New-York tribune., 1919-08-25
Jesus Renteria Shot bv
Lieut.. Cooper, Whom
He Attacked, Ransomed
Aviator Peterson Saws
Pilots Lost Sight of
Pursuing ngg Troops
Decision to Withdraw Is
Wholly Military Move
and Not Due to Protest
by Mexicans, Says Baker

MARIA, Tex, Aug 24-Three hum
dred American cavalry troops tonight
were making their way back across the
Rio Grande through driving rain storm
after an unsuccessful campaign begun
last Tuesday to overtake the bandits
who captured and held for ransom
Lieutenants Harold G. Peterson and
Paul H. Davis. They we're scheduled to
cross the Rio Grande into Ruidosa at
$3.50 o'clock tonight.
Contact with Carranza soldiers also
on the trail of the bandits and heavy
rain which wiped out the fresh trails
resulted in decision to abandon the
chase. The Mexican Federals were en-
countered last night by scout patrol
and after conference army officers
decided to give up the pursuit until
this morning. Meanwhile the rain had
wiped out the trails of the bandits. who
were only a few hours ahead of tho
Americans.
The punitive expedition is returning
in single column, with three cavalry
troops leading, pack trains, machine
gun troops and other units following.
Two troops are acting as rear guard.
Five Bandits Killed, Nine Captured
The six days below the border re-
suited in the killing of four bandits bv
troops and death of one by machine
gun bullets from an aeroplane. Nine
bandits, said to be part of the Renteria
band were captured at Coyame, in a
dance hall, by Carranza soldiers.
Announcement of the withdrawal was
made at 4:30 o'clock this afternoon by
Colonel George 7. Langhorne, who said
the American forces would resume their
station tomorrow along the Rio
Grande.
Reports that Jesus Renteria, leader
of the bandits, had been killed, brought
to the border to-day, could not be con-
firmed
According to one version, told Lieu
tenant Peterson, Jesus Renteria was
killed by Lieutenant R. H. Cooper when
bandits fired on Cooper's machine.
Lieutenant Peterson and his com
panion, Lieutenant Davis, returned by
airplane to Royce flying field this az
ternoon, having been with the expedi-
tion since Tuesday
Reports Are Conflicting
Peterson's report failed to check
with other reports at military head
quarters. An official army report said
Jesus Renteria was believed to have
been located sixty miles south of
Chihuahua City, where he was said to
be hiding.
Peterson said he received his infor-
nation that Renteria had been killed
from scouts.
1.-TWO bandits we were pursu5np ya.-
terday told ranchers along the route
that Jesus Renteria had been killed
when Lieutenant Cooper returned the
rife fire of three horsemen," said ne
lhe ranchers, in turn, informed our
scouts" uus
lhe Americans were hot on the trail
OF the bandit gang last night with the
intention of continuing the pursuit all
night, according to Lieutenant Peter
son. lie said he accompanied a scout
patrol which was endeavoring to fol-
low the bandits and that they en-
countered Carranza outpost. guard
llig force of three hundred Federal
Mexican soldiers. The patro! returned
10 the main command and after CON
ference II was decided advisable TO
walt until daylight, in view of the
presence OF CarranZa soldiers.
Carranza Outposts Encountered
''The trail we were following was
oeiieved to be that of Apolino Rem
terra, brother of Jesus Renteria. -
Lieutenant Peterson said. ssThree
others were believed to have beer vt
the ranch house where thev had
camped the day before They passed
through the place we were searching
at 2:3o o'clock yesterday afternoon
and we were hot on their trail from
that time.
We had started on this hot trail
when we encountered Carranza out
posts after dark. II was decided to
return, as it was estimated that there
were 800 Carranza troops there. We
had planned to overtake the bandits
during the night"
That plans had been made for cross
! ing the border last Sunday night, more
than twenty -four hours before the miss
ing aviators were ransomed, became
known tonight. Colonel Langhorue
hoped to be able to recover the avis-
tors without paying the ransom. With
this idea in mind troops were started
for the Rio Grande from Preside and
other points spproacIsno in ,v.L .