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 $8,'
500 Was Paid to ExtOrtion-
lists; Tells Details.

MARFA, Tex, Aug. 10-An Ameri.
can airplane returned tonight from n
scouting trip into Mexico with two
bullet holes through 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 cav.
airy Is pursuing the bandits, he said.
MARIA, Tex, Aug 19.-Spread out
fan shaped over a wide stretch of
Mexican country south of the Rio
Grande United States calvary 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
storm which was reported in mes
sages by field telephone to be raging
in the mountains below the border
It was feared the torrential rains
would obiiterate 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 Geutenants, II. 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 II probably will
be necessary to search every square mile
Of tho rough country below the border to
nnd 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 Ojnaga
district
1t was not known tonight how many
are in the bandit 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
lA- hntA Ia IN o M
use in case of emergency.
| H. VI. 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 $500.
Fenn9ll took the $4,000 demanded to
Candelaria yesterday. He declared a
recount OF the money brought back by
Capt Matlack after the releose of the
aviators showed $500 remained.
Fenneil brought the $500 back to
Maria this afternoon and deposited 1t In
bank. The money was in $50 bills.
Fanneli said the army would reimburse
the cattle men who subscribed the
ransom money.
| Fennell 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
| Capt Matlack and the Mexican brother
in-law of Renteria, who acted as go
| between.
Insisted ON Flares.
| He said the bandits insisted the de.
! livery OF the avstors 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 10 be
delivered. It was at an old cottonwood
tree a mile and half south of. Sar
Antonio The go-between then returned
to the American side and said arrange,
ments had been completed,
When the flares agreed upon failed tC
show after midnight. Capt Matlaci
crossed. He was gone more than hall
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 get on he
bind. Then the Captain spurred hii
horse without delivering the balance Of
the money.
"You can go plumb to he'll, I'm goinl
back" the CAPTAIN shouted as he gal
loped across the river. When Capt
Matlack dismounted. Fennell said ht
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, Fennel said.
THE aviators were elated over theil
experience once across the river" sale
Fennell. I'VE asked them II they had &
good time. Davis said: It'll say did.
Neither man was hurt by the fall o.