Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-04
CASTRO ON TOP AGAIN
Venezuelan Revolutionists
Are Losing Ground.
BIG BATTLE EXPECTED
GEN. MAToS Is WAITING FOR
AMMUNITION.
Leader of Rebel Forces Inactive for
Want Of Military
Supplies.
BIG BATTLE EXPECTED
enee Of the Associated Press.

Correspo ldenee Of the Associated Press.
CARACAS, Venezuela, August 27.-During
the past fortnight the Venezuelan revolu-
ton has lost time and ground. The insur-
rection was short time ago in undisputed
possession of Carupano, Cumana BARGE
Iona and Guiria-that is to say, all the east
ern coast of Venezuela-but owing to the
ability and skill Of Gen. Velutini a Cor
sican of extraordinary intelligence, a large
commercial port has been wrested from
them.
Gen. Castro is at San Casimiro, his van
guard being at Camata He is awaiting
reinforcements in order to attack the revo-
lutionists, who are at present at Alta
Gracta de Orituco. His army, which is es-
timated at 5000 men, is well armed and dis
ciplined. Castro's first lieutenant, Gen.
Leopoldo Batista, is at Villa de Cura with
2,000 men, and Gen Arauco has an army of
5000 men massed the frontier of the
state of Trujillo. Such are the available
forces of the government.
Revolutionists Scattered.
The revolutionary troops are much scat
| tered. 1t is impossible to diagnose the pres
ent condition of the insurection. 1t seems
to suffer from general indisposition i'm
possible to analyze, but it is clear that al
| though very powerful on the LIST of July it
has since developed both moral and physi-
cal weakness.
Gen. Matos. the revolutionary leader, has
during the past two months been inactive
at Zaraza, surveying the arrival of his
100000 cartridges, which reach him
slowly. To those unacQuainted with Veue-
zuela 1t may seem incredible that 1t re-
quires SO long to mobilize an army, but it
Is both natural and inevitable Roads do
not exist, the rain falls in torrents and the
mules, which are the only means of trans
port, sink daily up to their shoulders In
the mud, and as each mule carries ONLY
1000 cartridges-that Is to say, four boxes
of 800 cartridges each-it is necessary to
employ $500 mules to transport the 5000, 600
cartridges of the revolutionists. To find
this number of mules in country ruined
| by four years OF revolutionists is not only
very difficult, but almost impossible.
Have to Build Bridges.
The revolutionists have. moreover, been
obliged to construct bridges, and that with
out adequate tools or engineers. In a word
| In spite of the towns which they occupy and
| the thousands Of men whom they have IN
| der arms they are SO scattered that if not
negligible quantity, they are very difficult
! to get at
The reyoiutionists were dangerous before
| the government went out to attack them
| but now their ability to attack the govern
nent has become problenatical. 1t is no
longer a local war which they will be con-
strained to carry on, but an invasion This
| does not mean that the revolution win lose
| nor Is this even suggested; but General
castro is now in a position to defend him
| SELF 1t will nevertheless have much to do
| TO emerge from the struggle victorious be-
cause the revelutionists, in addition to Ma
tos' army, have about 5000 men at Alta
Gracla under the orders of Domingo Mo-
nagas. Rolando and Penaloza Generals
Luciano Mendoza. Riera and Solagni are
near Barquistimeto and Duaca The enyi-
rons OF valencia are overrun with reyolu-
tlonlsts; Los Teques is also in their power
ana 400 are lodged in the mountains be-
tween Caracas and La Guara Neverthe-
| less, the government lives, commands
makes itself obeyed. and is feared, which
proves that 1t is not yet crushed.
Big Battle Expected.
A great battle is expected to take place
within four or five weeks, either near Alta
Gracia de Orituco. If Matos can bring over
| his ammunition and advance his army, Or
between Araguita and San Lucia, valley
| by which the revolutionists will probably
attempt to pass in order to reach Caracas.
From a financial point of view President
! Castro has regained his lost prestige
1 through the arrival Of the million boliyars
tco1nS worth about twenty cents) In silver
brought to him by the steamer PHILADELPHIA
| This sum has enabled him to face certain
| pressing engagements and to prove to his
| adVerSarles that he has found in the coin
| ing OF silver, even with 80 per cent profit
| certain legal resources which will avoid the
| necessity of having resource to forced