The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-01-22
A CENSORSHIP ON DISPATCHES TO AND
FROM OUR MINISTER
MINISTER LOOMS PROTESTS
Against This Action and the Censor
ship Is Raised-On Account of q Re-
volt OF Government Troops ut ara
a Scorpion Will Not Go to Guauoco.
The Hartford Likely to be Sent There.
No Change I'm the situation Reported
Since Thursday.

New York. January 1S.-It was an
nounced today hat the government OF
Venezuela on December 9th established
a censorship over all dispatches 10 and
from the United States. and II has been
strictly in force ever since.
Washington. January 1s.-The orders
to h Scorpion to proceed from La
guayra t Guanoco have beer counter
handed, and she will remain at La
guayra, where her presence is regarded
as necessary.
By direction of the state department.
Minister Loomis has protested to the
Venezuelan government against the ex-
ercise Of censorship over his official
communications and il is understood
that the protest has been effective.
1t is said that nothing has been re-
ceived to show any marked change in
the status in Venezuela since yester-
day. When Minister LOomis spoke Of
the suppression of a rebellion among the
troops in Caracas. the very inception
Of which was unknown to the depart
ment of state. The fact that such a
movement could gain Roadway in Cas-
tro's own capital is. however, very sig
%nifcant, and it may nave been upon
reflection touching the meaning of his
rebellion among the troops that led to
the decision to retain h Scorpion at
Laguayra. the cares point to Caracas.
The naval authorities We're consulted
during the day as to the feasibility OF
reinforcing the American ava force
in Venezuela, but while some such
thing is in prospect, it cannot be learn
ed hat any positive orders have yet
gone out. Unfortunately, the Har:-
ford. which would naturally be called
pom first for such a purpose, is not
within reach of the cable, being on a
cruise from Port Of Spain to Barbados,
at which place she is Tue in about W
days. She may be turned back from
that port when h arrives, by a cable
order, nle the situation improves.
The Lancaster sailed from Port of
Spain Wednesday for the Cape Verde
islands. So she is entirely beyond reach.
There is no disposition on the part
of h authorities here TO go any uE-
usual length in dealing with this stu.
ton, and they say frankly that it ia
not a part of their purpose to browbeat
or coerce the V~enezuefans by any
formidable nava demonstration, unless
such course is absolutely forced upon
them. which is not. believed TO be at
all likely.
Admiral Farquahar, of the North
Atlantic squadron. will keep in close
touch. with the navy department, and
he will not be far away from a cable
end for many lays at a time after he
leaves Florida.
Mr.. LOOMS protest against any Gen.
sorship of his official mail on the part
Of the Venezuelan government was not
idly lodged, and he acted by the de-
partment's direction, only upon a we'll
grounded suspicion that his cables
| were being tempered with or unrea-
sonably delayed. His protest was made
several days e and officials are sat
isfied the censorship owe Mr.. LOOMS
communications has ceased. Although
! aware of the restrictions imposed by
the Venezuelan government upon pri-
waite cable communications, the state
| department has not felt itself able 10
interfere ait this stage ITO prevent prac-
tice, which is said to be common in
| South and Central American countries
in almost every case of a revolutionary
movement wherein the government is
| getting the worst Of it