The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-18
OFFICIAL STATEMENT


Ell Paso, Texas. August 17.-An Of
fetal statement was issued at military
headquarters here today signed by
Brig. Gen James B. Erwin, district
commander, announcing that Major l.
A. Walton commander of the aero unit
at Fort Bliss had received message
from tire two missing aviators saying
they had been captured BY Mexicans
and were being held for $15,0 900 ransom.
The ransom must be paid by August IS,
according to the message.
The full text of the statement issued
at military headquarters tonight by
General Erwin follows:
"a (sSegram was received this afte-
noon by Major L. A. Walton, commander
of the aero unit at Fort Bliss repeating
a message signed by the two aviators
who have been missing since Sunday,
stating they had been captured by Next
cans and were being held for SIS, 900
ransom which must be paid by August
is, or they would be killed
This message was brought into a
town in the Big Bend distrid by a
well known bandit Colonel. G. T.
Langhorne. commanding officer of the
eighth cavalry and the Big Bend dis
trict wired the commanding general of
the FL Paso district that the message is
authentic and that he is taking all
necessary measures to SEIZURE the re-
lease of the aviators and has presented
this matter to the proper authorities.
The name of the place from which the
message was sent, as well as the place
the ransom is to be paid, is not given
as it might interfere with the release
of the avistors.
Lieutenant Peterson is s5 years of
age and is from Hutchinson. MINI.
Lieutenant Davis is % years old and
is from Strathmore. Calf
Arrangements were being made to-
night to obtain $4,000 gold coin and
to send it to Marfi early tomorrow for
the payment of the ransom This ac-
ton was deemed advisable to protect
the men.
pSst of the personnel of the Fort Bliss
aviation corps, but were on detached
duty with the Big Bend district mill
tary Headquarters at Maria, Tex. when
they disappeared. They left for Mar
ia last Sunday morning for the usual
patrol of the border planning to follow
the north hank of the Rio Grande TO
the end of the district.
Tt is believed by aviation officers here
they confused the Conchos river, which
flows into the Rio Grande near Pre-
sidio, TEX. with the Rio Grande ana
followed tile course of this liver into
the interior o. Mexico. Another theory
advanced here by fellow aviators is
that they were forced to land. either on
The American or Mexican side Of the
border in the WIG country Of the Big
fend and were made prs ercfs ~. the
.s'A',c;n 5anG Is who make narautt' e
trips across The horaer at frequent inter
walls in search of cattle an other prop
eris hiih ey carry off in.p Mexico
When It became known at Fort Bliss
tonight that the aviators were reported
held by Mexican bandits. there was
much discussion among army officers
OF the possibility of American troops
crossing the border in search of the
bandits. This was discredited ~sby
higher officers for two reasons. The
principal one advanced was. that the
american aviators would be killed il
an expedition crossed in pursuit. The
other was that order for expeditions
to cross the border in the Big Bend
district apply only to the pursuit OF
bandits who ha ssolen property sor
the American ssse snd then only fol-
low a ''hot train