Arizona republican., 1920-02-04
ME EX!cclNe USE INFLUENCE TO
 GAIN RELEASE
 OF U. S. PILOTS
Prominent Sonora Citizens Show Friendly Attitude Toward Lost Pilots = Expect Release Order Soon
Republican A. p. Leased WireJ


 DOUGLAS. Feb. 3.-Lieutenants l.. NJ. Wolf and G. l.. Usher, Twelfth Aero Squadron. who were forced to land about 11:50 a. m. Monday at La Noria, 16 miles south of Nacozari, Sonora, had not been released by the Mexican authorities up to late this afternoon as far as local advices could determine. That they would be re- leased was the belief expressed by people from Nacozari who arrived here today. Influential Mexicans residing at NacoZari, including Arturo M. Elias, brother of General P. Elias Gales. sec retary Of commerce, industry and la Dor in the cabinet of President Car ranZa- Presidente Francisco M. Peraza and others sent messages to Governor Adolfo de la Huerta and to Mexico City, expressing belief that the avia- tors were not at fault.
 Expect Release Order Soon
 Early this afternoon two telegrams reached Nacozari for Colonel Manuel Mesa, commander of the state rural the two aviators and two American mechanics. in the employ of the Moe tezuma Copper company, left early in the day for the point where the plane was left yesterday. Up to late this afternoon the party had not returned and the contents of the telegrams could only be speculated upon. It is be- neved a t Nacozari. however, that one of them will be found to contain the official order Of the Mexican govern ment for the release of the aviatorS and restora tion of their plane
 Colonel Mesa was ordered late Mon day to place guard over the plane which was done. This morning an order was received from Governor de la Huerta that the plane should be in- spected and every detail of the story told by the aviators subjected to rigid test in order to establish it's entire ve- racity. The plane is to be brought to Nacozari and if it can be repaired it is considered probable that the men will fly from there to the border
 A special newspaper dispatch re- ceived today from Nacozari says in part:
 Aviators Tell Story
 According to their story the two officers left Columbus, N M, about 10:3 o'clock Monday morning. They followed the border, intending to pick up the Fl Paso and Southwestern rail- road and follow it to Douglas. Owing to the heavy haze, they apparently went around Douglas and followed the Nacozarf railroad instead They passed over Nacozari at 11:50 o'clock being observed by many of the townspeopIe 1t was only when they noticed that the railroad that they had been fol- lowing ended here that they discovered their mistake. As their gasoline was nearly exhausted the flyers decided to make a, forced landing on the first clearing south of here. This proved to be at La Noria, near the headuarters ranch house of NJ. NJ Sherman. owner of the tract.
 Tn landing. the lower wing of the plane came in contact with cactus and brush and was badly damaged, putting the plane, in which they were flying out of commission.
 Was Second Patrol Trip
 This is the second trip of both air men over the patrol, the Twelfth aero squadron having only recently relieved the Ninety sixth, and they were not acquainted with the topography of the country They claim that their com pass was working badly and this more than any other one thing accounted for their becoming lost in the air"
 The Mexican authorities have made arrangements to bring the plane to Nacozari. pending final disposition The aviators are being treated with military authorities.
 Second Lieutenant Wolf, the pilot, is from Attica, Ohio; First Lieutenant Usher, the observer, halls from New York city"
 Arrivals from points along the Ma cozari railroad today described the in tense excitement created among the more ignorant Mexicans when the plane passed over the villages which dot the right -of-woy. Exaggerated reports of invasion gained currency one story being that the plane had been spying upon Sonora and that it carried four machine guns and many rounds of ammunition.