GENERAL VILLA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 26 February 1914, Page 5

GENERAL VILLA.

OFFERS AN EXPLANATION. 'Tint*I—'Sydney 1 —'Sydney Sun' Special Cablet. (Received Last Night, 6 o'clock.) MEXICO CITY, February 2-5. General Villa, tho rebel leader, informed the journalists who interviewed him that Mr Benton had gained entrance to his office, on tho pretext of personal business. He had not talked long, when ho produced a revolver. He grabbed Benton's hand and thrust his oivn revolver to the pit of his stomach. , u Ho did not wish to appear bloodthirsty; therefore he did not shoot him. The guards were summonded, a court-martial was held, and Benton was" executed. APPREHENSION AND INDIGNATION. TALK OF INTERVENTION. . 'TimtJi' —'Sydney Sun' Special Cables. (Received Feb. 25, 8 30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 24. Tho lobbies! are humming with apprehension and indignation concerning Benton's death. The oonaensms of comment is that America, must investigate tlio tragedy carefully. There is a tendency to believe that intervention by tho United States has been rendered practically inevitable.

WHAT BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS DONE. REQUEST TO UNITED STATES. (Received Feb. 25, 11 a.m.) LONDON, February 24. In the House of Commons, Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affaira,"in reply to Mr Bonar Law (Leader of the Opposition), said the Government had aaked the United States to inform Villa of the feeling that had boon created in Britain. He also considered it indispensible that tho British Consul should visit Jaurez and supply tho Government with the most adequato report on the execution of Benton,

"PURE FOLLY." TO RISK A CONFLICT WITH BRITAIN. —-'Sv f l n *v t)im' sr>vinJ (Received Feb. 25, 8 30 a.m.) PARIS, Feb. 24. Tho French press gravely insists that it Avould .be pure folly for Presi r dent Wilson to risk a conflict with Britain by humouring Villa, and maintains that" French interests require protection.

VILLA TELLS HIS STORY

ACCUSES BENTON OF CRIMES. (Received Feb. 25, 1 p.m.) EL PASO. Feb. 24. Villa has telegraphed to the American authorities that Benton had been guilty of four murders, and had frequently committed thefts of cattle. Benton had attempted to assassinate him; therefore ho had duly executed him according to martial laiv. Villa declared that he was retidy to give an account of the execution to tiio whole world. An American c.itl/.en named Vergara was'hanged by the Federal troops after an American request for his release 'had been forwarded. BRITISH AMBASSADOR SATISFIED.' (Received Last Night, 10.40 o'clock.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 25. Sir C. A. Spring-Rice is satisfied that the United States is adopting the.beat course in regard to the Benton case. . The British Consul at Galveston ln\s been ordered to proceed to El! Paso to investigate Benton's nujrder.

BENTON INTERRED

WITH FULL RELIGIOUS

HONOURS

(Received La.<t Xiuht. 10.20- o'clock.) WASHINGTON, Feb.. 25.

Reports received from El Paso state that Villa that Benton was interred with full religious honours. He did not refuse to have the executed man interred. liavimj. no desire to be gtiilty of such ' sacrilege.