New-York tribune., 1919-08-20
Punitive Force Sweeps
Across Border as Soon
as Kidnapped Aviators
q in Their Liberty
Air Scout Fights
With ; Mexicans
Maj. Gen. Dickman, Vet.
eran of World War, in
Charge of the Invasion

tANDELAR1A, Tex, Aug. l9 (Via
Army Field Telephone to Maria -
American troops of the Eighth Cavalry,
under command of Colonel Langhorne,
with bombing planes flying ahead of
the columns as scouts, swept across
the Mexican border carly day in
pursuit Of the bandits under Jesus
Renteria, who held the American armv
avlators, Licutenants II. G. Peterson
and Paul II. Davis, for ransom. Davis
and Peterson, who we're released after
the ransom money had been paid, ac-
companed the troops as guides.
The expedition is supported by an
adequate communication line, and pack
trains carrying the field wireless for
use when out of touch with the avia-
tors, who arc scouting the entire Dim
aga district for the bandits. Reports
from the expedition received this after
noon said that as yet there has been
no contact with the bandits, who are
we'll mounted.
Mexican General Notified
Colonel Langhorne. through the
Mexican Consul at Preside, Tex, has
notified General Antonio Pruneda, com
nander of the Carranza forces in the
Ojlnag. District, of the expedition, so
thot the Mexican general could instruct
his men in the field to avoid a clash
with the American cavalry. The expe-
dition is being conducted with the full
krowiedge of the authorities at WASH
ngtoh who have been Withholding ap-
nouncement Of the governments pur-
pose until the kidnapped Americans
We're safe
The ransom actually paid the bandits
for the release of the avators amount
ed to $500. according to H. NJ. Fen
nell, a Maria banker, who took the
money to Candelaria Yesterday A re-
count of the money brought back by
Captain Matlack after Davis and Peter
son had been released showed that
$500 of the original $4,000 remained,
according to Fennell.
Major General Dickman Commands
MARIA, Tex. Aug. l9. Major Gen
eral Joseph T. Dickman, commanding
the Southern Department, is personally
directing the pursuit Of Mexican
bandits by United States troops. He
left San Antonio to-day "for tour
of inspection to Eagle Pass, Delrio and
Fort Clark"
An American airplane returned to-
night from a scouting trip into Mexico
with two bullet holes through a wing.
The aviator observer said he was fired
on by three Mexicans. He returned
the fire with a machine gun and be-
lieved he killed one. The cavalry is
pursuing the bandits, he said.
After the forward dash over the
border to-day the troops were being
handicapped tonight by a storm re-
ported raging in the mountains below
the border.
Handicapped by Rains
1t was feared the torrential rains
would obliterate trails left by the ban
dts. The expeditionary force for
time moved forward in the face of
high winds, according to the reports.
With nearly six hours start on the
punitive expedition, the bandits are
believed to have scattered in the noun
tain passes and canyons, and it prob
ably will be necessary to search every
square mile Of the rough country be-
low the border to find them IN the
opinion of military men.
The district within the angle formed
by a junction of the Rio Grande and
Conchos River is the widest section
of Northern Mexico, noted for rugged
mountains, deep canyons and barren
deserts.
The troops are on field rations from
mule pack trains, as no field kitchens
were taken.
The communication line is being
maintained to the border, along which
supply trains and couriers pass from
the base on the American side to the
columns in the field.