Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-08-30
RANSOM PAID AND
AMERICANS FREED
U. S. Cavalry Cross Into Mex
leo and Search for
Bandit Gang.


over a wide stretch Of Mexican coun-
try south Of the Rio Grande, United
States cavalry, aided by airmen as
scouts, Tuesday combed the mountains
for the bandits who held for ransom
two American aviators.
1t was feared the torrential rains
would obliterats trails left by the
bandits. The expeditionary force for
time moved forward in the face of
high winds, according to the reports.
The two lieutenants for whom ran
som was demanded, and who were
released, led the Americans in their
quest of the bandits.
The bandits, with five and half
hours start on the American punitive
expedition, are believed to have scat
tered in the mountain passes and can
yons. It will be necessary to search
every square mile of the rough coun-
try below the border, in the opinion
Of officers, to find the men.
American aviators who left the fly
ing field Tuesday were scouting the
entire Ojinaga district. Because of
the nature of the country, it is believ-
ed it will be difficult task to locate
the bandits from the air.
Mexican federal troops from Oiinaga
are acting to prevent a clash between
the American forces and Carranza's
men.
1t is not known how many are in
the bandit band. Lieutenants Davis
and Peterson saw six men. There
were twenty other bandits at ranch
where the bandits stopped. The Amer
lean aviators were told the band num-
bered sixty.
The bandits had American-made
ammunition.
The exploit of Captain Matlack in
securing, the release of both aviators
on payment of only $500 of the ran
som money is on every ones tongue.
Notwithstanding he did not "get away
with the stunt and was ordered to
pay over the balance of the money
though he still has this quick wit
tedness in making off with the filters
is generally commended AID his grit
praised.
Peterson and Davis found time while
they were on the American side of
the line and before the expedition took
up the trail of the bandits to make
statements
when the reports came of the cap
ture 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 mill
tary rescue within such time and /
therefore decided that the ransom
money be paid and that a force be
arranged to take up the hot trail of
the bandits and pursue them with the
hope of being able to capture as many
as possible"
Details of how the dash was con
Quoted we're left entirely to General
Dickman, the only requirement being
that it should be made with swiftly
moving force" Cavalry, with machine
guns and guarded by airplanes, would
be used If captiVes are taken they
will be brought to the United States.
San Antonio, Tex-Major General
Joseph T. Dickman, commander of the
Southern department OF the army,
Tuesday ordered Colonel G. T. Lang
horne, commandant at Maria, Tex, to
pay the $4,000 ransom demanded by
Mexican bandits.
This and the announcement that the
bandits had agreed to extend the time
limit for receipt of the ransom money
we're the two big developments in the
latest of the recent Mexican troubles.
In an official statement issued at
military headquarters at Ell Paso and
signed by Brigadier General Erwin
district commander, it was announced
that Major l.. A. Walton, commander
Of the aero unit at Fort Bliss, had re
ceived a message from Lieutenants
Paul H. Davis and Harold G. Peterson
stating that they had been captured
by Mexicans and were being held for
$4,000 ransom, which must be paid
by August Is, according to the mes
sage.
Lieutenant Peterson, the pilot Of the
plane which has been missing since
last Sunday, is rs years old and Il
from Hutchinson, MINI
Lieutenant Davis Is 80 years old and
is from Strathmore, Cal, but his rela
tives are In Berkeley. Cal
AYiators Peterson and Davis are q
part Of the personnel Of the Fort Bliss
aviation corps. but were ON detached
duty with the Big Bend district mill
tary headquarters at Maria, Tex, al
the time they disappeared. They left
Maria last Sunday morning for the
usual patrol Of the border, planning t.
follow the north bank Of the Rio
Grande to the end Of the district.
Washington. Repeal of the day