The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-08-27
u. S. INAUGURATES NEW POLICY
OF HAVING FLYING CAV
AIRY PURSUE OUTLAWS
WILL SEEK GREAT SPEED
Regiments Are Distributed to Place
Nucleus of Columns at
Strategic Places.

preparations have been made to meet
future depredations with swift
movement of troops such as is now
being conducted against the desper-
ADDE'S who held the two army aviators
for ransom.
Swift moving cavalry, fully equip
ped with machine guns and guided
by airplanes, it is understood, will be
relied upon and will be prepared to-
move quickly from strategic points
along the border of the bandit coun-
try on the Rio Grande.
Organization of the border guard
to insure the greatest speed in these
movements has been completed, the
cavalry regiments being so distribut-
ed as to place the nucleus of flying
column at carefully selected points
along the Rio Grande.
Movement of troops of the Eighth
cavalry into Mexico inaugurated the
new plan, according to officials and
from this time on similar incidents
twill be handled without gloves"
In announcing that Major General
Joseph T. Dickman, commanding the
souther department, had acted on in
structions from the war department,
Secretary Baker intimated that only
the danger in which the two officers
were placed prevented an attempt to
rescue them by force.
"When the reports came of the
capture of these two officers and their
being .held for ransom" Secretary
Baker said, "the hour of execution
was fixed on the next day in default
of the ransom being paid. There was
Of course, no opportunity to make a
military rescue within such time and
l therefore directed that the money
be paid and that force be arranged
to take up the hot trail of the ban
dts and pursue them with the hope
of being able to capture as many as
possible"
Details of how the dash was con-
Quoted were left entirely to Gen.
Dickman, the only requirement being
that it should be made with swift
lily moving force"
H. M. Fennell, a banker of Maria,
Texas, announced that the amount
of ransom actually paid for the re-
lease of the aviators was $500.
Fennell took the $4,000 demand to
Candelaria. He declared recount
of the money brought back by Capt.
Matlock after release of the aviators
showed $4,000 remained.
Fennell brought the $4,000 back
to Maria and deposited it in bank.
The money was in $50 bills. Fennell
said the army would reimburse the
cattlemen who secured the ransom
money.
Fennell told the first story of
events preceding the crossing of the
American aviators to the United
States. He outlined preliminary ne
gotiations Monday between Capt. l..
F. Matlock and the Mexican brother
in-law of Renteria who acted as go
between.
He said the bandits insisted on
the delivery of the aviators after
dark so flares might be seen. The
go-between crossed to San Antonio,
Chihuahua, opposite Candelaria, and
selected the spot where the aviators
were to be delivered. 1t was an old
cottonwood tree a mile and a half
south of San Antonio. The go-be-
tween then returned to the American
side and said arrangements had been
complete. When the flares agreed
upon failed to show after midnight,
| Capt. Matlock crossed. He was gone
more than half an hour, returning
with Lieut.. Peterson. AS he rode in
/ to Candelaria, Capt. Matlock said;
"Here's one Of them, thank God!
Returning to the old cottonwood
tree, Capt Matlock told Lieut.. Davis
to get on behind. Then the captain
spurred his horse without delivering
the balance of the money.
Rides Away With Money.
"You can go plumb to hell, Pm
going back" the captain shouted as
he galloped across the river.
When Capt. Matlock dismounted,
Fennell said he shook the/money in
their faces.
"Look at that; Pm going back to-
morrow and get the rest of thet
money" the Captain told them, Fen
nell said.
The aviators were elated over their
experience once across the river,
said Fennell. eve asked them if
they had a good time. Davis said:
"PI say we did,