The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-08-18
BANDITS DEMAND
RANSOM FOR AVIATORS
Chico C,ano in the canyons OF the :
pared district
(continued from page ]

/ Chico Cano IN the canyons or thf
Mexican Big Bend district.
/ According 70 unofficial Information
| payu1eut of the demand OF the bandits
| fer ransom has been agreed upon Dy
army officials as the only way to save
the avfafors. Negotiations viii Dc
| through Dawkins Kirkpatrick store
keeper az Candelaria. well acquainted
with Me1icans over the line hlrhpat
r;cp was reported 10 be in touch WIFI
fhe bandits today in an effort TO ge'
tslcm TO postpone their time limit
sct for tonight.
The flyers have been missing sine
they started a border patrol hignl
August 10. II ia supposed they mis-
took the flood waters OF the RIO
Concao for the Rio Grsnde and fol-
lowed that stream into Mexico
According 70 information here the
two descended near Preside De n
iares, forty miles southwest OF Maria
ARMY officers here admitted they
considered The situation serious
preparafions for prompt military &C
ton, II necessary, were completed
Two New Problems.
WASHINGTON, Aug 1s.-TTo
new problems affecting relations be-
tween the United States and Mexico
were before this government today.
The most imprsssing was the re-
mort from the border OF the Eidnap-
ing OF two army avigtors by Mexican
bandits who are said 10 be holding
them for $4,000 ransom.
The other was the ousttng from
Mexico City OF the sole remaining
REPRESENTATIVE of the British govern
ment.
Both developments came on the
heels OF note 20 Carranza, warn
ing of "a radical change In the
policy toward Mexico unless safety
was assured American citizens.
Immediately following publication
OF that note and Mexrco's answer
officials here let {. be known that IT
becomes necessary TO act On the
warning, withdra wal OF support OF
the Carranza government VIII prob
ably be the first STEP
officials early today were silent on
whether the two new Developments
IN the Mexican situation are consid'
cred OF sufficient gravity 10 act on
,he warning given Carranza-
The holding OF the TWO aviators
by bandits is taken here as further
proof OF Carranza's lack or control
over many sections OF his country.
Peterson's Father.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, aug. Is.-Haunt-
Ing telegraph and newspaper Offices
in the Twin Cities, Samuel G. Peter
son, Hutchinson, Mimi. father Of
Lieut. H. G. Peterson. the American
flyer held captive by Villa bandits,
today eagerly awaited the word
which will tell him Ii his efforts TO
save his sons life have peen sue
cessful. The ransom price OF $4,000,
the senior Peterson has agreed to
pay and so informed war department
officials Sunday and added a request
that the bandits be informed of his
decision. At an early hour today
the father had received no additional
news from the border concerning the
plight OF his son.
Since Sunday afternoon. when he
first learned of his sons predicament,
Peterson has kept telegraph wires
hot with appeals 20 war department
officers and congressman to make
every effort TO save his son from
death. To these messages the ad-
dressees have replied, announcing
their willingness TO do everything
possible to secure the release Of
Lieut. Peterson and his companion,
Lieut.. Davig-
Back IN Hutchinson, Mrs. Peterson,
aged mother OF the aviator. is with
3n hearing distance Of the telephone
bell She Is being kept advised Of
developments by her husband here
Samuel Peterson is clothing mer-
chant of Hutchinson. Besides the
father and son, a mother and two
sisters compose the fanny.
Father Of Davis.
STRATHMORE, Calf. Aug. 1s-
Army officers at Fort Bliss wired us
that the government would pay
Paul's ransom II necessary, SO we
have felt that everything possible
was being done for the return or our
boy and Lieut. Peterson said Dr.
Waldren B. Davis today when did
by the United Press that both army
officers and Texas cowboys bad
raised the $4,000 rensom Mexican
bandits asked for Jfeuts Dars ami
Peterson.
we were notified Thursday ly
PanPs commanding officer, Major
Walton. of Fort Buss, that the two
men were missing" he said. "Yes-
terday Col Langhorne telegraphed
us from Maria, Texas, telling Of
their plight. | wired the war de-
partment to learn what steps would
be taken and Offering to raise the
ransom demanded, and arse wired TO
President Wilson and Senator John
son
Major Walton wired me that the
government would pay the ransom
and take whatever steps were neces.
sary to secure the safe recurn OF .Le
boys"
Davis was %, and was student at
Stanford when he enlisted at the
outbreak Of the war. He was sent tc
Columbia university to specialize n
radio and wireless telephony. After
receiving commission he was
stationed at Kelly field as radio and
wireless telephone instructor.
Four months ago, Davis was quail
fled as an aviator, ana assigned tc
the first bombing group ut For