Arizona republican., 1919-08-18
U. s. AVIATORS
 ELD C AP TIV E
Icontinued from Page One)
Are Mere Younosters

Lieutenant Peterson, the pilot of the biplane which has been missing since last Sunday, is 25 years of age and is from Hutchison, Minnesota. Lieuten- ant Davis is g years of age and is from Strathmore, California, but has relatives in Berkeley, California.
 The full text of the statement issued at military headquarters tonight by General Erwin reads as follows:
 The Statement
 "A telegram was received this
 afternoon by Major L. A. Walton,
 commander of the aero unit at
 Fort Bliss, releating a message
 signed by the two avators who
 have been missing since Sunday,
 stating they had been captured
 by Mexicans and were being held
 for $15,0o0 ranson which must be
 paid by August 18, or they would
 be killed.
 This message was brought into
 town in the Big Bend district by
 well known bandit. Colonel
 George T. Langhorne, command
 ing officer of the 8th cavalry and
 the Big Bend district, wired the
 commanding general of the El Paso
 district that the message is au
 thentic and that he Is taking all
 necessary measures to secure the
 release of the aviators and has
 presented this matter to the prop
 CT authorities. The name of the
 place from which the message was
 sent as well as place where the
 ransom is to be paid is not given
 as it might interfere with the re-
 lease of the aviators."
 Aviators Peterson and Davis are a part of the personnel of the Fort Bliss aviation corps but were on detached duty with the Big Bend district mili- tary headquarters at Maria, Texas. at the time they disappeared. They left Maria last Sunday morning for the us- ual patrol of the border, planning to follow the north bank of the Rio Grande, to the end of the district
 Confused Rivers
 It 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 on the American or Mexican side in the wild country of the Big Bend district and were made prisoners by the Mexican bandits. who make mau- rading trips across the border at fre- quent intervals in search of cattle and other property which they carry off to Mexico
 Little Possibility of Pursuit
 When it became known at Fort Bliss tonight that the aviators were re- ported held by Mexican bandits. there was much discussion among army of- ficers of the possibility of American troops crossing the border in search of the bandits who were holding the aviators prisoners. This was dis credited by higher officers for two reasons. The principal one advanced was that the American aviators would be killed if an expedition crossed in pursuit of the bandits. The other reason was that the orders for expedf- tions to cross the border in the Big Bend district applies only to the pur- suit of bandits who have stolen prop erty on the American side and ther only to follow a "hot trailn
 Replies to messages sent their reIa. tives by Lieutenants Paul H. Davis and Harold G. Peterson, American aviators reported held for ransom il Mexico were received at Maria, Texas late tonight The messages from tn. aviators were received at the sam. time the demand for the s15,0o0 ran. som for the release of the ayiators wa i brought 10 the border today. An eff fort was being made to get the repIie. to the aviators in the bandit rendez vous in Mevico
 Forward Messages to Parents
 The message from the aviators wer, sent to their relatives at Strathmort and Berkeley. California, and Hutchin son, Minnesota, as soon as received a Maria. The text of their message. was not given out but it was under stood the aviators their relatives f, urge the payment of the ransom. Tn. contents of the replies was also with 1 held but a courier who is familiar witl the district opposite the Big Bend wa obtained and an effort made to get tn replies to the aviators tonight. While no official announcement wa made here tonight, it was understoo, l the ransom would be paid to an agen of the bandits tomorrow and tn, 1 courier carrying the telegrams t, aviators was also used to inform tn bandit leader of this fact.