Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-04-01
STATE OF ANARCHY
Life and Property in Venezuela
 in Peril.
BATTLE FOUGHT NEAR CARACAS
The Insurgents 0utnumbsred Three to One
 and Defeated.

They Wore Successful at First, Hut Were
 Finally Repulsed With Less of 800
 Arc Crowded and the Newspapers Are
 RIuEzIsd-The Government Is Preparing
 for . Desperate Defense.
 PANAMA, April IA French steamship which has arrlved here brings authentic news of the uprising in Venezuela against President Palacio. The officers say that the country is in an anarohistac condi- tion and that life and property in the vicinity of Caracas are in constant peril.
 The rumors of a recent battle between President Palacio's troops and tho insur- gents under General Joaquin Crespo are confirmed.
 The battle was fought near Caracas and lasted for three hours. At first, Crespo's forces were successful and drove the government troops steadily back on the road to the city. Endorsements for Palacio's arms arrived as the retreat was becoming & rout, and the govern ment troops made Q stand on wooded hill.
 Crespo's men were outnumbered al- most three to one, the government having 7,500 troops to their 5000. They tried to storm the position on the knoll three times, but were driven back with Q loss of 300. The government troops then took the offensive and followed the in- surgents, who retreated, leaving 300 dead on the field.
 The insurgents retreRted toward Eastern ZamorA with the intention of joining another insurgent army which is said to be 6, 900 strong. Detachments of the government troops went in pursuit, and several skfrmishes took place in which the revolutionists repulsed Pala-. cio's men.
 The revolution is spreading and the, insurgent forces are augmented daily.
 In Eastern Zamora the people are, taking sides with Crespo, and many sol diers have deserted the government. Crespo, the French officers say, has the, reputation of being the best general in. Venezuela. He is a brave fighter, but. his policy at present is to remain inactive while his forces are swelled by deserterA from Palacio's army and by discontented citizens.
 Even the most loyal citizens have been rendered restless by the despotic meas ures to which PalAcio has resorted to suppress the rebellion. Spies of the Government are everywhere, and hardly 8 day passes without the arrest of some conspicuous man for 'utterances supposed to reflect on the Government. The prisons are crowded and the newspapers are muZZled.
 Large quantities of arms have been landed recently on the coast near Ca- bello. They are of American make and are known to have been distributed among Crespo's troops. When he shall have recruited and armed his forces suf- e NromTN0 ieS believed to intend to march st once on Valencia, the capital of Carabobo, or upon Caracas.
 The Government is preparing for g. desperate defense of both cities. The garrison in each has been doubled, and men are at work night and day throw ing up earthworks. Extraordinary sup plies have been stored in the Govern ment buildings In both cities, and the roads have been fanked for a distance of 30 miles with small detachments of sol. diers.
 The Government has an overhowinR- treasury and is supplied with an abund- Vnce of small arms and considerable number of cannonG The insurgents have comparatively few field guns.
 Both Valencia and Caracas are already Government spies are in every place of public resort and have made their way into many private house. holds. Arrests are made without appa- rent cause and men are held prisoners without examination or trial. Conspicu- ous men not in full sympathy with the govsrnment fear to go alone in the streets ct night for fear of being seized and looked up on false charges. Many have left the city to escape such . fate, after having been warned that the gov ernment spies were watching them.
 The French officers say that the cause of the revolutionists is the popular one, and that in case of two or three victories for Crespo, the great majority of the people would throw off the semblanoe of l loyalty and join their fortunes with his | The government has moro money and better drilled troops than the revOlu- tionists, and the issue of the conflict iA therefore uncertain. At all events, they say, the struggle will be @ long one.