The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-24
ENCOURAGED
Venezuela Rebels Aided by the
Allied Powers.
Port Which They Hold Is Left
Open by Blockaders.
A MARCH ON CARACAS.
Planned by Revolutionary Force
in Three Divisions.
Red d. Liner Permitted to Land
Only Part of Cargo.

reports that the German blockade oc
Porto Cabello began December z, and
that the blockade of Maracaibo by the
Germans commenced today.
Willemstad, Island of Curacao, Dec. 23
by boat from La Guayra.-The revolu-
tionists, strengthened by the impossi-
bility of the government suppressing the
! smuggling of arms and ammunition into
the country. and by the fact that it has
no longer any fleet at its disposal, have
made answer to President Castro's prop
osition that they turn their arms against
the foreigners who have attacked Ven
ezuela, by referring him to General
Iatos. their only chief capable of deal
ing with the matter. The rebels have
regained courage. The government.
which signed with them an armistice OF
ten days, which ends tomorrow, has $500
men at Barquisimeto and $500 near
Caracas. but all others who had en-
rolled themselves to fight against the
foreigners have retired.
The revolutionists have planned
march on Caracas by three roads: the
leaders. Ramos, Antonio Guevara Ur-
baneta and Penaloza. with $500 men,
will march via Guatire; Antonio Fer
nandez, Oslo. and Crespo Torres, with
$500, have left Camagua, and General
Alta Gracia. Ammunition is expected to
arrive every day near Tucacus-
The situation for President Castro is
/ considered to be again perilous; attack
ed by foreigners and his own country
men, he can with difficulty resist the
shocks. as the governments resources
have vanished. The presidents depar-
ture for La Victoria is for the purpose
of trying to check the near advance to
the capitol of the revolutionists
General Matos will leave Curacao
shortly
Caracas, Dec 24-The port of Coro,
which is surrounded on the land side
by the revolutionists. is not blockadeo.
In Caracas this fact is believed to
mean that the British and German
fleets are working in harmony with the
reyOlutioniSts and not blockading Coro
IN order to allow the free entrance of
Dutch schooners from Curacao bringing
arms and ammunition.
President Castro will leave the capi-
tai today for La Victoria, where the
revolutioniStS under General Matos were
recently defeated by government forces.
| The Red ID" line steamer Caracas
will not be permitted to enter Puerto
Cabello. She will be obliged to land the
remainder of her cargo at Willemstad,
Curacao.
Lieut.. Commander Diehl rendeavorei
to obtain from the commanders of the
foreign war ship at La Guayra an ex-
tension of a few hours in the time Civ
en- the steamer to remain at her dock
III OIQcI SIl0 might llIl1SI uIlOdQluS. his
request to this end was refused and
he did not insist. The commanders of
the blOckading warships explained that
they were acting on the orders of the
British admiral and that the orders Civ
en- to permit the Caracas to discharge
more than the mail had been given to
SATISFY Commander Dieh1-
The Caracas consequently left her
berth at La Gua1ra at 6 O'Clock when
she had landed not more than tWO-thiriiS
of her cargo. The steamer will cruise
before La Guayra and take on passen-
gers and mail, but on no account is she
to enter the port. Mr.. Boulton, of Boul-
ton & Co., has entered protest with
minister here against the action taken
with regard to the Caracas.
THE ALLIES PROPOSALS ARRIVE.
Washington Dec 24.@The proposals
of Great Britain and Germany that
| President Roosevelt arbitrate the Ven
ezuelan dispute have reached Washing
| ton. They are in such form that the
president can accept or reject the propo-
| having been received while the presi-
dent was absent from the White House.
he has had no opportunity to consider
them, and until he does his decision will
| not be known. For the same reason
nothing can be gathered here to the
details of the proposals, and although
great interest is felt as to the extent Of
the limitations which the allies will ask
- 49,
osity on that point must remain unsat-
isfied until the president has finally
made up his mind what he shall do 1t
is known that he is disposed to act with
/ all speed in this matter, for he realizes
that the conditions on the blockade line
are such that almost any moment an
unpleasant incident may occur through
| the obstinacy of some skipper or from
a genuine misunderstanding as to ths
terms of the blockade that may diminish
the chances of a peaceful settlement of
| the Venezuelan trouble.
NO PROTEST RECEIVED
Washington, Dec. 24.@The navy de-
partment up to noon today had received
no word from Commander Diehl of the
| Marietta concerning his reported protest
against the action of the blockadins
/ squadron at Caracas in refusing to allow
the Red D liner Caracas to remain yes
terday long enough to discharge her
cargo. No request for instructions has
come from him. The officials of the de-
partment have entire confidence in Com
mander Diehls ability to handle the
situation. and unless they hear some
thing from him in the shape of pro
! test against the action of the allies they
will make no move AS rule it IS
/ agreed that a blockading fleet can do
pretty much as it likes 1t is intimated
1 as a possible reason for the position
taken by the allies in declining to allow
the Caracas to remain in the harbor at
night. that it will be difficult to exercise
surveillance of what was being taken
out of her hold For the same reason
the allies may have decided that she
should not return to the harbor today,
but should take on her passengers out
GERMANY IS ANXIOUS.
Berlin, Dec. 24.-Germany is anxious to
receive President Roosevelt's acceptance
of the formal invitation from Germany
and Great Britain to act as arbitrator in
the Venezuelan controversy. The Ger
man governments preference is very de-
cidedly in favor of arbitration through
President Roosevelt rather than through