Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-09
THE VENEZUELAN REVOLT.
Extent of the Agitation Caused by
Hernandez and Cnsfrn.

The information reaching officials here is
to the effect that while no actual outbreak
has occurred in Venezuela. yet smoldering
agitation is going on which may at any
time assume really serious proportions.
This accords with Senor Pulido's advices
that actual outbreak has occurred at
La Guayra. 1t appears that there have
been two distinct movements, one of a ma
tional character headed by a brilliant con-
servative leader, Hernandez, and the other
of a local character headed by Gen. Castro.
The Hernandez movement is regarded as
really formidable. threatening the stability
of the present government of Venezuela.
Hernandez was the candidate for president
against Andrade. The latter was elected,
but the Hernandez faction claims that
gross frauds We're practiced to bring about
the result. Believing that Hernandez was
menace the Andrade administration
placed him under arrest a political pris-
oner within few weeks after Andrade's
inauguration. He remained IN prison from
October until February when amnesty was
granted and he was liberia ted. He at once
took the field against the government. and
in bloody battle killed Gen. Crespo, for
mer president of the republic who was in
command of the government troops. The
uprising was finally put down and Herman
dez was again imprisoned. Last May it
was believed the agitation was at an end
and Hernandez was again liberated. But
there appears to have been an underlying
sentiment in his favor, which again mani
Tested itself recently, and within the last
month Hernandez has been imprisoned for
the fourth time as a political offender
and the inciter of a movement TO overthrow
the government. He is now in the military
prison at Caracas, and it is believed that
the agitation leading up to the dispatch of
the cruiser Detroit was the arrest of a
number of Hernandezs adherents in and
about Caracas.
Throughout this movement the Andrade
administration has maintained large mill
tary force. The peace footing is 5000 but
of late this has been raised to 1000. At
Caracas the regular garrison is maintained
at 6o00 men. The soldiers are armed with
Mausers of the latest pattern and are neat
ly uniformed in white duck. They have a
number of rapid-tire field guns, and the
artillery is under command of an officer
who graduated at West Point The desper-
ate nature of the fighting while Hernandez
was in the field is shown by a semi-official
report that the actual dead numbered 200
Besides the Hernandez movement which
involves a struggle for the presidency, the
II oVement led by Gen. Castro has given
considerable trouble recently 1t originated
in a dispute between Castro and Gen. Mo-
rales for the governorShip of a province,
but the local fighting became severe that
the federal government was compelled to
send an army of 12,0O0 men to subdue the
uprising. Another bloody battle occurred,
a recent official report to the State Depart
ment placing the casualty list at !, 100 Cas-
tro's forces were scattered, and he is now
a refugee.
The present trouble is believed to center
around Hernandez, and the government has
the advantage not only of the large army
concentrated at Caracas, but also has the
leader in prison.
1t is understood that the State Depart
Caracas for a detailed statement of the
situation.