The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-18
DEMAND RELEASE |
OF U. S. FLYERS !.
HELD BY BANDITS
Serious Results Would Follow II
Aviators Harmed. i
Are Being Held by Bandits for
$4,000 Ransom. 4
WILL SEND THE MONEY TODAY
Making Every Effort To Save
Two Officers. SsJ
Lieuts. Davis and Peterson Had
Been Missing Eight Days.
CAPT0RS THREATEN DEATHI
VIII Kill Prisoners Unless RAM
som Paid Today. 81
Scene of Outrage One of Wild
est Regions on Border. skI
VIII Kill Prisoners Unless Ran.
som Paid Today. 81
Scene of Outrage One of Wild
est Regions on Border. K
BULLETIN.


Oakland, Cal, Aug. 1S.-Ideut. Earl
Davis, brother of Lieut.. Paul Davis,
held for ransom by Mexican bandits,
will fly into Mexico in an attempt to
free his brother, fighting with a ma
chine gun IL necessary, he announced
today.
DIR. WaIdren b. Davis. their father,
has an airplane in waiting mt Strsth-
more, Cal.
Earl left for Strathmore today.
Washington, Aug. 18.-The
American embassy at Mexico
City was instructed today by the
state department to Immediately
call upon the Mexican govern
ment for quick action to effect
the release of Lieuts. Paul P.
Davis and Harold G.. Peterson,
American army aviators, who
were captured by Mexican
bandits near Candelaria, Texas,
while patrolling the border, and
who are threatened with death
unless $4,000 ransom is paid
today =,
A Serious Affair. Y
The state departments an
nouncement said the instruc-
tions pointed out the seriousness
with which the United States
government views this situations
and called for immediate ade-
quate action. The American
consul at Juarez also was in
structed to take all possible
steps with the Mexican authori-
ties there to secure release and
protection of the officers.
State department officials said the
ransom demanded would be paid as
soon as information could be had as
to where and to whom the money was
to be delivered. 1t has not been de-
cided whether the United States would
| furnish the sum and charge It against
| the Carranza government or call upon
the Mexican government to pay it de
rect.
Breaks International Law.
Official reports from Major Gen-
southern department. concerning the
| detention of the aviators were re-
ceived today at the war Department..
but Secretary Baker refused to make
| lnem saying the state QepdItF
ment had entire supervision over the
/ matter.
The capture and detention Of the
army flyers is considered by officials
here to be essentially different from
! other cases OF American citizens who
have been held for ransom. Members
of the military forces Of a country.
! especially when in uniform, are direct
representatives OF their government.
it was said, and any injury or affront
1 - t. 1es1 ArC arh 1T H..
ternational law.
Relations More Acute *
Comink close on the heels of the
/ state departments virtual ultimatum
! to the Carranza government that un-
1 less steps were taken to stop murder
/ of American citizens and for protection
! of their rights, radical change IN
the attitude of this government toward
Mexico would be adopted. news that
| the two American army aviaors were
being held by Mexican bandits for ram
| som with death the alternative.
caused the already strained relations
between the countries to be regarded
| here today as having reached a sta Ee
| bordering on the acute. Official
| Washington as well as the entire dip
| lomatic corps were awaiting develops
ments with keen interest. as the serf-
Gus potentialities. should harm befall
the flyers. generally were recognized.
I There was no statement early to-
day of what steps had been taken or
were TO be taken either by the state
| or war departments. However Il was
regarded as imperative that some ac-
ton be taken at once as the demands
Of the bandits required that the ran
som be paid today. There was con-
! siderable speculation as to whether
the money would be paid by one of the
government agencies later to be COL
| Iected from the carranza authorities
In this connection. it was recalled
that recently in two cases in which
| CONTINUED on Page Two.I