Republican farmer., 1919-08-22
RESCUED AIR PILOTS
 ACCOMPANY CAVALRY:
 BANDITS LOSE S7,50O
Captain Matlick Rides Away With Second Aviator Refusing to Heed Demand of Gang For Second Sum of MOney-Planes Aid in Chase.

Candelaria, Texas, Aug. 19-
 Accompanied by the ransomed
 aviatOrs Peterson and Davis,
 troops of the eighth cavalry,
 crossed the Mexican border this
 morning at GAO o'clock in pur-
 suit of the bandits. who had obtained S7 300 for the release
 of the airmen, but who were
 tricked out of the remainder of
 the stipulated $i5,O0O ransom
 by Captain Matlack.
 The freed aviators acted as guides for the cavalry, while American aero planes circlcd over the Ojinaga dis
 trict south of Candelaria in an effort
 to locate the bandits
 The punitive expedition into Mexico after the bandits is being conducted with the full knowledge of the Wash ington authorities Specific instruc- tions were received here from Secre- tary of War Baker. ordering the pur- suit of Mexican gang.
 Maria, Texas, Aug. 19-Lieutenants II. G. Peterson and Paul H. Davis, aviators of the United States army, { held captive for more than a week by Mexican bandits, who demanded d ransom of s15,OOO, were rescued early today by Captain Matlack of the Eighth Cavalry and are safe in Amer ican territory.
 Captain Natlack brought back with him one-half the ransom money. He said after Peterson had been releas- ed, Davis was brought forward by | the bandits and the two mounted Captain Matlack's horses. The ban dits demanded the remainder of the
 ransom money and Captain Matlack | and Davis answered h riding rapidly away.
 The aviators landed on the Ameri- 1 can side of the river, Lieut.. Peterson said. Upon their arrival at Cande-
 laria week ago Sunday, their engine developed trouble and they were | forced to land, smashing their land ing gear and fusilage in doing so. The two aviators then tried to find | their way to the nearest army camp | and became confused. They walked | and swan down the Rio Grande dur l ing Monday. Lieut.. Peterson devel- oped a fever. They had started for Candelaria when an armed Mexican ONeTIOOR them ana maOe them prlS-
 oners. They were unarmed. 1 They were overtaken by a band of
 armed bandits, Lieut.. Peterson said,
 and a crowd of people from a little ] town. They continued on their fore i ed journey until Friday night when the bandits compelled the aviators to ! write messages demanding ransom
 and telling of the death threat. | The leader of the bandits, he said, | had worked on a railroad in Kansas l and lost a hand and foot in an acci- i dent there.
 The messages were sent to the bor-
 der by messenger Sunday. Peterson l immediately sent a message to his Feeling fine; had wonderful experi-
 ence." Davis also sent a similar mes
 sage to his parents at Strathmore,
 Calf
 Captain Matlack returned with Da-
 wis at o'clock this morning, both
 men riding the captains horse. l According to the agreement, Cap
 tain Matlack made the journey into
 the Mexican rendezvous unaccompa-
 nied. He was to pay over S7,500 for
 the release of one aviator and the re- mainder when thersecond aviator was | released. Under the agreement Mat lack was to return with the aviators by foot to the American side and then come on the Maria by airplane.
 The flares from the mountain side were 10 be the signal for Matlack to | begin his perilous journey into the
 bandit country.