New-York tribune., 1901-10-05
MARACAIBO IN DANGER
A .SA TAGE WAR IN SOUTH
AMERICA.
HOSTILE FORCES CONFRONT EACH
OTHER ON THE NENEZUELAN-
COLUMBIAN BORDER

Wilemstad. Curacao, Oct 4--The correspond
ent here of The Associated Press has received
the following message from a correspondent in
the field:
On the Road Between Sinamaica Venezuela.
and Rio Hacha. Colombia, Guatlra Peninsula
Steamer to Curacoa.--With General Davilas
column of 1.500 men, with five field guns adj
Eancng toward Rio Hachs, this road is still
fairly filled with fugitives and wounded Venez-
uelans from the fighting of September II and
September 10, returning as best they may to
Maracalho. DaVila's column left Sinamaica yes
terday morning
Counting the Colombian Liberals at Treiata.
pedition and the eight hundred reirforcen?ents
due to leave MaraCaibo on October /, the Ven
ezueans and Colombian Liberals number about
hye thousand men in Guaj;ra.
Venezuela seems determined if possill- to re
trleNe her fallen fortunes at Guajira. II she
falls in this present endeavor ii is generally be-
leNed, even among army officers that the Co.
lombian Government forces allied Guai.ra lad
ians and Venezuela reyolutionists opposed TO
fresldent castro, will unite and mach
Maracaibo, with good chances of capturing the
place Such action would protahly also mean
the capture Of San Carlos fort and the liberia tIon
of the Venezuelan politi,a1 nrisnrfTs there in
Guiding General fernando, or "El Mocho"
The most serious feature OF the Guaiira cam
paign to-day is the attitude OF the Guajira Ind
ians- When the Venezuelans first entered the
peninsula they robbed the Indians of their cat
ians are now retaliating. cruelty mut!lating and
numbering many Of the numerous fugitves who
waterless. burning. fat peninsula in an effort to
reach their lines the coast
General Davila's first fight al Curugoa was an
absolute rout Five Venezuelan battalons CT
four hundred men each engaged and the
Colombians are estimated at the same number
1t is now known that General EcheVerria was
killed on the battlefield and not shot by the Co
lombtans. The battalion called the Sacred Bat
talon" composed of gentlemen volunteers"
mounted, was the first to break and retreat be-
fore the Colombians. After General Echeverria
was killed General Davia, Clo6omiro Castillo
md Nf1r IL
tro fed the field. Another battalion then broke
The three remaining hattaons kept up the
fighting OTTER the flight of the higher officers
until routed. About six hundred were killed
the Venezuelan side. including thirty minor Off
GERS. All the flags of the Veuezuelans were lost
as well as General Davias cannon, Variousy
reported at from five to fifteen. Such
not captured by the Coombians thrown
into the river by the retreating Venezuelans.
The Indians ambushed General Davia's re-
treating vanguard, composed of two hundred
men, and annihilated it.
Clodomiro Castillo, who is Colombian. now
commands the Venezuelan forces at the front on
Guajira Peninsula, and Ermlo Castro now COM
mands the Sacred Battalion"
The general plan of campaign. far as 1t
be gathered from the latest Maracaibo mes
sages, seems to be- that about eight hundred
reinforcements left there on October i TO join
the Sanchez expedition at Sinamaica.
Vague unverifiable, but persistent. reports
are current here, and have been current for
four days. to the effect that President CastHs
Venezuelan forces at Tachira and in the vicinity
Of San Cristoba suffered defeat at the hands of
General Rangel Garbiras and his Colombian
Conservative supporters September -
and 2G
Tribe. the Colombian Liberal revolutionist, with
his Colombian followers has lately been at
Tachira. He is generally credited with being
the leader of the Venezuelan Government forces
there. But it is now said he is fleeing from
Tachra as a result of the recent defeat and
is headed for Maracabo.
According to yet other reports General Uribe-
Uribe was killed At present 1t is impossible
tion of these rumors.
From an absolutely authoritative source it
ascertained to-day by a representative Of The
Associated Press. that President Castro on Sep
tember 80. ordered the immediate imprisonment
Of all Natonalists in Venezuela. The National
lists revolutionsts and followers of lei
Mocho." This order bound to be followed
by Nationalist uprsings. They have already
begun in certain parts of the country, and
he expected in others. Near Ciudad Bolivar. in
Guayama. General Vidal Nationalist, promptly
started active operations and was Immediately
joined by two bands of guerillas under General
Guzman. The two leaders occupied the hamlet
of Soledad where they still are.
Affairs at Tachira substantially fol-
lows President Castro. September 26. telegraph
ically ordered Celestino Castro one of his broth
ers. and General Uribe-Uribe. commanders of
the Venezuelan forces on the Tachira frontier,
with headquarters at San Cristobal and San
Antonio to attack the Colombians and General
RangeI Garbiras Immediately following the re-
caint of these instructions, General Uribe Tribe
September %. ordered the guerilla bands under
General Rovra. composed of Colombian Lib
aroIs then in the Colombian State of Santander
90 attack the rear guard of the Colombian gov
eminent troops The result of this was that the
Colombian government troops. under General
Valencia utterly destroyed General Roviras out
fit. ,-o,..,r ,,,,,,,,x,oo, ,od 10 pros,
aant Castro he ordered Celestino Castro to de-
low the general attack for four days
similar orders to attack, which have been as
rickIv countermanded, have been sent to the
sSnntier from Caracas frequently during the last
four weeks. IN, mn, ,,s
r.esident Castro's Minister OF FINANCE, was
arriving in the streets of Caracas OCTOBER l, ne
80 shot at by a would-be assassin. VINO missed
Va; tho bullet wounding horse behind him.
r. is stil impossible TO verify me reports as 70
the wherea bouts and movements Oh 1eherai
Tribe Tribe
r,. Yacht over, the Hudson Eivsr LAY
ne trips ain the great exeursions SausS'