Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-05
GREAT BATTLE COMING
I'M VENEZUELA.
Both Sides Have Troubles, But the
Government Appears to BE in
the Stronger Position.

Correspondence Of the Associated sPress0
CARACAS. VENEZUELA, August 27.-.
During the past fortnight the Venezue-1
Ian revolution hasalost time and ground.
The instruction was short time ago
in undisputed possession Of Carupano,s
Cur1ana. Barcelona and Guria, that is
to say all the eastern coast of Venezuela,
but owing to the ability and skill of
General velutini, Corsican of extraor-
dirary intelligence, a large commercial
port has been wrested from them.
General Castro is atSSan Casirniro, his
vanguard being at Camatagua. He is
awaiting reinforcement in order to at
tack the revoluuonists. who are at pres
ent al Alta Gracia de Orituco. His army.
which is estimated at 5000 men, is well
armed and disciplined.
The revolutionary troops are much scat
tered. It is impossible to diagnose the
present condition Of the Instruction. It
seems to suffer from general indisposi-
ton impossible to analyze. but it is clear
that although very powerful on the list
of July. it has since developed both moral
and physical weakness.
General Matos, the revolutionary leader,
has during the past two months been IN
active at Zearaza, surveying the arrival
of his five million cartridges which reach
him slowly. To those unacquainted with
Venezuela, it may seem strange, or in
creditable that it takes so long to mo-
billie an army, but it is both natural ana
inevitable. Roads do not exist rains fall
in torrents and the mules, which are
the only means of transport. sink daily
up to their shoulders in the mud, and as
each mule carries only 1000 cartridges, it
is necessary to employ 200 mules to trans
port the five million cartridges to the
revolutionists. To find this number of
mules in country ruined by four years
Of revolution is not only very difficult,
but almost impossible The revolutionists
have, moreover, been obliged to construct
bridges and that without adequate tools
or engineers.
The revolutionists were dangerous be-
fore the government went out to attack
them, but now their ability to attack the
government has become problematical.
1t is no longer a local war which they
will be constrained to carry on. but an
invasion. This does not mean that the
revolution will lose, nor is this even sug-
gested; but General Castro is now in a
position to defend himself. He will never
theless have much to do to emerge from
the struggle victorious, because the revo-
lutionistS. in addition to Mateos army
have about 900 men at Alta Gracia under
the orders Of Domingo Monagas, Ro-
lando and Penaloza.
Generals Luciano Mendoza Riora and
Solagni are near Barquistimeto and Qua
ca. The environs of Valencia are over
run with revolutionists; Los Teques is
also in their power and 1,40O are lodged
in the mountains between Caracas and
LaGuaira. Nevertheless, the government
lives, commands, makes itself obeyed and
is feared, which proves that it is not yet
crushed.
A great battlelis expected to take place
Within four or five weeks. either at Alta
Gracia de. Orituco. if Matos can bring
over his ammunition and advance his
army. or between Areguta and Ianta
Lucia. valley by which the revolution
lists will probably attempt to pass in or
der to reach Caracas.
From financial point of view. President
Castro has regained his lost prestige
through the arrival Of the million Boil
vars (coins worth about 20 cents in sill
yer, brought to him by the steamer Phila-
delphia. 1zs5g % TO-