New-York tribune., 1901-08-15
MESSAGES FROM URLBE.
COLOMBIAN REBEL CHIEF SAID TO BE
IN COMMAND OF CASTRO'S
VENEZUELAN ARMY.

The ColorbIans here who discredited the re-
mort Of their government that General Rafael
TJribe-JJribe had been killed in battle were right
Two communications We're received from the
rebel chief yesterday by DR.. A J. Restrepo. rep
resenting the Liberal party in this country
These not only overcome all doubt as 10 whether
General Uribe-Uribe is really alive. but convey
the further news that he Is in the thick of the
conflict one was a letter dated August 3. at
San Cristobal Venezuela, and the other cable
dispatch from Maracaibo. dated August 10,
which had been sent for transmission from the
former place.
General Iguaran announced that General
Uribe-Uribe was killed on July p. The Mara
caibo message said:
Complete victory over invaders under General
Gonzalez Valencia.
This refers to the invasion Of 'ast Friday. and
explains the complicated affairs on the Venez-
uelan and Colombian frontiers. 1t proves. too.
Colombians here said. the correctness Of r"-
port from another source that General Tribe
Tribe is not yet in Colombia but in reality is
commanding the Venezuelan army which de-
feated the invaders from Colombia. This was
positively stated yesterday.
II is further asserted that President Cipriano
Castro of Venezuela cabIed to General Tribe
Tribe, when the latter was in this city, to come
Immediately to his assistance, when he learned
OF the attacks DelnS pTepdIeu dh CuNul"' Inns
request accounts for Tribes hurried departure
for Venezuela. The Venezuelan Government. to
avoid trouble, has claimed that General Celestno
Castro a brother of the President. led the
troops in these battles.
Raul Perez, secretary of the Liberal diplo-
matte agency. said yesterday:
The Colombian and Venezuelan Clericals or
ganized invasion against the Liberal Venez-
uelan Government, and. the other side the
Venezuelan and Colombian Liberals prepared
themselves TO meet the invaders at the frontier.
General Tribe Urfbe is at the head of the CO.
lombian element of that army. Most likely he
was the commanding general who obtained the
two victories of July % and August 8.
Venezuela has reason 10 declare war
against Colombia. because the Clerical invasion
has been completely defeated. and before two
months elapse the Liberal party will be in power
in Colombia. On the other hand, the Clerical
government OF Colombia is not in position
TO declare war against Venezuela
In his letter General Tribe Tribe, besides saw
ing that he hoped to be his way to
| Bogota does not mention anything Of his future
plans.
The first details of the invasion of July 2s
were also received yesterday. and convey the
| first intimation that the battle was a serious
| one The engagement was fought at Las Pillas
La Parada and Princes. and lasted twenty-six
! hours The Colombian forces were compelled to
retire. but not before LOO OF both sides had
been killed and wounded Among these were
! General Resendo Medina, of the Venezuelan
! side. and four colonels. The army Of six thou
! sand invaders was divided into twenty-eight
| regiments some of which were of the regular
| Colombian army. commanded by government
! officers and using the army artillery All these
J facts point TO a retaliation by Colombia for the
help given its enemies by Venezuela.
| Because of the strict postal, press and cable
censorship exercised by the government, the
/ victories won by the rebels in several battles
were until yesterday mere rumors. A list Of
.hese battles was among the advices received