Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-12-19
I, Is 10 L !! IL ].
PRESIDENT Cae-rc's Answer to Ger
r1&n Note Is Refusal to
Yield on Any Point.
TEXT OF REPLY NOT YET MADE KNOWN.
bulletin Received by Foreign ONCE
Mt Hc:.n-yenezueinn Coast Still
Bloclsaded-E'ritfSh and German
Ships of War Arrive on La Guayra
-Government Mny Abandon Town.

Berlin, Dec. 15.-President Castro's
reply to the German ultimatum is a
refusal to yield any point.
The foreign Office has not received
the text of President Castro's reply,
but only bulletin from the German
charge d'affaires, Herr Won Pilgrim
i'altazzi, dated December 10. annourc-
ing that the presidents answer had
been placed in his hands that day and
that the Venezuelan executive refused
to yield to the German demands on ali
points. This telegram, with the text
OF the reply, was filed at Port-of-Spain.
island of Trinidad. With this excep-
ton the foreign Office has received nc
news since Friday to indicate that the
situation has grown worse A land
ing in force is not considered probabl
under any contingency. The orders to
blockade the coast stand, and that is
all the naval commanders for the pres
ent are authorized 70 do: Any propo-
sition that Minister Bowen might
make in behalf of President Castro
would he RECEIVED in II good spirit and
carefully considered out of regard fer
the channel of it's transmission, but
no proposition to arbitrate has yet
reached Berlin, Neither is the foreign
Office aware that the United States has
made SO far any suggestion to arbi,
trate.
Herr Won grim-Baltazzi is still on
e"ami British vessel in the harbor
of La Guayra.
Nrarsh!ps Arriving.
La Guayra, Venezuela, Dec. 15.-The
British cruiser Charybdis, flying Com
modore MonIgQmerle.s flag, the Ser
man cruiser Nineta, and the German
training ship Satosch arrived here Fri
day morning and have taken positions
commanding the town and fes'te~rr-'
several merchantmen, The Butch
steamer Prinz Willem W., British
steamer of the Harrison line and a
royal mail steamer arrived off the port
Friday, but were prevented from en-
tering the harbor by the captain of
the British cruiser interchangeable, Whe
said he would not be responsible for
what might happen if the vessels were
allowed to enter. The steamers APP
piled for lighters to enable them to
discharge their cargoes, but the re-
quest Was pefrsel by tie sNstpws
vessels might enter the port as usual,
there being no reason for their re-
naming pHtsida,
All ammunition is being removed
from the fartresses and barracks here
and taken to Caracas, and 1T IL appaF-
entity the intention of the government
to abandon the town.
No News ut London.
London. Dec. 15.-Up to two o'clocl
Saturday afternoon, aceordipg TO of
fetal statements, nothing had been re
ceived at the foreign Office anent thu
Venezuelan government asking Min
i lister Bowen TO act as arbitrator ip tn,
controversy between that country ant
Great Britain and Germany. Some
thing, it was added, might possibly pr
rive later in the day, though no otficia
| iutimation was received that this il
| likely,
The United States embassy was alst
| without instructions or information
regarding any Venezuelan matter.
| Withdraw. Consul General.
Washington, Dec. 15.-Onemore ste]
| toward the complete severance of rela
| tions between Venezuela and the allie
who are seeking to punish her was tax
en- Saturday in The withdrawal of TIL
Venezuelan consul general from Por
of Spain, Trinidad, by orders of hi
government Notice of the fact cam
to the state department from Unite
States Consul Smith at Port Of SPAR
is presumed that Venezuela has sen
out similar orders TO all of her othe
consuls in British and German posses
sions to withdraw from their posts
These Withdrawals would not be pal
ticularly serious but for the fact tina
they indicate a purpose on the part G
President Castro to proceed to e,
tremes in his quarrel with the allies.
The state department has not bee
advised of the rejection of Presider
Castro's proposal to arbitrate the di
pute as transmitted through Ministe
Bowen.
Conference MT Washington.
Washington, Dec. 15.-Presider
Roosevelt and Secretary Hay had a
early conference Saturday concernin
the Venezuelan situation. Both III
president and secretary of state are {
the opinion that, unless there shoul
be unexpected developments in the 81
uation, the United States will not b
: come seriously involved in the pendin
controversy. Over night dispatches +
!. ceived by the state department wei