Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-08-20
Washington Indicates Swift Pursuit Will Be Rule Here
 after.
"GIOVES OFF, FROM
 NOW ON, IS THREAT
Close Proximity of Bandit Rendczv- ous Leads to the Hope that Capture May Be
 Effected.

Washington, Aug. 19.-No official announcements are being made of how the United States government in- tends to handle the bandit nuisance in Northern Mexico, from this point on, but there is every evidence that all preparations have been made to meet future depredations with swift movement of troops such as now is being conducted against the desper- adoes who held the two army ava- tors 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 today inaugur- ated the new plan, according to of ficals and from this time on similar incidents twill be handled without gloves"
 In announcing that Major Gener- al Joseph Dickman, commanding the Southern department, had acted on instructions from the war depart ment 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 tl,e 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 time and I therefore directed 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 cap- ture as many as possible"
 May Overtake Bandits.
 Details of how the dash was con- ducteds were left entirely to General Dickman, the only requirement. being that it sould be made with Swift ly moving force." Cavalry, with ma- chine guns and guarded by airplanes, would be used. If captives are taken. they will be brought to the United States.
 The close proximity of the bandit rendezvous to the border led to the hope that the American troops might overtake them before they would have time to scatter.
 Reports to the state department today from the American consul at Ell Paso said that late last week Gen eral Dieguez, Mexican commandant at Chihuahua City. had ordered Mex ican cavalry patrols out through the country where the American officers were held, but there was no indica. tion whether these patrols still were operating.
 The department also was advised by the American embassy at Mex. ico City that when it made represen. tations, regarding the capture of the aviators, the Mexican foreign office promised to see that every possible step was taken to assist in the rescue of the men.
 Dispatches to the department from Chihuahua said the governor of that Mexican state, with the approval o1 President Carranza had offered re ward of 50,OOO pesos for the capture of Francisco Villa. Two colonels ant three captains of the Villista force. captuyed by the federals were sait to have been convicted of treason Sunday by a military court-martia and executed by a firing squad yes terday
 | Congressman Active.
 The Mexican situation was givei further attention in congress today Representative Laguardia, republi can, New York, introduced resolu 1tion demanding that Secretary Lans l ing make complete report to con gress on the capture of Lieutenant! 1 Davis and Peterson and the negotia tions that led to their release.
 Before the house rules committee Brigadier General William Mitchell chief of operations in the army al service, testified that the 1900 off cers provided for the air service il the pending bill authorizing reten tion of 18,OOO officers until next Oc tober, would not be sufficient to main tain an expedition into Mexico. sIf we would go to Mexico now, inc declared, i've have the skeleton lof 17 squadrons. Twelve hundred of (Contin1led on pape six.l