Evening star., 1919-08-22
u. s. TROOPS
ON IN HUNT FOR
MEXICAN BANDITS
Five Known to Have Been
Killed, With Possibly
a Sixth One.
SEARCH FOR WEEK MORE
AT LEAST BELIEVED PLAN
Report That Forces Would Be
Withdrawn at Once Is Of
icially Denied.
By the Associated Press.

MARIA, Tex- August zz.-As
long as the American punitive
expedition continues to follow
hot trail, it will remain in Mex
leo, unless orders to the contrary
are received from the War Ce-
partment, Maj. Gen. Joseph T.
Dicknan, commander of the
Southern Department., announced
today.
SAN DIEGO, Calf, August q
Lieuts. WaterhOuse and Connolly.
who have been missing since We'd
nesday afternoon. and for whom
the War Department has initiated
a vigorous search, have been found.
The aviators are safe ON the east
side Of Lower California. accord
ing to word received today by
Miss GeorEin Waterhouse, sister
Of one Of the aviatOrs. Rockwell
Field cannot confirm the report.
MARIA, Tex. August 22.-The
American punitive expedition against
Mexican bandits who held Lieuts.
Harold G. Peterson and Paul H. Davis,
Army aviators, for ransom was max
ing progress today. according to ad-
vices from the field, and reports that
the United States forces would be
at once were denied Off
cially. No definite time has been fix
ed for the withdrawal. but it is un-
derstood that the plan of campaign
includes at least another weeks
search through the mountains for the
Renteria band.
Have Plenty of Water.
The American troops camped last
night AT . place where there was
plenty of water. The soldiers secuted
country sthroughout
The Day In separate .detachments.. but
the camp at dark. The
trails are so rocky and steep that
pack mules carrying supplies fell over
cliffs and several were lost A num-
Der ~of horses of Maj. C. C. Smiths
command also fell off the train. but
none of the horses riders was in
jured.
The storms soaked. the blankets and
uniforms of the men, causing many
to sleep in wet clothes last night.
Five bandits are known to have
with possibility of sixth one. a
bandit having been seen to fall from
his horse when aviators returned
their fire.
It developed that the two prisoners
captured by Capt. Matlack
were men killed at the blockhouse
fight on Wednesday.
~,
load of cigarettes, chew
ing gum and tobacco to the river for
loading on pack mules en- route to the
punitive expedition Aviators loaded
planes with the same articles to take
to the cavalry today.
Capt. Matlack Wires Daughter.
Before starting on his return by
airplane today to join the punitive
in Mexico Capt. Leonard
Matlack of the Sth Cavalry, who res
cued Lieuts. Peterson and Davis sent
a telegram to his little daughter
Bonita, who lives at 1903 South 1st
street, Louisville. KY. telling her that
he was safe. The girls mother is
dead and she lives with Capt. Mat
lacks brother.
Capt. Matlack shared honors with
Gen. John T. Dickman at a reception and
band concert last. night. Cattlemen,
their wives, his fellow officers and
lack on his rescue of the two aviators
and his escape with part of the money.
Had q. S. Ammunition.
Rifles and automat tic pistols belong
ing to the four bandits killed in
Mexico Wednesday were recovered by
cavalry troops, together with a guam
tity Of American made ammunition,
which was found on the bodies of the
dead men. Jesus Janier, who was
killed in an assault Of the blockhouSe,
was arrested at the Britem ranch
house last year, taken to Candelaria,
Tex, and placed in Jail. His son,
Francisco. also killed Wednesday,
broke the lock. liberated his father
and both escaped to Mexico.N
Juan Jose Fuentes, the third dead
bandit identified. is charged with kill
ing a man at Barrancas, Chihuahua.
lowing the killing. and was pursued
back into Mexico by United States
According 70 Capt. Matlack. Jesus
Renteria cut the throat of Mike
Welch. stage driver between Valen-
tine and Candelaria, Tex, December
25, 1917, when the Brite ranch was
raided. He said he had evidence that
Renteria sat on the aged stage
drivers body and cut his throat with
a pocket knife while another member
of the band held his head by the hair.
Renteria is known as "the fiend" on
both sides of the river. Capt. Matlack
said.
Capt. Matlack Tells of Escape.
If Capt. Leonard NJ. Matlack had
not spurred his horse carrying Lieut..
Paul H. Davis on behind and made a
dash for the border last Tuesday
when the ransom was paid.
he and Lieut. Davis probably would
have been killed by the Mexican ban
dts This developed when Capt Mat
lack reported to Gen. Dickman the
reason he escaped from the bandits
without paying the ransom. Capt.
Matlack said that while waiting for
Jesus Renteria's men to bring Davis
to the appointed place for the ex-
change of the ransom for the pris-
oner he saw two Mexicans Slipping
through a cornfield and overheard one
bandit say in Spanish to the other:
I'VE will slip around between him
(Matlack) and the revolver and kill
him."
Hearing this, Matlack told Davis to
jump on his horse behind him and
made dash for the line.
Gen. Dickman Modifles Order.
After hearing Capt. Matlack's YER