Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-11
IT LOOKS LIKE WAR.
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by the police near Bolivar Square, and
also arrested
Amid cries of Death to the Germans,
and Down with the Foreigners. the
populace directed its way to the German
residential quarter. and gathered outside
the Hotel Klindt, and the German Club,
vociferating, and uttering insults. The
Belgian Charge d'ATaires, f. J. s..
Goffart, was arrested By mistake for q
German. because Of his fair complexion.
In spite of his vigorous protests, he was
taken TO the police station, but released
ten minutes later.
Bowen Secures CoHSuEs Release.
On learning these incidents, United
States Minister Bowen, and Secretary
w. w. Russell, went at once to see Pres
.dcnt Castro. and after long conference
succeed in obtaining the release OF DIT
koc'ller, Nine. VonPilsrim- Baltazzls phy-
sician, and Consul Valentine Blohm MIN
lister Bowen also obtained the official au-
thoriza ton Of the Venezuelan govern
ment to represent German and British
interests during the imbToglio.
Inc government mas pl1Ceu Oh Gil
barge on the British railroad to Laguaira
and on the German Central railway from
Caracas to Valencia. The Iopulace is still
intensely excited, and the situation is
regarded as critical. The British and
German flags have been publicly burned.
Warships Seized.
CARACAS, VENEZUELA, December 8.
CTliesday)-At o'clock this afternoon the
T2riti seized
and lowed outside the harbor Of La
Guaira all the vessels which We're then
there These were the warships General
Crespo, Totumo, Ossum and MarSarlta.
The ships were manned by 800 men.
The news OF the capture of the Warshlps
is rot yet generally known in the capltal.
Great excitement undoubtedly will prevail
when it is announced.
Protection of Italians.
ROME, December 10.-The government
has instructed the commander of the
Italian third class cruiser Giovanni Baus-
an. which arrived at Laguaira yesterday.
Ito fully protect Italian subjects in Nene-
zueIa, to take them aboard and If nee
essary. to land blue jackets for their pro-
lection.
whole Coast BIoclzRdeh.
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD. Decem--
Der 1O-The British cruiser Charybdis
seized the Venezuelan gunboat Bolivar
in TINS Iarbor last night. She landed the
Bolvar's officers here, while the British
sloop Alert took the crew of the captured
eunboat to the Port OF Guaria, situated
on the Venezuelan coast opposite the Is
land Of Trinidad. The British torpedo
boat-destroycr Quail has sailed, with in
structions to capture the Venezuelan war
IN,
mouth of the Orinoco. The entire coast
of Venezuela, from the Orinoco river to
laguaira, will be blockaded. from to-
day by British warships, while the
Venezuelan coast from Laguaira to the
Colombian frontier will be blockaded by
German warships.
Castro Calls to Arms.
PARIS, December 1O-A Venezuelan
government comnlunica ton to the repre-
sentative here protests that Great Brit
ain and Germany, acting in concert, have
committed an act Of hostility in man
ner as arbitrary as it is unprecedented
by the seizure Of Venezuelan vessels lying
at Laguaira. The communication says
that Indignation in Venezuela is at its
height and the government is resortlng
to justifiabe reprisals. 1t has arrested
the subjects of both hostile countries. ana
has seized the railways and other I'M
dertakings belonging to them. At the
same time adds the communication. Pres
ident Castro has appealed to the Fenezue-
Ian people to take up arms. He has de-
creed a general amnesty for all political
offenses and has ordered the restitution
of the confiscated property Of Venezuelan
citizens.
No Second Ultimatum.
LONDON. December 10. P. MIN re-
snonse to an inquiry made at the foreign
office, a representative of the Associated
Press was informed that up to O'CLOCK
this evening no Information OF an Of
fetal character had been received from
Venezuela everything being left to the
commander Of the British feet VINO mad
received explicit instructions as to what
course to pursue, ana regarding the ag-
gressive measures to be taken
The foreign Office explains that the
latest communication sent to President
Castro was not a second ultlmatum but
a notification that the commander had
been instructed to send, to the effect that
the second stage of the reprisals which
include other measures besides seizure
Of the customs. would be commenced,
unless a satisfactory answer was re-
ceiyed The foreign Office has heard moth
ing from United States Minister Bowen,
who has charge of British and German in
terests at Caracas, regarding the lmpris-
onrent of British subjects. 1t still thinks,
however, that the British at Caracas
will probably be safer in prison than out
side.
The reports Of friction between Germany
and Great Britain are denied. The foreign
Office says that to all intents and pur-
poses the two powers are taking joint
action. though in certain eventualitles
each country is free to act Independently.
..Pcaccfu1 BIocl&slde.o
WASHINGTON, December 1o.-The
State Department has been advised that
"a peaceful blockade exists at La
Guaira which is the port Of Caracas,
the CAPITAL of Venezuela The difference
between this state and state OF wal
is not very strongly marked. except IN
the opportunity afforded by the peaceful
blockade to effect a settlement without
recourse to actual blockade. The situation
is here regarded as critical.
Minister Bowen. at Caracas has accept
ed the trust placed upon him to look after
the interests Of British and German
citizens in Venezuela, and this has
brought him in conflict with President
Castro. He has Informed the State De-
part,nent that number of British clh-
zeus were arrested yesterday at Caracas
! Minister Bowen at once addressed nm
SELF to President Castro to secure their
release. He represented that he had been
0P Rrit