Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-10
SEIZE 5 WARSH|PS
England and Germany
Attack Venezuela.
ACTION YESTERDAY
Crews of the Vessels Were
Also Taken.
ULTIMATUM MONDAY
GUNBoAT BOLIVAR SEIZED AT
PORT OF SPAIN.
Rumor That 200 British and German
Subjects Have Been Arrested
by Venezuela
GUNBOAT BOLIVAR SEIZED AT
PORT OF SPAIN.

CARACAS. Venezuela, Tuesday, Decem-
ber 9.--At 4 clock this afternoon the COM
bined German and British fleet seized and
towed outside the harbor of La Guaira all
the vessels which were then there. These
were the warshps Gen Crespo. Totumo,
Ossun and Margarita. The ships were man
ned by 800 men.
The news of the capture of the warships
is not yet generally known in the capital.
Great excitement undoubtedly will prevail
when 1t Is announced.
1t is said on good authority that the cap
tain of the British cruiser Retribution to-
day sent a special courier from La Guaira
to Caracas with an ultimatum for compli-
ance with the note deposited Monday by
the British and German ministers at the
home of the foreign minister before their
departure from Caracas. 1t is said the uiti-
matum gives maximum of forty-eight
hours in which Venezuela is to accede. The
note. 1t is said, requests the immediate
cash payment of s34 600 each to Great Brit
ain and Germany and for the settlement of
claims arising from past revolutions by a
mixed tribunal, the same as the last agree
ment made with France. 1t IS also said
that the British minister at the last mo-
ment failed to present claims, except for
$4,000, but his demand is not duly support
ed by legal documents and facts and is
considered absurd.
1t is understood that United States Minis
ter Bowen has assumed charge of British
and German interests.
Seizure of the Bolivar, Too.
LONDON, December 10-The admiralty
has received information of the seizure OF
the Venezuelan gunboat Bolivar at Port of
Spain. Island of Trinidad.
In the commons today Under Foreign Sec
retary Cranborne said the government had
no official Information Of the seizure by
the Venezuelans of 800 British and German
subjects.
Lord Cranborne added that the British
claims which necesstated. coercion would
be fully disclosed by papers to be laid be-
fore the house. They included demand
for compensation for interference with
trading vessels, the imprisonment and III
treatment of British subjects and the de-
struction of their property. The under
secretary asserted that the government
would follow precedent In the enforcement
Of analogous claims.
Replying to Mr.. Bryce, liberal. Lord
Cranborne said the British minister at
Caracas had been instructed to wait
twenty-four hours after the presentation of
the ultimatum and. failing reply, to pro-
ceed to La Guaira. where he to wait
another twenty-four hours on board a Brit
ish ship That period expired last night
Unless In the meantime a concession had
been received 1t was necessary for his
majesty's government to take forcible ac-
tion.
The attitude of the foreign office here is
one Of relief. the arrest Of the British sub
tects. 1t is held. indicating provision against
ill-treatment and consequent further COM
plications.
No News at Berlin.
BERLIN. December 1O-The foreign Of
fee here, up to noon. mad not received any
thing from La Guaira since Monday even
ing. when Charge d'Affaires Won Pilgrim
Baltazzi cabled that he had gone on board
the Vineta The officials here have no con-
firmation Of the announced arrest OF all the
German and British subjects at Caracas
and are therefore disposed to iiseredit the
statement. They say that possibly few
Germans and Englshmen have been ar
rested under some pretext by President Cas-
tro, but the foreign office authorities con-
slider it extremely doubtful that he would
permit the arrest OF all the Germans and
Britons at Caracas
French Minister Ordered to Caracas.
PARIS, December I0.-Owing to the
gravity OF the situation in Venezuela, the
foreign office has directed NJ Wiener, the
newly appointed French minister to Vene-
zuela, to start Immediately for Caracas
without waiting for the arrival here OF
the Venezuelan minister General Velutini
as at first intended The foreign Office also
has selected Count de Peretti de Rocca as
the French representative In the arbitra-
tion with Venezuela, and has ordered him
to proceed to Caracas Immediately with NJ
Wiener. The arbitration covers the losses
sustained by French citizens whose
houses were burned and whose plantations
were destroyed during the revolution. The
sessions OF the arbitrators viii be held at
Caracas. The French officials will prob
ably depart within two days. On their ar
rival at Caracas there will be a formal
resumption OF diplomatic relations between
the two countries. -.
Naxvc 20