Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16
wARsHIPs OFF MARGARITA.
British and German Vessels Sighted
News at Caracas.

CARACAS, December 16.-The governor
of Margarita Island reports that BRUSH
and German warships are off that Island.
Minister Bowen yesterday politely refused
to have a monster patriotic parade pass
before the United States legation.
Every one here hopes that the arbitration
proposed by Venezuela through Mr.. Bowen
and Washington Will be granted
When the combined fleets seized the Ven
ezuelan ships at La Guaira the German
commander delivered to the Venezuelan
captains the following document:
''By order of my sovereign ana at the
command of the commodore Of the German
squadron in West Indian waters, L, the
German commander of the Panther, request
YOU to lower your ships nag lmmeulale!y
and leave your ship, with your crew, WITHIN
ten minutes. This Is not a measure of war
on Iue part of Germany, but only with the
object of making a provisional seizure OF
your ship in order to oblige the venezuelan
government to recognize our just demands
In case you disobey and wish to defend
your ship 1 shall be obliged to prevent you
from so doing by the discharge of arms;
"ECKERMAN, Commander.
December TO-"
Further details of the sinking Of the
Venezuelan ships have been obtained from
an entry made In the book of the signal
men of the fortress OF La Guaira. II Is as
'sTuesday, December o. 1:30 Night.
"The adjutant called me to see If knew
that the steamer Retribution OF the English
navy was towing the steamers Crespo and
Totumo of the national navy three or four
miles north had heard four cannon shots
and said the two steamers had disappeared
and understood they had been sunk by the
Vlneta and Retribntion. At the end or an
hour the Retribution returned to the harbor
alone. -
(signeO SIGNAL COMMANDER OF THE
FORTRESS"
The fact that the Retribution returned to
La Guaira alone two hours after leaving
with the captured vessels was confirmed by
English residents of La Guaira. Conse-
ouentiy she did not have time to conduct
the Venezuelan ships to Curacas or Trlni-
dad.
No Ultimatum From Italy.
The Italian minister, Rivas. only handed
TO the Venezuelan government certain de-
rnands which were not in the form Of an ulti-
rnatum and which did not specify any limit
of time for an answer. His note simply
asked for payment of sums due to Italy, and
in case of payment being made to other
countries 1t asked for the same treatment
The government answered today in the
negative to the note of Minister Rivas, say
ing that tribunals exist IN Venezuela to
judge any claims arising from the revolu-
tons
The Associated Press correspondent is In
formed that the Italian minister has cabled
TO Rome for further instructions.
The correspondent called today at the
italian legation and saw Minister Rivas and
his wife and two daughters with regard to
the report that they had embarked on the
Giovanni Bausan. They laughed and said 1:
1--WE have never left the city OF Caracas.
and much less embarked on the Italian
cruiser at La Guaira.
There Is no apparent feeling among the
people here against Italians, because as ye.
no italian naval demonstration has taken
place.