The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-23
WHETHER DICTATOR FELL FIGHTING IS
 NOT YET REVEALED
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tality he had offered Carranza and that the assassination took place with cries of "vive Obregon" from Herrero and his men.
 OBREGON'S REPORT
 General Obregon's message from Mexico City to Roberto Pesquera financial said:
 T am transmitting the following mes sage received yesterday from Saxa:
 Early this morning at the town of Tlaxcaltnango, the president of the re- public, Venustiano Carranza, was made a prisoner and cowardly assassinated' at the cry of Viva Obregon by Col. Rodolfo Herrero, and his men. violating the hos pitality that had been offered him by Herrero
 The undersigned of this message pro- test with all their energy, honor and loyalty to the entire world this new stain which has been thrown upon our coun- try After having complied with our duty, which our honor as soldiers and friends of Carranza imposed on us, we are at your service and we only ask per- mission to allow us to take the body oi our worthy chief to it's last dwelling place at the capital city. requesting you to order a special train for this pur- pose.
 
 eral Obregon's message, was signed by Generals Juan Barragan. F. P. Mariel Federico Montes. Marciano Gonzalez, Egg nacio Bonillas. Lieut. Col D. NJ. Fernan- deg, Col. F. Lima and other officers
 It carried the notation that the signers were sending it to General Gonzales.
 ANSWER TO MESSAGE
 T have answered the foregoing mes sage as follows" General Obregon's com munication continued:
 "Your wire to Gen. Pablo Gonzales-It is very strange that a group of officers who are vouching their loyalty and honor like yourselves and were accompanying President Carranza with the unfaltering duty of protecting him should have all lowed him to be assassinated without complying with your duty, it will be viewed by the people of the republic and the people of the world that you should have shared his fate. More when the whole nation is aware that you are the only ones responsible for the unfortun- ate happenings of the last few weeks and which had such A regrettable finale in the death of Venustiano Carranza, which found him abandoned by his closest friends, who at the critical mo- ment failed in their duty to protect him. "On repeated occasions President Car ranZa was notified that every guarantee would be given him if he would be will. ing to leave the danger zone, but he refused to accept this offer because he undoubtedly considered it an unworthy act of a man of honor to save himself, leaving his companions in danger; this act of Carranza revealed the dignity and good-fellowship which you failed to ap- precate.
 There are signed to the message the names of thirty-two officers and one civilian, which is more than sufficient in number to have saved MT. Carranza's life, if, as you state, he was assassin ated.
 "I have the right to suppose that you ran away at the critical moment with out having even made use of your arms, as none of you were wounded. If you had died defending the life of your chief and friend, who had showered so many favors upon you, you would have been honored by public opinion and would be at rest with your conscience and have escaped the shame of your cowardliness ."