The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-16
Evidence That the British Sank
Venezuelan Gunb0ats.
The RetributiOn Sailed Away
With Them in Tow.
SHE RETURNED ALONE.
Minister Bowen Refuses to Allow
Patriotic Parade.
Text of the Demand For Sur
render of Venezuelan Ships.

Caracas, Venezuela. Dec. 16.-The gov
ernor of Margarita island reports that
British and German warshiDs are off
that island.
Minister Bowen yesterday politely re-
fused to have a monster patriotic parade
pass before the United States legation
Every one here hopes that the arbitra-
ton proposed by Venezuela through Mr.
Bowen and Washington will be granted.
When the combined fleets seized the
Venezuelan ships at La Guayra the Ger
man commander delivered to the Vene-
zuelan captains the following docu-
ment:
BY order of my sovereign, and at the
command of the commodore of the Ger
man squadron in West Indian waters, I,
the commander of the Panther request
you to lower your ships flag immediate
ly and leave your ship with your crew
within ten minutes. This is not a meas
ure of war on the part of Germany but
only with the object of making a pro-
visional 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
AlDil 50 QOlIS ny lilG uiSClldA VI al HIS
December /.
"ECKERMAN. Commander"
Further details of the sinking of the
Venezuelan ships have been obtained
from an entry made in the book of the
signalmen of the fortress of La Guayra.
1t is as follows:
Tuesday, Dec 9, 1:3o, Nght.-The ad-
jutant called me to see if I knew that
he ,= +I,a ieI,
navy. was towing the steamers Crespo
and Totuno, of the national navy. three
or four miles north 1 had heard four
cannon shots and said the two steamers
had disappeared and understand they
mad been sunk by the Vineta and Re-
tribution At the end of an hour the
Retribution returned the harbor alone.
SIGNAL COM. OF THE FORTS
The fact that the Retribution return
ed to La Guayra alone two hours after
leaving with the captured vessels was
confirmed by English residents of La
Guayra. Consequently she did not have
time to conduct the Venezuelan ships TO
Curacao or Trinidad.
ITALY TO JOIN IN.
London, Dec. 16.-News has been re-
. ceived in London that all the employees
Of the La Guayra. Caracas and the
Puerto Cabello-Valencia railroads are
safe. Telegrams received here from
Berlin confirm the statement that it has
been arranged for Italy to join the
blockade. and say that the German gov
ernment will ask the consent of the
bundesrath to a proposal making the
Venezuelan blockade more stringent
NO TINE LIMIT.
Caracas. Dec. 16.-The Italian min
lister. Riveras, only handed to the Ven
ezuelan government certain demands.
which were not in the form of an ulti-
matum and which cid 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 it asked for the
same trea tment.
The government answered today in the
negative to the note of Minister Riveras.
saying that tribunals exist in Venezuela
to judge any claims arising from the
revolutions.
The Associated Press correspondent is
informed that the Italian minister has
cabled to Rome for further instructions
The correspondent called today at the
legation and saw Minister Riveras and
his Wife and two daughters, with regard
to the report that they had embarked on
Inc Glovanna Buasan. They laughed
and said:
we have never left the city of Ca
racas. and much less embarked on the
Italian cruiser at La Guayra"
There is no excitement among the peo
pie here against Italians, because as vet
no Italian naval demonstration has
taken place.
DECREE OF BLOCKADE.
New York, Dec 16.-FrOm an anpar.
emily reliable source. says the Port Of
Spain correspondent of the Herald it is
reported here that decree ordering the.
blockade Of Venezuelan ports will be is.
sued today. The British torpedo de-
strOyer Quail is reported to be patrolint.
the Orinoco river.
Italian participation in the Anglo
German action against Venezuela pro.
duces an effect not anti-American but
one of self-satisfacti0n and pride at the
taking part in the first break in the.
Monroe doctrine says the Tribune's
Rome correspondent. Parliament and
the public press, without distinction OF
approve the action Of the minister of for
eign affairs.
PANIC AT LA GUAYRA.
La Guayra. Venezuela. Dec. 16.-Tha
arrival of the British cruiser Charybdis
and TORPEDO boat destroyer Quail yes
terday caused bad scare among the
population of this place. The command
er of the fortress. visited the American.
French, Spanish and Dutch consuls and
asked them in case the British landed
marines to intervene to prevent firing IN
the fort and to delay any movement on
the fort as he had received orders from
the government to evacuate the nlace
The commander added that if TIE con-
suls refused to intervene and the fort
was attacked he would defend his post
and could not answer for the conse-
quences to the town which is without
any defense now with the execution of
few armed policemen. At O'Clock.