Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-08-21

eII department would go TO Maria
to look into all phases of the capture
and ransom of Lieutenants Davis and
Peterson, together with the pursuit
of their Mexican bandit captors which
IS now in progress, was made to-
night at Southern department head
quarters by Col w. T. Johnston,
chief of staff.
No advices directly from the pur-
suit troops had been received today,
Col. Johnston said. He added that
while in Maria, General Dickman
probably would look into the reports
of only partial payment of the ran
som demanded by the bandits and
that if only partial payment had been
made, the United States government
was obligated to complete the full
payment to the bandits agents. An
order to make full payment was given
by General Dickman yesterday be-
fore leaving for the West. One tele-
gram received here said that Captain
Matlack, who effected the release of
the two lieutenants paid the bandits
$500, while report to the Southern
department said he had paid only
| 81, 500.
When Col. Johnston was asked how
it would be possible to pay the ban
dts the full amount of the ransom
without capturing them to do so, he
pointed out that the negotiations had
been made with the bandits agents
and the obligation was made to the
agents. 1t was inferred that a pos
sible solution of the difficulty would
be to place the amount of ransom
remaining unpaid at the disposal Of
Dawkins fitzpatrick, storekeeper at
Candelaria, who was first mentioned
in the bandits demand.
1t was denied at the Southern de-
partment headquarters today that
General Dickmans presence near
Maria had been ordered to cooperate
with Col. Langhorne's forces, if
needed.
1t was also said the American cav
alrymen would go as far south as
Falomira, which is about SO miles
south of the border and Is miles fur
Their than the troops had reached at
last reports to headquarters here.
Explains Mexican Aid.
Washington, Aug. 2O.-To avoid
possible contact with American troops
on the trail Of bandits in Northern
| Mexico, Mexican forces were not sent
after the band which captured Lieu
tenants Davis and Peterson, the war
department was advised in telegram
sent yesterday by Major General
Dickman, commanding the Southern
department.
The message was made public late
today.
"The Mexican consul at Preside
and General Pruneda at Ojinaga were
notified of our intended pursuit of
the bandits at 6 o'clock and their CO.
operation asked this morning." said
the message. "Later the consul called
me up and said that General Pruneda
was preparing to leave with force
/ in compliance with orders from Cen
eral Dieguez, translation Of which
was sent you yesterday, to look for
the aviators and fallen planes. The
bandits after the consul had been in
formed of our having obtained the
lost aviators and having been told
just where the plane fell with them
and how they were captured near
Coyame and held and taken to noun
tains opposite Candelaria for ransom.
"The consul then suggested that
General Pruneda do not move his
troops at all in order to avoid any
contact between Pruneda's troops and
ours, since Pruneda had orders not
to permit any military representa-
| tives of our government to accom-
pany his troops in the search Of the
| lost aviators. | agree with the con-
sui that this would be wise, that our
| troops had taken up the trail of the
bandits as soon as it was light enough
| to see the trail and were then in pur-
suit, that it was impossible to get
| Mexican officers to accompany our
troops and assured him that efforts
| would be made by airplane to keep
| liaison between our troops and the
Mexican troops to which the consul
agreed. The aviators have made the
liaison flights, keeping contact with
| and observing our troops. Shall keep
you informed"
Would Pay Whole Sum.
Candelaria, Tex, Aug. 20.-Mexi-
| can newspapers received here today
announcing General Dickman's trip
to Maria and possibly to Candelaria
in connection with payment of the
remainder of the $4,000 ransom for
Aviators Peterson and Davis, created
discussion here as to how and to whom
the remainder OF the ransom could
be paid. After securing the release
of Lieutenant Peterson Monday night,
Captain Leonard Matlack escaped
with Lieutenant Davis without pay
ing the remainder of the ransom,
amounting to $4,000. Captain Mat
lack returned the money to H. M.
Fennell, the Maria banker, who
brought the ransom here.
According to newspaper reports, the
United States wants the total amount
of the ransom delivered to the bandit
Renteria, whose band is being pur-
sued in Mexico by American cavalry.
AS far as known, no associates or
relatives of Renteria live near the
border. Dawkins Fitzpatrick, store
keeper mentioned in the the messages
the aviators were forced to write ask
ing for ransom, refused to have any,
thing to do with the transaction. Kill
o%1,.11 IL Il,