The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-15

except 10 make some representations TO
the German and English governments
in the matter OF the Peaceful blockade
now being enforced by those govern
ments in Venezuelan waters. Sec.e-
tary Hay took the dispatches from
Minister Bowen over to The White
house during the day and discussed the
situation in Venezuela Tor some time
with the president. but he had nothing
10 make public on he subject.
In the matter of The blockade the sec
retary has instructed Lilc United States
ambassadors at Berlin and London to
represent to those governments that
the United States mast not be under
stood as giving its consent 10 any eX-
tension OF the information right If
peaceful blockade 1t is not known
that this instruction was called forth
by any incident making such represen-
tation necessary. 1t was made simply
as a cautionary measure and gives the
attitude of this government should any
development arise making its position
matter of Importance.
1t was confidently hoped that before
this time some answer would have been
received from the German and British
governments to President Castro's re-
quest that the claims of those govern
ments be submitted to arbitration. This
request was transmitted from Caracas
by Minister Bowen during the latter
days Of last week, and in turn was
handed to the embassies of Germany
and Great Britain at this capital. Sec
rotary Hay up to this time has not re-
ceived any reply.
The visit Of President Castro to the
bedside of the invalid wife of the Ger
man diplomatic representative at Ca
racas created a good impression here,
as it did at that place, whereas the ne
cessity for the b0mbardment at Puerto
Cabello made an equally unfayorable
one. 1t is regretted that the command
ers of the German and British vessels
should have found It necessary to resort
to such a severe step as bombardment
foF any act for which satisfaction might
have been obtained in a more peaceful
manner. The greatest fear is that such
acts will result in infaming the minds
| of the Venezuelans, who naturally are
of an impetuous nature, and that retail
iation may follow by assaults on for
eign residents in Venezuela and that
these may lead to far more serious con-
sequences and the shedding Of blood
Nothing has been heard here in Off
cial circles of the report that the Ital-
ian government has presented to Vcne-
zuela an ultimatun
The presence of the United States
gunboat Marietta at La Guayra accord
ing to official explanation here. is with
out any special significance, the vessel
having gone to that place simply in ac-
cordance with the itinerary heretofore
arranged for her. Secretary Moody said
tonight that it had not been decided
to send any vessels Of war to Veenzue-
Ian waters.
The entrance to the inside harbor at
Puerto Cabello Is through a narrow
channel not more than a few hundred
feet wide To the left of this channel
as one enters the harbor, situated on
low sand-spit, is the fortress which was
bombarded by the German and British
cruisers. 1t is an old-fashioned struc-
ture. which was rebuilt in the eight
zenith century. Its sides are compare
lively low and woul doffer but poor re-
sistance to modern shells. 1t Is not
probable that the Venezuelan govern
ment had any modern cannon there.
The custom house, at Puerto Cabello
is situated on the right or mainland
side of the channel. 1t is long, two
story brick building and contains, be-
sides executive offices, large ware
houses Steamers discharging at Puer-
to Cabello tie up Immediately in front
of the custom house. The town Itself
is fiat and stretches from the water
front inland to the base of the hills, a
distance of two or three miles.
The outside harbor at Puerto Cabello
is hardly more than large bay, offer
ing comparatively little protection to
shipping. The inside harbor is very
secure and quite commodious.
Puerto Cabello Is second in import
ance to La Guafra. The trade of sew
eral interior provinces centers here. 1t
is the port of Valencia. an important
town in the state of Carabobo. A rail-
road, in which English capital is large
ly interested, connects Puerto Cabello
and Valencia.