The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-10-19
5000 FALL In 7.DAY BATTLE.
CASTRO REPORTS BIG INTORf
OVER VENETIAN REBELS.
Pre-, ious Dispatches Had Indicated Ills
Defeat e,olutiOnists Had Advanced
to Within Uif.; ,:.!es Of the Capital
--tastrc's StOr my Administration.

.Spsoid, Cable DsSPNtth 10 The Sun
LONDON, Oct. ia news agency de-
spatch from Victoria, Venezuela. says that
after seven days fighting near that place
5000 revolutionists under Gen. Mendoza
were completely defeated yesterday They
abandoned their positions and left LOO
killed and wounded on the field.
T.. Gonzalez Es,eves, Consul-Genctal Of
Venezuela in this city. received the Follow
ing despatch Yesterday from DR.. Torres
Cardenas secretary TO the President Of
Venezuela:
CARACAS. Oct. ~, 1902 Com, Castro
communicates sweeping victory after
se ven DAYS bloody battle. Three thousand
casualties in the rebel camp. Publish
news. TORRES 'AK' ENAs
Scant nows Of the fighting has come
out Of Venezuela becau>c the Government
controls the cable stations and strict
censorship has been established. How
ever. such reports a. have been received
pointed 10 the ultimate success Of the
revoM,ionists and this report of Govern
ment victory from the Presidents secre-
tary comes Is surprise. Ii Castro mas
won 80 dcci-ively a. the despatch from
Caracas indicates, he has saved himself
az a time when his overthrow seemed GER
tain. War is not new game TO him, Tor
he captured the Presidency three years
ago in just the manner that Gen. Matos
il now trying to take it from him.
This weeks fighting has been around
Victoria, about fifty miles from Caracas,
the capital. The rival armies clashed on
Monday morning. and the battle continued
all day. II was resumed Tuesday morning
and the reports that came from nearby
forts were that Castro was surrounded
and had lost heavily. Herbert W. Bowen,
American Minister at Caracas. sent word
Ia Washinpl on that the executive Offices
of the Government had been removed
to Guaicaipuro, about twenty miles from
the capital This was taken to mean that
Castro eXi<cted defeat at Victoria.
Nicr-pr, Aient Gomez arrived oppor-
tunely with Ie,nforccments and ammuni-
ton and the fighting continued Tuesday
and Wednesday. One report placed the
revolutionist army at 5000 and tastros
forces at 1900 Various losses were re-
ported on both sides ranging from 200 10
400 men a day. Gen. Alcan'ara, Castro's
aide. was among the killed. The wounded
of both armies were said to be without
proper care and there was great suffering
In the CamIS
Castro's reign as President, and practi-
cally a. dictator has been marked by trouble
from the first. In addition TO the opposi-
ton his methods have aroused among
Nenezuelans hc has been on the verge Of
war with Colombia. He IL charged with
being the instigator and the supporter OF
the revolution now on in that country under
tho leadership of Gen. Tribe Tribe. In
addition President Castro has been in dis
putc with Germany and France over debts
owed TO these countries, and his defiant
attitude has on several occasions brought
the probability of foreign Interference
under discussion. He has also been in
diplomatic conflict with this Government
In 1901 Minister LOOMS made vigorous
protest against the treatment OF Americans
in Venezuela. The conflict over an asphalt
concession 10 rival American companies
was the main issue. When Minister LOOMS
was recalled to Washington II was con-
sidered that the situation had become
serious, but no clash came Minister
Bowen took Minister LOOMS place.