The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-01-24
Farquhar's Squadron Ready to
Move on Venezuela.
If THE TROUBLE IS NOT SETTLED
Minister loomfs Dispatches Tempered With
The Scorpion Will Remain at Ia Guayra,
Where Her Presence Is Necessary.

Washington. Jan. 2l.-Nothing has
been heard over night from Minister
Lomis regarding the situation in Ven.
ezuela. Navy department officials
deny that any instructions have been
given to the North Atlantic squadron
to move over from Florida to Venezue.
la. The ships, however, are in perfect
cruising trim, and could sail within q
few hours after the receipts of orders,
though it is not believed here that
there will be any necessity for their
movement toward Venezuela.
The orders to the Scorpion to pro.
ceed to Guanoco from La Guayra have
been countermanded, and she will rs-
main at La Guayra, where her pres
ence is regarded as necessary. BY di.
rection of the state department, Min.
lister Loomis has protested to the Ven.
ezuelan government against the exer-
else of censorship over any of his off.
cial communications. and it is under
stood that the protests have been effec::
tive.
1t cannot be gathered that any very
late advices have caused the change In
the departments plans relative to the
movements of the Scorpion In fact, it
is said that nothing has been received
to show any marked change in the
status in Venezuela since yesterday,
when Minister Loomis spoke of the
suppression of rebellion among the
troops in Caracas. the inception of
which was unknown to the depart
ment of state. The fact that such q
movement could gain headway in Cas-
tro's own capital, however, is very sig
niticant, and this rebellion among the
troops may have led to the decision to
retain the Scorpion at La Guayra. the
nearest port to Caracas.
The naval authorities were consulted
during the day as to the feasibility of
Te-er forcing the American naval force
now in Venezuela, but while some such
thing is In prospect, it cannot be
learned that any positive orders have
yet gone out. The Hartford is not
within reach of the cable. being on a
cruise from Port of Spain for Barba.
does, at which place she is due in
about two days. She may be tul ned
back from that port, unless the situa.
tion improves. The Lancaster sailed
from Port of Spain for the Cape Verde
islands, so she is entirely beyond reach.
There is no disposition on the part
of the authorities here to go to any un.
usual length in dealing with this sltu.
alton. as they say frankly that it is not
q part of their purpose to browbeat or
coerce the Venezuelans by formal
naval demonstration, unless snch .
course is forced on them, which is not
believed to he at all likely. But it is
quite certain that Amiral Farquhar
will shape the movements of the North
Atlantic squadron SO as to keep in
close touch with the navy department
and he will not be far away from q
cable end for many days at a time
after he leaves Florida.
Mr.. Loomis' protest against any cen
sorship of his official mail on the part
of the Venezuelan government was not
idly lodged, and re acted by the de-
partment's direction only upon we'll
glounded suspicion that his cables were
being tampered with or reasonably
delayed.