The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-15
Venezuelan President Seems to
Have Lost Control Of
His Country
AMERICAN INTERESTS
WILL Be LOOKED AFTER
Situation at Barcelona Is Serious.
Captors Are Ransacking the Town
and All Civil Officials Are
Now Imprisoned.

Washington, August 1.-THE navy de-
psrtment is in receipt Of the following
dispatch from Commander Rodgers of the
Marietta dated Port-cf-Spain August IL
There are three American citizens at
Angostura, vez. Life and property safe
when ship sailed. City controlled by revo-
lutionary militsry chief. Foreign subjects
slsrmed over situation. Three American
steamers of the orinoco companv ferci-
bly, detairsed at San Felix for government
use"
Rebels Are In Power.
Washington, August 14-In o:icial cir
cIes the control of Porto Cabello by the
revolutionists is considered a signal vic
tory for that PARTY. as it is place Of
considerable strategic Importance. 1t Is
town of about 1000 people situated on
a spacious. deep and safe harbor, by
means of which, II necessary, troops and
supplies may be landed dispatched to
other places in the country. Porto Ca
bello is but a short sail from La Guaira,
which is not far from the Venezuelan
capital A crisis in affairs at Porto Ca
bello, where the insurgents have been
gathering strength. has existed for some
Nickolls confirms the prediction that
battle would soon be fought there. The
Topeka is looking after the interests of
Americans in that section and Comman-
der Nickolls was given full authority to
land force II necessary, and also to
prevent bombardment without due
notice. This action was authorized at
the suggestion of Minister Bowen and
closely followed a notice from the Ger
mans that they intended taking similar
steps for the protection of German inter-
ests. Commander Nickolls' dispatch is
the first official information that has
reached Washington that the revolution
lists have secured control of Porto Ca
bello.
No Danger of Losing 1t.
Just before the department closed dis
patch was received from Commander
Nickolls of the Topeka at Porto Cabello,
stating that the revolutionists were In
control and that there was no danger
of an attempt to retake the town by
the government forces. Commander Nick
oils acknowledged the receipt of instruc-
tions directing him to land a force In case
of necessity but stated that the neces-
sity for such a step had not arisen.
The place called Angostura mentioned
in Commander Rodgers dispatch from
Port of Spain as in the hands of the
revolutionists is about $50 miles up the
Orinco river and the more modern name
for it is C1udad, Bolivar.
General Matos, who Is practically at
the head of the revolutionary movement
against Castro took this town some time
ago and left one of his lieutenants in
charge. According to information now in
possession of the officials here, Castro is
being hemmed in from three sides at
Caracas. General Matos advanced from
Bolivar to the northwest to place called
Orituco, about 40 miles south of Caracas.
Ten days ago Castro was reported as hav-
ing left the capital with force to meet
the revolutionary general, but subsequent
ly he changed his mind and returned.
More recent advices indicated battle
was imminent on the plains Immediately
south of Caracas Early this week the
revoutionists took Barcelona, to the east
ward of Caracas, and now, according to
this last dispatch from Commander Nick
oils they have obtained control of Porto
Cabello, to the westward The fact that
the government had seized three of the
steamers of the Orinico company at San
Felix is not cause of concern here
as it is understood that these ships fiy
press ships for government use is well
settled
No further steps have been taken to-
ward sending additional ships to Vene-
zuela and no fresh instructions have been
sent to the commanders of the American
warships there, as the reports received
from them are considered satisfactory.
Ransacklng Barcelona.
Washington. August H.-Under date of
Wednesday, the 18th inst, Minister Bow
en- at Caracas reports to the state de-
partment that the situation there Is
very critical.
Commander McLean's dispatch to the
department was in part as follows:
Barcelona occupied by revolutionists.
They have imprisoned all civil officials
and military ofncers in possession of en-
tire district. Some pillaging done, but
everything now quiet. Twenty-Five bus
mess houses sacked, mostly foreign; also
fifteen private dwen4ngs."