Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 March 1917 — PAY VILLA FOR RAID [ARTICLE]

PAY VILLA FOR RAID

GERMANS CHARGED WITH GIVING BANDIT $250,000. Kaiser's Agents Make Agreement With Bandit to Act if U. S. De- ’ dares War. Laredo, Tex., March 9.- —Germany is playing Villa against Carranza. Great sums of German money are pouring into the bandit leader’s hands, inciting him to activity against the United States and against Carranza, while at the same time German agents work through officials of the Carranza government Peeking to align that side against the United States. These facts are stated on the highest authority: . Agents of the German government in Mexico approached Francisco Villa at his headquarters at Bustillo’s ranch about February 12 with a proposition to renew his raids on the border in case of a declaration of war between the United States;, and Germany. Two German agents reached the bandit leader. The conference extended over two days. At first Villa demurred against any attack on the bolder, in force, under any circumstances. At length, an agreement was reached, that in case of war Villa should send smdll bands, as unattached bandits, to operate at widely separated points along the interna-* tional line and to make sporadic forays to harass American troops. Under the terms of agreement, “the German agents to pay Villa 500,000 pesos ($250,000) in gold at once to seal the He refused to epter into the plot until the first payment was handed y>ver.