The Indianapolis journal., 1902-12-30
CASTRO'S SOLDIERS.
A Wretched Lot and All Cigarette
Fiends, Says A. L. stokes.

New York Commercial Advertiser
Alexander E. Stokes. manager of the
British Guiana Rubber Company, arrived
here day or so ago from Georgetown
British Guiana. He had Travelled exten.
sively in Venezuela. and was at Caracas
when the present trouble first broke out in
the country. Mr.. Stokes was seen at the
Hotel Imperial. Speaking or the conditions
existing in Venezuela, he said:
'I do not think there is any cause fof
alarm in the little dispute In Venezuela
although Ii Is seriously damaging TO trade
My line OF business is almost completely
tied up SO far as Venezuela is concerned
The blockade by the allies seems TO be the
only serious phase of the situation at pres
ent. A section of the boundary between
Venezuela and British Guiana was being
guarded, in a way, by Venezuelan soldiers
when left Guiana about a month ago. be-
cause 1t seems that President Castro Is
suspicious OF the British possession. The
soldiers at his command are the most
wretched- looking creatures II is possible Il
see anywhere. They are nearly all cigar
cite fiends of the most virulent type. anc
NIT murder in return for a package o;
cigarettes or nip Of bad whisky.
As Venezuela Is a free country, no one
need join the army but the crafty Castro.
who thoroughly understands the little
weaknesses Of his people. has ways of his
own in persuading them to take up arms.
He recently issued an order that his troops
be provided each day with cigarettes free
of cost, in addition, of course, to the
meager ratfons they get. The new order
was posted up at every street corner and
In the public buildings in Caracas shortly
before I left that city, and it worked like
a charm Hundreds of the unemployed and
regular loafing element rushed TO the
cruiting station I'm large numbers to be-
come soldiers The cigarette order is re-
sponsible In a great measure for the large
number of mere boys who are joining the
army.
Both the Venezuelans and the Colom-
bians have, as a whole, very little use for
foreigners, and especially those who can
not speak their language. For Americans
they have little more respect-at least
have seen them show IL in many instances
but 1t is of the skin-deep. order. A large
number OF the Venezuelans-perhaps4 10 per
cent-fully expect that America will cham
pion their cause IL Great Britain and Ger
many go too far. Many are too ignorant
to understand what the Monroe doctrine
means, and quite number of the most In
telligent really believe that II was espe-
cially framed to protect their country when
I'm trouble, no matter what the dispute
while the average Venezuelan looks at II
askance but with pretended indifference.
Whichever way they regard the Monroe
doctrine, however. there is ever an iinmis-
Americans themselves But the Venezue-
lans, like their neighbors, the Colombians.
are far beyond the comprehension OF the
ordinary mortal. Their ways are the ways
of no other. Although both peoples are OF
the same blood and the same faith, and
speak the same language, they never seem
to be happy unless they are fighting or
| quarrelng. They are born politicians, and
| all want to be president of their respective
| countries. I would be sorry TO see America
| compelled to put her foot into the dispute
| in support of Venezuela, for II would be q
| thankless task