paid "
hickman Reports Rescue
The rescue of the aviators was off j.
cially reported to the War Department
today in the following telegram from
General Dickman:
"Lieutenants Peterson and Davis, air
service, were brought to the Rio
Grande by bandits and delivered to
Captain Matlack, 9Th Cavalry, com
manding officer at Candelaria, about 2
a: m. this date. The full details of
the airplane flight not yet received
1t seems that the aviators went up the
Conchos thinking that it was the Rio
Grande.
"Their machine crashed in Mexico
somewhere near Falomir on the Con
chos River, as Lieutenant Davis men
toned seeing a railroad bridge over
the river. They made their way down
the river and were captured on Wednes-
day somewhere near Conchos, neat
Lasugus or Chuchillo Harado. They
report seeing about twenty mounted
men. six Of whom they though were
bandits. The leader of the bandits
speaks English. says that he was edu
Gated in the United States and had
rallroaded in Kansas, where he left III
arm and leg. He claims to have sixty
men under him.
A dispatch from the American
consul at El Paso, received at the de
partment to-day. said that Genera
Mexico. had advised the American
consul there that he had ordered sev.
erai days ago cavalary from Oinags
and Chihuahua to search along the
Rio Conchos for the American officers
The consul at FL Paso stated that upon
receipt of the State Depart in
structlons he Immediately saw the
local Mexican commander. The latte,
at once conferred over tho telegram
line with the military commander OF
Chihuahua. who reiterated that he was
trying to locate the avators and tn
assist them to the American side of the
border
The lieutenants were then taken
towart the north and northeast until
tney were about opposite Candelaria
all the while apparently believing that
they were in Texas
Disable Their Machine Gun
When their machine crashed it
was badly broken up. They disabled
onl@