Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-08-21

1t is believed by aviation officers
here they confused the Conchos River
which flows into the Rio Grande near
Presidio Texas, with the Rio Grande.
and followed the course of this river
into the interior of Mexico. Another
theory advanced here by fellow avia-
tors is that they were forced to land
either in the American or Mexican
side of the border in the wild coun-
try of the big Bend district, and were
, made prisoners by the Mexican bandits
who make marauding trips across the
border at frequent intervals in search
of cattle and other property which
they carry off to Mexico.
When It became known at Fort Bliss
tonight that the aviators were reported
held by Mexican bandits, there was much
discussion among army officers of the
possibility Of American trops crossing
the border in search of the bandits. This
was discredited by higher officers for
two reasons. The principal one advanced
was that the American aviators would
be killed If an expedition crossed in pur-
suit. The other was that orders for
I expeditions to cross the border in the
Big Bend district apply only to the pur-
suit of bandits who have stolen property
on the American side and then only to
! follow not trail
BAKER REFUSES COMMENT
| Washington. Aug. 17.-Secretary Baker
| tonight after the Associated Press dis
! patches telling of the holding for ransom
! by Mexican bandits Of two American
aViators had been read to him. said that
he could make no comment. The secre-
tary did not indicate whether advices as
to the plight of the aviators had reached
the war department. The state depart
ment' it was said by officials there. had
received no information on the affair
News of the holding OF the aviators by
! Mexican bandits coming on the heels of
the warning to the Carranza government
/ mat unless protection was afforded
American life and property in Mexico a
radical change in the policy Of this gov
eminent toward Mexico would result
! in intensified interest in official circles
is SECOND KIDNAPPING
| 1t was pointed out that the incident
! reported from the border tonight was
the second Of the kind within less than
two months. However, in the present
case these being held and threatened
with death are American military officers
and thus 1t was said there could be no
claim of mistaken identity as might have
been possible in the two previous in
stances
Late last month Philip THOMPSON. a
| F-year-old son of John West Thomson
an American citizen, was kidnapped from
his fathers ranch, 80 miles from Mexico
CITY and held for 1,5oO pesos ransom.
Actlng on the advice of the Mexican gov.
eminent and with acquiescence Of the
american state department. the bows
rather paid the ransom. The Mexican
foreign office agreed to refund the
amount Of the ransom. but no informa-
ton has been received here as to whether
| this agreement was carried out
Several days later Lawrence l.. Shinlev
an American citizen, was captured by
mexican bandits near Fresnillo ran
som was demanded in this case also and
the state department recommended that
II be paid, 1T being set forth that failure
70 make the payment would endanger
ohipieys hfe' Ten days ago the depart
ment was informed that Shipley had been
released but the dispatches did not state
'whether the ransom was paid