The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-01
Severe Financial Straits.

'SdT1CdSt NeNeZutlH, 6tBL 70, Ntd Wlt- iemstad Island, of Curacoa. Thursday, Sept 26, and via Colon, Colombia. Sept. 30.-The financial situation of Venezuela Is best exemplifled by the fact that the foreign or internal indebtedness for the past thirty-eight months. Only two or three importing houses at Caracas' are paying expenses. business Is principally important orders have been counternand- ed. Extreme s-~fs of confidence prevails in business circles and the immediate future contains nothing. promising i'm general financial situation will become worse before it can improve.
 The war rumors have resulted in noticeable dscsrsse of imports ,,,nd,a and cor T, duties. Consequently the government is getting into more severe straits to find money to meet the extraordinary expense incident to maintaining the army on the from hard times Is greater now than at any time during the last four years Many people at Caracas are suffering from lack of food. and the salaries of all the gov ernment civil employees have been cut in half, but even this now Is not paid The effect of this shortage of money Is espe- cially noticeable at Caracas.
 The feeling through put the country against President Castro is growing stronger every day and ths feeling on account of his alleged maladministration of public affairs and extends to small groupsof his favorites who surround him The countrys discontent at General Cas- tro's- dictatorship is evinced by many comparatively insignificant signs. but they plainly foreteil growing revoiu-
 As examples of this condition of affairs are cited the recent disappearance from Caracas of Juan Pietri, who some time ago was said to be at the head of a new revolutionary movement. the actions of certain men who are known to be ready to help a revolution financially: the already numerous and incfeasing number and actual. though minor revolutionary outbreak at Cero and other places which the government soon put down: A rup- ture between Colombia and Venezuela would give the, ,revoIutionary element the desired opportunity to attack the govern ment President Castro recognizes the discontent existing through the country whatever revolutionary exiTenciea may arise He has realized that -f the Colorn- bian imbrogfio necessit.sted his leavine Caracas for the frontier. the cranes fre capital. Such an opportunity would un- doubtedly be grasped by the revolution ists, who would usurp the dictatorship.
 The present revolutionary tendency is not making on party lines but against the administration of the country as dictated by President Castro. Venezuela as a whole, excepting some of the oncers ana
 
 contact or recent experience, consider the Colombians national enemies, look upon President Castro's ambitions, passions and alleged extended help to the Colom- bians as being responsible for the present Colombian trouble and have no III reeling toward Colombia on the alleged ground that Colombia invaded Venezuela.
 Venezuelan Defeat Confirmed.
 Colon, Colombia, Sept. 30. via Galveston. Arrivals here from .he ,cast bring no news from Rio Hacha- but they confirm the news previously cabled to the Asso- ciated Press of the complete defeat or tho V~0ezuaJar Inv 'dH "' ~ v 'F
 of Gaijira by Colombian troops. Several guns OI.l ,4ll.. 1I.I~ A-~.S t.i.s- --N. large quantity of ammunition were cap tured. It is said tha tthe date of the efls gagment was September ls After this defeat, the Indians who inhabit Goajira captured the returning Venezuelans, who had previously robbed them of their horses while on their way through the country. Among the prisoners captured were three Venezuelan rebel chiefs. The invaders lost many men killed. General Orbiz, who formerly served under General AIhov aIa0 killAd.