New-York tribune., 1920-05-26
Former Head of Treasury
Is Seized at Villa Jua-
rez While in the Act of
Fleeing From Mexico
Companions Face
Severe Penalty
Those Taken to Capital
Must Explain Failure
TO Defend First Chief
By General Alvaro Obregon
Special Cable 70 The Tribune

Special Cable to The Tribune
Copyright. 1920, New York Tribune Inc.
MEXICO CITY, May 25.-Luis
Cabrera, Minister of the Treasury in
the Carranza government, who fed
with the deposed President into the
mountains of Puebla, has been cap
tured. He was taken prisoner yes
terday at Villa Juarez, and is now in
the penitentiary in this city. He
was in the act of fleeing from the
country.
Unable to Explain Conduct
Companions of Carranza who
we're taken prisoner and brought
here assert that there were only
twenty-five men in the party under
General Rodolfo Herrera which at
tackled the deposed Presidents camp
near TlaXcalantongo and killed him.
They admit that there were $50 men
Ill the Carranza party.
The prisoners are unable to ex-
plain satisfactorily their own con-
duct during the attack or Why they
made no effort TO defend their chief.
A detailed investigation is being
made into the incident and those re-
sponsible for the death of Senor Car
rama will be severely punished.
Luis Cabrera, hater of Americans
and compressor with his brother, AL
fonso Cabrera, Governor of the State
Of Pueblo. of William o. Jenkins
American consular agent, was first re-
ported to have been killed at Tlaxcal-
antongo in the attack in which Car
rama lost his life. Later reports said
he was IN hiding and then that he had
crossed the Rio Grande into the United
States,
For many years Cabrera was credit
ed with being the power behind Car
ranZa's throne. He was one of the
closest personal advisers of the erst-
while Mexican dictator
in interviews appearing in both the
American and Mexican press Cabrera
attacked bitterly the policy of the
United States government toward
MEXICO and on other occasions. ex-
eorlated the American pres, which he
.,rned "yellow'
Carranza Envoy to United States
As the personal representative OF
Calranza IN Washington in 1914 and an
envoy of the Mexican Constitutional
ists, Cabrera was given credit for
being partly instrumental in bringing
about recognition of the Carranza gov
ernment by the Wilson administration.
He IS known as one of the shrewde It
types of Mexican lawyers and was a
member of the Madcro Cabinet. He
was educated in the United States
and speaks perfect English.
W. W. Canada, for twenty years
American consul at Vera Cruz, testi-
ned before the Senate committee in
washington recently that Cabrera
called foreign consuls together at Vera
Cruz in 1914, and told them openly
mat Carranza's revolution against
Huerta in 1914 had as one of its ulti-
mate objects the driving of Americans
out OF Mexico and the taking Of their
property for Mexicans"
Predicted American Clash
Since that time," continued the for
mer American consul, "Carranza has
carried out a policy conforming with
Oaorera's statement. No protest made
against mlstreatment of Americans has
ever been considered"
III Universal" a Mexico City news
paper, printed an interview with Cab
tefa itfa on December Is last year, quoting
.te MINISTER as saying that Mexico and
sne united States were nearing a con-
Iict over the Mexican oil land laws
regarding which this nation had pro-
tested. He also was repeatedly quoted
auring the Jenkins kidnapping contro-
Serrsy as declaring Jenkins guilty of
CC1lIgslon with his kidnaper, Frederic
Oo9fdova, the Mexican rebel chieftan.
Ihree months ago Cabrera carried on
verbal duel by cable with Senator
sal, chairman of the Senate Commit
ice 'nvesugatng Mexico, bitterly deny
ing rails assertions that Mexico was
aot controlled by Carranza, but was
ao,ihlnated ae, by rebel factions. Cabrera
asked Fall to come to Mexico and in
NeS"sate for himself Fall declined.