The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-08-19
PORTO cA1ELLo IN POSSESSION
/. OF REvoLuTloNlsTs.
NEAR VENEZUELAN CAPITAL
According to Information President
Castro Is Being Hemmed in on
Three Sides.

Washington, Aug. 15.-A dispatch
was received from Commander Nick
els, Of the Topeka, at Porto Cabello,
yesterday, stating that the revolu.
tionists were in control and there
was no danger of an attempt to re-
take the town by the government
forces. Commander Nickels acknowl-
edged the receipt of orders directing
him to land forces in case of neces-
stay, but stated that the necessity for
such a step had not arisen.
In official circles the control of
Porto Cabello by the re~volutionists is
considered a signal victory for that
party, as 1t is a place of strategic i'm
portance. It has about 10000 people
and is situated in a large, deep and
safe harbor, by means Of which. If
necessary, troops and supplies may
be landed or dispatched to other
places in the country. Porto Cabello
is but a short sail from La Guayra,
which is not far distant from the Ven
ezuelan capital.
A crisis in affairs at Porto Cabel,o,
where the insurgents have been gath
ering strength, has existed for some
time, and the news from Commander
Nickels confirms the prediction that
a battle would be fought there. The
Topeka is looking after the interests
Of Americans in that section OF the
country, and Commander Nickels was
given full directions to land a force
if necessary and also to prevent a
bombardment without due notice.
This act was made at the suggestion
of Consul Bowen and closely followed
a notice from the Germans that they
intended to take sim II steps for the
projection of German interests.
Commander Nickels' dispatch is the
first official information that reached
Washington that the revolutionists
have secured control of Porto Cabello.
The place called Anguostera, men,
toned in Commander Rogers dis
patch from Port of Spain, is in the
hands of revolutionists, is about $50
miles up the Orinoco and the more
modern name for it is Cludad Bolivar.
General Matos, who is practically al
the head of the revolution against
Castro, took this town some time ago
and left n of his lieutenants in
charge.
According to information now in
possession of officials here, Castro is
being hemmed in from three sides
at Caracas. General Matos advanced
from Malivar to the northwest to a
place called Oituco. Ten days ago
Castro was reported as having left
the capital with a force to meet the
revolutionary general, but subse-
quently he changed his mind and re-
turned.
More recent advices indicated that
a battle was imminent on the plains
south of Caracas, early this week.
The revOlutionists took Barcelona to
the eastward of Caracas and now, &C.
cording to the last dispatch from
Commander Nickels, they have OBJ
tanned control of Porto Cabello, to
the westward. The fact that the gov
eminent had seized the steamers of
the Orinoco company is not consider
ed unlawful here, as these ships fly
the Venezuelan flag.
No further steps have been taken
towards sending additional ships to
Venezuela and no fresh instructions
have been sent to the commanders
Of the American ships there, as the re-
ports received from them are consid-
cred satisfactory.