Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-08
REBELS HOPE
IS ON THE
WAVE
REVOLUTIONARY FORCES ARE
DEPLETED, AMMUNITION IS.
SCARCE AND RAINY SEASON
HAS ADDED DISC0MF0RTS.

CARACAS, Venezuela, Aug. H.-During
the past fortnight the Venezuelan revolu-
ton has lost time and ground. The insur-
rection was a short time ago in undis-
puted possession of Carupano, Cumana.
Barcelona and Guairai, that is to say, all
the eastern coast of Venezuela, but owing
to the ability and skill of General Veluti-
nj, a Corsican of extraordinary inteli-
gence, a large commercial port has been
wrested from them.
General Castro is at San Casimire, his
vanguard being at Camatagua. He is
awaiting reinforcements in order to at
tack the revolutionists, who are at pres
emit at Alta Gracia de Orituco. His army
which is estimated at 5000 men is well
armed and disciplined. Castro's first lieu
tenant. General Leopoldo Batista, is at
Villade Cura. with 1900 men, and General
Arauco has an army of 5000 men massed
on the frontier Of the state of TrugiIlo-
Such are the available forces Of the gov
eminent
The troops of the revolution are much
disseminated. 1t is impossible to dag
nose its present condition. 1t seems. to
suffer from a geneal indisposition impos-
sible to analyze, but 1t is clear that al
though very powerful on the first of July,
IT has since developed both moral and
physical weakness.
General Matos, the revolutionary leader.
has during the past two months, been in
active at Zaraza, surveying the arrival of
his 100000 cartridges, which reach him
slowly. To those unacQuainted with Ven
ezuela it seems strange, Incredible, that it
requires so long to mobilize an army.
but IL is both natural and inevitable.
Roads do not exist, the rain falls in tor
rents and the mules, which are the only
means of transportation, sink daily up
to their shoulders in the mud and as each
mule carries only 1000 cartridges. that is
to say, four boxes of 500 cartridges each.
it is necessary to employ $500 mules to
transport the 100000 cartridges of the
revolutionists.
But to find this number of mules in a
country ruined by four years Of revoiu-
ton is not only very difficult but almost
impossible.
The revolutionists have, moreover, been
obliged to construct bridges and that
without adequate tools or engineers. In a
word, in spite of the towns which they
occupy and the thousands Of men whom
they have under arms, they are so scat
tered that IL not a negligible quantity.
they are very difficult to get at. The rev.
oiutionists were dangerous before the gov
eminent went out TO attack them, but
now their ability to attack the govern
ment has become problematical. 1t is no
longer a local war which they will be
constrained to carry on, but an invasion.
This does not mean that the revolution
will lose, nor is this even suggested
But General Castro is now in a position
to defend himself. He viii nevertheless
have much to do TO emerge from the
struggle victorious, because the revolu-
tionists in addition to Matos' army, have
about 5000 men at Alta Gracia under the
orders of Domingo Monagas, Rolando and
Penaloza. Generals Luciano Mendoza, RI
era and Solagni are near Barquisimeto
and Duaca.
The environs Of Valencia are 0verrun
with revolutionists; Los Teques is also
in their power and 400 are lodged in the
mountains between Caracas and Laguai-
"a. Nevertheless the government lives,
commands. makes itself obeyed and is
feared, which proves that it is not yet
crushed.
A great battle is ordered to take place
within four or five weeks. either at AL
ia Gracia de Orituco, If Matos can bring
over his ammunition and advance his ar.
my, or between Araguita and Santa Luz
cia. a valley by which the revolutionists
win probably attempt to pass in order to
reach Caracas.
From a financial point OF view President
Castro has regained his lost prestige
through the arrival of the million boil
vars (coins worth about twenty cents) in
silver brought to him by the steamer
Philadelphia.
This sum enabled him to face certain
pressing engagements and to prove to
his adversaries that he has found in the
coming of silver, even with 50 per cent
profit, certain legal resources which VIII
avoid the necessity of having recourse
to forced loans.