The sun., 1919-08-20
STORM HINDERS
BANDIT SEARCH
ACROSS BORDER
U. s. Cavalrymen Spread
Out in Fan Shaped Forma-
tiOn in North Mexico.
TWO AvIATORs ARE SAFE
Maria Banker Announces 49,.
500 Was Paid to ExtOrtiOn-
lists; Tells Details.

MARIA, Tex, Aug. 1s.-An Amerl.
can airplane returned o-night from a
scouting trip into Mexico with two
bullet holes through n wing Of the ma
chine. The aviator observer said he
was fired on by three Mexicans. He
returned the fire with a machine gun
and believed he killed one. The cay.
airy Is pursuing the bandits, he said.
MARIA, Tex, Aug 1s.-Spread out
fan shaped over a wide stretch Of
Mexican country south Of the Rio
Grande United States cavalry troops,
aided by airmen as scouts, tonight
are combing the mountains for the
bandits who held two American avia-
tors for $4,000 ransom.
After the forward dash over the
border to-day the troops probably
were being handicapped tonight by
a storm which was reported in mes
sages by field telephone to be raging
in the mountains below the border.
1t was feared the torrential rains
would obliterate trails left by the
bandits. The expeditionary force for
time moved forward in the face
of high winds according to the re-
ports.
The two Leutenants, H. G. Peter
son and Paul N. Davis, for whom
ransom was demanded and who were
released early to-day, guided the
Americans in their quest of the Mexi-
can outlaws.
With nearly six hours start on the
punitive expedition the bandits are be-
lieved to have scattered in the mountain
passes and canyons. and 1t probably will
be necessary to search every square mile
OF the rough country below the border to
find them In the opinion of military
men.
Air scouts Aid Search.
Despite the difficulty of locating the
bandits from the air American aviators
who left the flying field here early to-
day secuted almost the entire Ojinaga
district.
1t was not known tonight how many
are in thesbandit band. Lieut. Davis and
Lieut.. Peterson said they saw six men.
There were twenty other bandits at the
ranch where the outlaws stopped. Amer
lean aviators were told the band num-
bered sixty.
Arrangements for nurses. ambulances
and surgical dressings for the punitive
expedition were being made tonight for
use in case OF emergency.
II. ". Fennell. a banker OF this city.
arrived late to-day and announced that
the amount OF ransom actually paid for
the release of the aviators was SS.5OO.
Fenn4ll took the $4,000 demanded TO
Candelaria yesterday. He declared
recount OF the money brought back by
Capt Matlack after the release OF the
ayiators showed Sc. 500 remained.
Fennen brought the $500 back TO
Maria this afternoon and deposited il In
bank. The money was in $50 bills.
Fennell said the army would reimburse
the cattle men who subscribed the
ransom money.
Fennen tonight told the first con-
nected story OF events preceding the
crossing of the American aviators TO the
United States to-day. He outlined pre-
liminary negotiations Monday between
Cant. Matlack and the Mexican brother
in-law of Renteria, who acted as a go
between.
Insisted on Flares.
He said the bandits insisted the de-
livery OF the aviators be made after
dark so flares might be seen. The go
between crossed to San Antonio. Chi
huahua, opposite Candelaria, and selected
the spot where the aviators were TO he
delivered. II wac at an old cottonwood
tree mile and half south OF San
Antonio. The go-between then returned
to the American side and said arrange
ments had been completed.
When the flares agreed upon failed to
show after midnight. Capt. Matlack
crossed. He was gone more than half
an hour, returning with Lieut.. Peterson.
AS he rode into Candelaria Capt. Mat
lack said:
Here's one OF them, thank God"
Returning to the old cottonwood, Capt.
Matlack told Lieut. Davis to set on be-
bind Then the Captain spurred his
, horse without delivering the balance of
| the money.
"You can go plumb to hell I'm going
| back" the Captain shouted as he gal
loped across the river. When Capt.
Matlack dismounted. Fennell said he
shook the money in their faces.
Look at that. I'm going back to-
morrow and get the rest OF that money"
the Captain told them, Fennell said
''The aviators were elated over their
experience once across the river" said
| Fennell. I'VE asked them II they had a
good time. Davis said: I'll say did
Neither man was hurt by the fall OF