Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-12-15
Stars and Stripes Wave Over the
British Legation.
THE SITUATION is CRITICAL
a, caracas Germans Seek Refuge al
american legation Bitter Charges
Against Ministers.


w Russell secretary OF the American
legation.
The statement that Italy. through
he, legation here. is 10 demand pay
n,ent of her claims against Venezuela
has been confirmed.
the arrival of the United states gun
hoat Marietta at La Guayra yesterday
ems due TO rumor that United States
Nr,niater Bowen was In danger. There
has been no ground for such q rumor,
and the presence Of the Marietta was
not requested by Minister Bowen.
The situation In Caracas continues
N be critical and there Is intense ex-
cItement among the German residents
nj the city. Today the Germans sought
refuge at the American legation, where
,bey were sheltered. Mr.. Bowen has
gnt,en In quantities of all kinds OF
provisions, to be used for any ener-
gency.
ders continues. Two thousand men
from Caracas and Valencia came into
this city today.
The British and German colleges
here, which were boycotted, have
closed their doors. The University of
Caracas also Is closed. Priests are
preaching for war.
II is reported that 30 Germans Nv
ing In the country have offered to sup
port the Venezuelan government
against Germany. Leading German
and British residents of Caracas are
very bitter against their respective
ministers, whom they accuse OF leaving
Caracas without giving any iDtimation
OF their intention to abandon the city.
The note from the commanders OF the
allied fleet which was sent to the Vene-
2uelan government through Minister
Bowen, concerning Venezuelan vessels
Leaving La Guayra, Is supposed to her
aid the blockade.
The government at Caracas Is sur
prIscd that the government at WASH
ington remains silent in spite Of the re-
cent action of the allied feet.
The fact that the people OF Venezuela
are In absolute ignorance of the de-
signs OF the allies upon their country
creates a deep and disturbing impress
sion here. The CHIEF officer Of Presi-
dent Castros guard said today to the
representative of the Associated Press
''If there Is to be war, let us know
ant we will fight. If there Is TO be
only an assault on our coast, where We
cannot zach the allies, the only thing
left for us TO do Is to declare that TO
destroy your debtors furniture Is a
strange way to force the payment OF
his obligations. / believe this situation
win soon come within the scope Of the
Monroe doctrine"
FROM MINISTER BOWEN.
Washington, Dec II. = Minister
Bowen. In dispatch received by the
state department this afternoon, says
that he has been informed by President
Castro that British and German war;
ships were bombarding Puerto Cablleo.
In an earlier dispatch received by
the state department ut 1922 o'clock
Sunday morning. Minister Bowen said
that the situation at the Venezuelan
capital. Caracas. was much duieter
The great excitement noted Mt the out
set OF the affair. he said. was caused
by the preciptate flight OF the British
and German ministers, the arrests OF
ali the subjects Of those two nations
and the seizure of the Venezuelan gun
boat without first declaring a block
ade. thus causing the people TO fear
tombardment would follow at once.
Aside from the dispatches from Min
ister Bowen. there were no important
developments in the Venezuelan sit
uatlon so far as the state department
Is concerned. The officials are watch
ing events with keen interest so as 10
be ready to act promptly should such
step become necessary. but nothing
was done today except TO make some
representations TO the German AMI
English governments in the matter o.
a peaceful blockage now being en-
forced by those governments In Vepe-
zuelan waters. Secy. Hay took the dis
patches from Mr.. Bowen over to the
cussed the situation In Venezuell for
had nothing to make public on the
subject.
In the matter of the blockade. the
secretary has instructed our ambassa-
doris at Berlin and London 70 represent
70 those governments that the United
States must not be understood rs Civ
10 tour'Ht W ally tNtfnSNlti w VIC
International right OF peaceful block
ate. II Is not known that this instruc-
lion was called forth Dy an Incident
making such representatl1 necessary.
u was made simply as a precautionary 4
measure and gives the attitude Of this
government should aN development
arise making Its position matter Of
Importance.
i was confidentially hoped that before
ms time some answer would have
neen received from the German and
British governments TO President Cas-
nos request that the claims OF those
governments be submitted to arbltra-
! 'on. This request was transmitted
rom Caracas by Minister Bowen dur
lng the latter days Of last week. and In
urn was handed 10 the embassies OF
Vermany and Great Britain at this
capilal Secy. Hay. uD to this time. has
not received any reply r
The visit OF President Castro TO the
bedside OF the invalid wife Of The Ger-
man diplomatic representative AT Car
acas created a good impression here.
as II did at that place, whereas the
necessity for bombardment OF Puerto
Cabello made an equally unfavorable
one II Is regretted that the COM
Of the German and British
vessels should have found II necessary
20 resort TO such severe step as bonn
parchment OF the city for an net for
which satisfaction might have been OBJ
'a.ned In n more peaceful manner.
The greatest fear Us that such acts
VII result In infiamlny the minds Of
we Venezuelans. who naturally are OF
an imretuous nature. and that retalia-
Ton may follow OF assaults on foreign
rsldents IN Venezuela. and that these
may lead To far more serious conse-
Quences and the shedding OF blood.
Nothing has been heard here In off,
clal circles OF the report that the Ital-
len government has presented 10 Vene-
,avela an ultima,um for the payment OF
'ne claims Of that country. thus taking
'lmilar action 10 that already instl-
'uIed by German. and Great Britain.
Inc presence Of the United States
Funboat Marietta at La Guavra. ac-
,orilnr to official explanation here. II
Vlthcut special Significance, the ves-
~ having gone there presumably In |
'ceorfance with the Itinerary hereto !
'ore arranged for her. Nothing came
% the navy DEPARTMENT TODAY from her
'emmanasr sscy. Moody said tonight |