The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-08-20

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MExIcANS ARE SHOT.
MARIA. Tex, Aug. 90 A report
was received here today to Lieuten-
ant Estill, pilot, and Lieutenant Coop
er' observer, dated Presidio, Texas,
giving details of firing on their b.
plane by the Mexican bandits. While
flying over Mexican mountain trail,
the American aviators observed three
Mex1cans mounted, riding south. The
plane swept down low to investigate.
The bandits opened fire with rifle,
bullets puncturing the wings of the
American machine. Observer Cooper
returned the fire and saw ono horse
and rider fall. A short time after
ward, one horse was observed stand
Ing without rider. The third horse
man d1smounted and climbing upon
the side Of the mountain disappeared.
Neither aviator was hit.
Reports from all troops in the field
In Mexico indicate progress is being
made in searching the mountain can
yons and passes for the bandits who
held Aviators Peterson and Davis
Communication Cut or.
Military headquarters here was with.
out information from the punitive ex-
pedlt1on, heavy storms I'm the noun.
ta1ns OF chihuahua interrupting COM
cunication via the field telephones OF
the army.
First reports said the cavalry was
In pursuit Of the remaining bandits,
but communication was interrupted
and no further word came from the
punitive force.
Four airplanes. which arrived from
Fort R1iGS
ment the air protection Of the eighth
cavalry in Mexico today.
The rains last night are believed to
have wiped out the trails of the ban
dts, but it was not without its advant-
ages, however, for the softened condi-
tlos OF the earth would make fresh
trails more easily discernible than the
trails made previous to the rains.
NEW POLICY is SEEN
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20.-Mexican
border raids and depredattons by ban
dts directly across the border. evil
dence from official sources TODAY
showed. will in the future bring upon
the mauraders the armed forces of
the United States. The present punt-
tive expedition led by Major General
Joseph T. Dickman, Commander Of the
Southern department It was learned.
constitutes the first working out of
the new policy, which one official
characterized as Handling the border
nuisance without gloves"
The border guard. it was said, was
equipped admirably for such work
with swift moving cavalry, machine
gun sections and airplanes stationed
at detached points along the Rio
Grande.
interest in the search Of the eighth
cavalry which crossed the border yes.
terday for the bandits who held Lieuts.
II. q. Peterson, and Paul N. Davis.
for ransom continued intense today at
the war department. Dispatches were
received late yesterday from General
D1ckman but were not made public.
HAD MEXICAN PERMISSION
MEXICO CITY, Aug. 20.-American
av1ators were given permission to
cross the International frontier by the
Mexican government to search for
Lieuts. Harold B. Peterson and Paul
H. Davis, who were captured by ban
dts, according to Bulletin made pub
llc here last night by General Juan
Barragan, chief of the presidential
staff. The bulletin makes no mention
or any permission being given tho
United States to send troops across
the frontier. 1t also does not mention
the exact place where the two Amer
lean aviators were supposed to have
landed and gives no information as to
what band Of outlaws is believed to
be in that region.
General Barragan's bulletin says
that on Aug. II General Manuel NJ
Dieguez, commander Of military opera
tions in the State of Chihuahua re-
ported to President Carranza that he
had received a message from Andres
Garcia, inspector general Of Mexican
commander at Maria, Tex. Colonel
Langhorne's note stated that an Amer
ican army airplane had landed in
Mexican territory south of Big Bend
country, Tex, as a result Of follow
ing the Conchos river instead of the
Ria Grande. The bulletin continues
by saying that the region where the
airplane landed is a desert where 1t
is known some bands of outlaws have
their rendezvous and have not been
scattered because Of the difficult ma.
ture Of the country. The note from
Colonel Langhorne asked permission
for other American machines to cross
to the frontier to locate the lost pilots
1t is stated that President Carranza
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