Evening journal., 1896-01-09
MENACE TO VENEZUELA
British Armed Force In the Dis
puted Territory.
REGARDED AS A HOSTILE MOVE

Guiana's Colonial Police Advancing on the
Frontier Startling Report In Circula.
tion That Vice Consul Foments Re.
bellion In Venezuelan State.
CARACAS, Venezuela, Jan. 9.--The gov.
ernmont has received news from the Ven
ozuclan boundary stations, near the from.
tier of British Guiana, to the effect that
100 men Of the British colonial police have
been sent TO guard the English station in
the disputed territory.
The administration regards this action
as a direct menace on the part of England,
following as 1t does so closely the message
of the president of the United States re-
lating 20 the boundary question. The
government officials say, however, that
Notwithstanding this report that Great
Britain Is fortifying her position, in appar-
ent defiance of the republic, great prudence
will De observed by Venezuelan officers in
the territory, and an attempt will be made
TO avoid all perlous disputes
Tho point 20 which the British police
have been dispatched is that first ordered
to be fortified with maxim guns by Mr.
Chamberlain, the English minister for the
colonies.
Startling reports have been received
from Barcelona 10 the effect that the Brit
ish vice consul at that point is concerned
In the revolution against the government
Barcelona, which is in the state of Ber-
mudez, while not directly on the shores Of
the Caribbean sea, is only few miles dis
tant from that body Of water, has a port
of its own called Guzman Blanco and is a
good rendezvous for revolutionary bands.
If escape should De cut off by sea, the in
surrcctionists would still have the noun
famous region TO the eastward in which to
find refuge should they be ovorpowered.
Troops Sent to Burmudez.
The government has already sent many
troops to Bermudoz and is rapidly enroll
ing all citizens in the national guard who
are ft for service in the field. Eleven
thousand men have thus far been enlisted.
Admiral LatOwsky, chief of the naval
forces of Venezuela, has gone to Laguayra
He will cruise along the coast I'm the war
ship Augusta and distribute ammunition
and arms at threatened points.
Minister Castillo, who holds the port
folio of the interior department, has ad-
dressed letter to the president and gov
crnors of all the states advising change
in the law which shall declare every man
who engages in insurectionary movements
10 be % traitor Under the existing statute
treason IS punishable by death. There
has as yet been no official notice that such
a decree will be issued by the government
IL is officially announced that the exist
ing trouble is not serious, but there IS
great excitement and concern, especially
since the dissemination of the report that
British representatives are principally nc
tive is sowing the seeds Of rebellion. It
IS the generally expressed opinion that no
uprising, whatever strength it might gain,
could have the support Of loyal citizens,
all of whom are satisfied with the admin
istration of President Crespo.
The government has forbidden all per-
sons 10 take passage on the coastwise
steamers on account of the internal trou-
bles in the republic
Many political prisoners havo been
brought hero from the west and the pris-
ons are all full. Six hundred are IN the
rotunda, and even sohoolhouscs have been
seized and turned into guardhouses for
the suspects.
The government is now making an at
tempt 70 sell all of its supply of old can
non, which it has replaced with new ones
Of modern types.