The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-10-08
The WAR IN VENEZUELA
The Government Forces Routed
Near Caracas.
ooMMANDER-IN-oHIEF CAPTURED.

The President and the Venezuelan
Ministry Abandon That Country.
The Report That Our Flag Had
Been Fired on Thought TO be
Untrue.
WAsHINg N, Oct. s.-Confirmation
Of the report that decisive battle had
taken place between the government
forces and those of the revolutionary
party in Venezuela was not received at
the navy department until yesterday.
Early yesterday morning dispatch came
to Secretary Tracy from Admiral
Walker, commanding the United States
vessels in Venezuelan waters, saying:
at is reported that an engagement has
taken place, resulting in the total defeat
OF the government and the capture of
the Venezuelan commander-in-chief near
Caracas. Revolutionists Will occupy
Caracas tomorrow"
This message was dated at La Guayra
and came to the navy department twenty
four hours after it was filed. Shortly
after came another dispatch from the
admiral. This was also dated La Guayra,
and read as follows:
president and V rlrziielan ministry
have abandoned We, 2i!ela. Revolu.
tionists successful"
Tho Flag N" rcd On.
1t will be noticed that neither of these
dispatches contains any mention of the
report that the Unite States consul,
Mr.. Hanna, was fired on tT Il Venezuelan
warship while in the harbor of Macuto
in his naph yha launch, and because Of
this omission and from the fact that
neither Consul Hanna or Minister
: Scruggs has sent statement of such an
occurrence to the state department, it is
believed in official circles that the report
Is not true. An official of the navy de-
partment, whose position entities him to
speak authentatively, said TO United
Press reporter yesterday afternoon in
reference TO the matter that had any as
sault been made on Mr.. Hanna Admiral
Walker would undoubtedly have noti-
fed the navy department of the fact
81 can hardly believe the report Is
true" he said, "for with two United
States vessels near by, the Venezuelans
would have dared to fire on our flag.
They could not hope to cope with our
vessels and if an engagement had taken
place, the small guns of the Chicago
would have been sufficient to quickly
silence the Venezuelan craft"
The Case Before the Cabinet.
No message from either Minister
Scruggs or Consul Hanna had been re-
ceived at the state department up TO the
closing hour yesterday. The only Of
fetal information in the possession of
Acting Secretary Adee was contained in
the dispatches which were received from
Admiral Walker. These dispathes were
laid before the cabinet at its meeting
yesterday, and the report that Consul
Hanna had been attacked was discussed
but in view of the fact that no official
information concerning the reported out
rage against him and the flag had been
received, the subject was passed over
without action.
The United States has two vessels
tho Chicago and the Kearsage-in the
harbor of La Guayra, and another YES
sci, the Concord, is within a days sail
ing distance.
The Chicago and the Concord are two
of the new vessels, and are thoroughly
equipped for warfare so there is no fear
felt in official circles that the interests of
this country will not be well protected
Germany and Italy are each represented
by one warship.