MR. BENTON’S DEATH.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14233, 5 March 1914, Page 5

MR. BENTON’S DEATH.

COMMISSION OF INVESTIGATION. Pre«« Association—Telegraph—Copyright MEXICO CITY, March 4. Nogales, Sonora, and Carranza have been appanted a commission to investigate Benton’s death, the Constitutionalist Cabinet approving of the action. EFFORTS TO CONCEAL TRUTH. (Times and Svdnev Sun Services.) LONDON, March 4. In the House of Commons, Sir Edward Grey said that all efforts had failed to secure an investigation of the facts of Benton’s death. Persistent difficulties had been offered, and there was the strongest presumption that it - was the desire of responsible persons to conceal the truth. The United States had shown every desire to secure the protection of Britishers. SOME PERTINENT QUESTIONS. LONDON. 31 arch 4. A sister of Benton writes from Nice: “We are apparently no nearer identification of my brother’s'hotly, or an inquiry into the manner of his death, which must be a prelude to the punishment of . th© cynical ruffian who murdered him. Are these negotiations going to be dragged out until public feeling has subsided, and the murder pass thus unavenged? Can Englishmen and women no longer depend upon their country for protection and redress?” PRESIDENT WILSON GRATIFIED. AT BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE. WASHINGTON. March 4. President Wilson has conferred with Sir C. Spring-Rice (British Ambassador) and Sir Lionel Carden'(British 31inister at Mexico). He expressed approval and appreciation of the friendly sentiments uttered by Sir'E. Grey in the British House of Commons. There was a fear that Britain would press the United States to take drastic action because of Benton’s murder, hut relief was now feit because Britain did not demand reparation from the United States. Sir Lionel Carden explained the whole of the Mexican situation from a British viewpoint. Sir Lionel Carden assured the Presi dent of his desire to follow the British policy of interposing no obstacle to the carrying out of American policy. Slfl E. GREY’S SPEECH. FAVOURABLY RECEIVED. AMERICA’S-PROBLEM; CARRANZA’S ATTITUDE. LONDON, March 4. Sir Edward Grey’s speech has created a good impression. WASHINGTON. 3larch 4. The opinion is growing that President Wilson will eventually be compelled to abandon the waiting policy, and that he is disillusioned regarding Carranza and Villa, but dreads sacrificing the lives entailed in quelling the anarchy. MEXICO CITY, March 4. It is reported that General Carranza has summoned the Cabinet to discussthe Benton incident. Carranza declares that Britain has no rights in regard to Benton. England having recognised Huerta, she had no diplomatic standing. A NAVAL ENCACEMENT. Received Alarch 5. 1 p.m. MEXICO CITY. March 4. A rebel gunboat at Tampico is fighting the Federal warships 3lorelos and Guerrero. The casualties are light. WHO IS VILLA? (By Fred J. Empson in Sydney Daily Telegraph.) The man whose latest crime is the murder of the Englishman, Militant Benton, at thg border town of Juarez (pronounced Wahrez) —the man who is leading the rebel forces against the Mexican Government, or Constitutionalists. as represented by General Huerta. Villa, for 15 years, has been a mankiller, a bank robber, a bandit, a sol- • dier of fortune, and the deadlist foe of the Government rurale. The changing chance of war, a battle won, a city taken and lotted, has raised him to the position of a great general, destined seemingly to he a power in the now regime in Mexico, unless the great Powers stdp in and prevent so undesirable a state of affairs. The glamor of victory is blinding the eyes of Jloxieo to this bloodthirsty buccaneer, who is behind it all, and gives no quarter to those in arms, and satisfies his vengeance by shooting down unarmed men, after they have surrendered; his latest crime being the murder of a British subject—\\ illiam Benton, at which the whale civilised world is making an outcry. Villa is of magnetic personality cunning, resourceful, and alert. He lias the capacity for driving his men on forced marches and appearing suddenly at the unexpected place, striking a telling blow, then disappearing utterly, onlv to be heard from a week later miles away, doing more damage. He has the nerve to make a bold attack, hut even his friends sav that he will run to avoid a pitched battle with a force of equal numbers. Villa, a typical bandit leader, stands over 6ft in height, fearless, and a crack shot. After Villa had been .outlawed, lie gathered together a number of desperate men of the northern mountain country, and within six months his name was spoken of with awe throughout the land. He and his band, which he controlled absolutely, subsisted bv robbery and pillage in the Chihuahua 3lountains, and their crimes were usually of the most desperate character. Here began his list of murders, which is generally believed to have reached 30. He was casilv angered, very vindictive, and frequently insisted noon killing men personally that were caotured by his force. No man in any of Mexico’s countless rebellions and revolts has gone through such a complete change of circumstances as Pancho Villa during the past five years of his existence. Escaping from the United States border patrols and Mexica.n Federal Infantry .last 3larcli, Villa took the field with a single horse which he had commandeered, two sacks of flour, and nine men. In November he returned with upwards of 10,000 followers reputed to be well armed. In 1910, when Madero revolted against Diaz (Mexico’s President for nearly a quarter of a century! Villa cast in his W with Madero, giving up. for a time Lis routine of professional outlawry for the purpose of satisfying his revenge. This move brought him into the national af- , fairs. of Mexico, and since then as defender of the Government, or rebel against it. he has been figure of increasing pmminenece. When he came forward to aid Madero

lie was accepted at once, for Madero feared him. He brought with him a rank of 1000 men, and was the right arm of Madero’s power. Villa’s violent • temper and vindicitive nature caused him to have many quarrels with his brother officers,, which eventually resulted in his leaving Madero and joining the opposing army, where he fought for several months again?! his old chief. He then made application to be reinstated in Madero’s army,, where he was gladly received, and given the rank of general. When General Villa joined Huerta, as a person of no importance, he was asked, but refused, to groom his superior’s horse at Mexico City. For this he was arrested, and in' trying to get awhy was shot in the leg, narrowly escaping with his life. He took to the hills again, but within a short time was identified with the Revolutionists. At the present time he holds over 100,000 square miles of territory, comprising wealthy cotton and irrigation country, as well as the most valuable mines in the whole of Mexico, all of which he has confiscated.