The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-23
WHETHER DICTATOR FELL FIGHTING IS
 NOT YET REVEALED
One Report Says Former President Was Made Pris- oner and Assassinated
 In COwardly Manner
By AssecIatsd Pres.

Venustiano Carranza has joined the long line of Latin American dictators who have ended their stormy careers in flight and death.
 A fugitive in the mountains of
 Puebla, the old man who kept the
 United States and Mexico. in
 broii for the last five years was
 killed Thursday by some of
 the troops which had protected
 him ns loyal bodygunrd i'm his
 flight from the Mexican capital.
 Whether he fell fighting, or vic- tim of the celebrated Ley Fuega,' W hich made dead men of Madero and Suarez, or actually was murdered in coup detat, is obseured in such frag- mentary information as has come out of the tropical fastness of TlaXcal- tonga, where he died, presumably sur lounded by a few loyal friends.
 DIED IN BATTLE
 Early dispatches today from Mexico City said the former president had been killed in an attack led by General Her rero who had gone with Carfanza in flight but later deserted to the revo- luttonists. The announcement made at headquarters of General Obregon. head cf the revolutionary movement, gave the impression that Carranza had died in battle.
 But later adVices received in Fl Faso charge that Carranza had been made a prisoner and assassnated in "a cow ardly manner" and said some of the friends who were with him al the time i had sent a protest to General Pablo Gonzales
 The full story may not be imme- | diateIy known, and even then may [ me the subject of dispute, In any l event. it adds one more drop to the
 river of blood which has flowed i over Mexico since Porf0rio Djax | signea his abdication in tears and
 died henrt-brOISen man in spain.
 NUNS PROPHECY { But t does bring to mind a prophecy said to have been made by nun which is now being talked about all over Mexico.
 The nun prophesied, according to re- port, that after Mexico had seen three trancisco's in public life. sne would have for president an old man with a teard who would meet violent death and that he would be succeeded by q president who mounted his horse from
 
 added that thereafter Mexico would loso it's independence.
 There have been three Franctscos in Mexico's public life since the prophecy was made They were Frausico de la Barra, now an exile; Francisco l. Ma ccro. the murdered president of 1913, ana Francisco Villa the bandit leader. Ca rranza was well known for his whis- l5ers Obregon, who led the revolt against him and Is expected by many l to succeed to the head of the govern | fnent, lost an arm in the battle of Celaya, with Villa. and mounts his his horse from the wrong" side. WILL AFFECT U. s. ACTION | Carranza's death and the manner ot 1 1t probably will have some important | bearing on the action of the Unitefs 1 States when the time comes to cor 1 slider recognition of the governme which succeeds him. When Preside Wilson was refusing to recogni Huerta, he based hIs action on the ui timely deaths of Madero and Suare anG announced broad general ~olc tU the effect that no government would be recognized which did not rest on constitutional elections and which was based on force of arms alone. As it, generally is recognized by the United States, the death of Carranza, and what responsibility the present revolutions ists may share in 1t, Is regarded by of fieials and diplomats here as certain to ! become large element in this govern ments action.
 SPLIT WITH VILLA Carranza was the country governor of the state of Coahuila, who united 1 the Mexicans under the banner of constitutionalists in 1913 and fought 1 Huerta, who seized the power with the wholesale executions which accom- panied the deposition and death of Ma 1 dero Headed by the military genius | of the dashing Villa, his army won l many victories. But he soon quarreleA with Villa. and no sooner was he rec ognized by the United States than hs had d run of revolution on his hands with Villa as it's leader. | Although aided in every way by ths l United States government, Carranza | pursued decided anti-American | course and during the world war a de- cidedly anti-allied course. which was l topped off by the celebrated Zimmer- man note. in which Germany asked him to negotiate German -Japanese-M Mex | ,can alliance against the United Srates. His downfall has been a week. 1 ly prediction for the last three years. and when he took flight from Mexico City many persons predicted. on cons fessed they feared, the tragic end whicn l overlook him.