CABLE FROM VILLA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 25 February 1914, Page 5

CABLE FROM VILLA.

PUBLISHED IN A LONDON, PAPER. 'Times'— 'Sydney Sun' Special Cables. (Received Feb. 24, 8.30 a,m.) LONDON, Fob. 23. Tlie Daily Mail has received the followiirg cable message from General Villa, the Mexican rebel leader, stating: "An English subject named Benton was put to death because he went into my room and pulled out his revolver to kill me. When the time comes the trial will be open, and I will give full satisfaction to the British people." AMERICANS DISAPPEAR. BENTON'S BODY/ (Received Feb. 24, 11.10 JAUREZ (Mexico), Feb. 23. Four Americans have disappeared. Jt is believed that General Villa executed them. Vilja declares that numbers ot Americans desired to join his feces, but he rejectol them, returning them later to Aoia.-icau territory. Mr Bryan (United States Secretary of State) demands that Benton's body shall be given to the widow.

STATEMENT BY SIR E. GREY

PRIOR TO TIFE EXECUTION,

(Received Feb. 24, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 23. In th© House of Commons, Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, ii> reply to a question, said that previous to Mr Benton's execution the United States impressed on the Mexican Government the importance of respecting the lives and property of Europeans. The fact that the British Foreign Office was communicating with the United States aid not imply any Americaa responsibility. He had communicated with the United States because the latter alone could exercise influence over Mexico to get justice done. . Sir Edward Grey added that the American Consul had stated that Villa had explained that Benton had been oonrt-mnrtialled and shot fo* plotting to kill him.

MATTER OF GRAVE CONCERN. BRITISH INTERVENTION WOULD BE FUTILE. (Received Feb. 24, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 23. Mr F. D. Acland, Parliamentary Secretary ot the Foreign Office, in re ply to a question in the House of Commons, said the continued lighting in Mexico was causing the greatest prejudice to British and other commercial interests. It was a matter of grave concern, but British intervention would be futile and impolitic.

TROOP TRAIN BLOWN UP. HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE. (Received Feb. 24, 1 p.m.) VERA CRUZ. Feb. 23. A Government troop train, carrying an infantry company to Mexico CUy, was' wrecked by dynamite. The whole train was cle-iuoKhed. Fifty-five officers ,and men airl an English engineer were killed A passenger train following narrowly escaped, getting away under the rebels' fire.

VILLA INTERVIEWED. \ BENTON'S ALLEGED CONFESSION. NOTHING TO HIDK. (Received Last Night, .9.40 o'clock.) MEXICO CUT, Fe.b. 24. General Villa, in an interview, declared that Benton, after being eourtmartialled, confessed that lie attempted Villa'?;, life, and that Villa's quickness with Ixis own revolver saved him, and added that lie would execute any other foreigner under similar conditions. Ho had nothing to conceal.

FREQUENT CONFERENCES. AMERICA'S UNDECIDED ATTI TUDE., (Received Last Night, 9140 o'clock.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 24. The Foreign Relations Committee conferred with President Wilson in regard to the Benton case, and arranged to confer, with the Senate with closed doors over the Mexican tion. * It is understood in official <: ire lev that the United States will pass the facts relating to the Benton ease over to Britain without comment. It is. difficult to decide what action the United States may take, as unless itintervenes, Mexico will not 1 lie aide to 1 hrinjr General Villa to itcfount. ■- Sir C. A. Spring-Rice, British Ambassador at Washington, has held frequent conferences with Mr W. J. Bryan, Secretary of State, regarding British refugees. If General Villa wins an iiiiN-.rranL battle around Torreoh, th.i Muted States is likely to consider the question of the rebels' belligerency.

A DISAPPOINTING STATEMENT

SIR E. GREY CRITICISED

(Received Las* Night, 11.5 o'clock.) LONDON. Feb. 24. ,

The Daily Mail says Sir Edward Grey's statement is disappointing, and* gave an impression of complete British helplessness, and adds that if should be pointed out that Villa had no right to court-martial a. British subject, as Britain never recogpked the belligerents. 'The Standard says Sir Edward Grey's statement is u.nsatisfa,ctory„ and the assumption that under no. possible ciroumstaucca can Britain take direct steps to bring home the responsibility for the death of a British subject, goes far beyond the; average Briton's idea of our disinterestedness towards Mexico. Sir Edward Grey,adds the Standard, .seems inclined to treat murder with a cool