Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-12-13
Shakespeare STRAITS!
Venezuelan Fleet Seized and Port Of
: La Guaira Blockaded by German
and British Warships.
CASTRO ARRESTS GERMANS AND BRlToNs
Minister Bowen, Who LIS Looking Aft
er British and German Interests,
Secures Their Release After I'm
pleasant Conflict with President
CA4trO.

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE state de-
partment has been advised that a
peaceful blockade" exists in La Guira,
which is the port Of Caracas, the cap
ital of Venezuela. The difference be-
tween this state and state of war
is not very strongly marked, except in
the opportunity afforded by the peace
full blockade to effect settlement
without recourse to actual bloodshed.
The situation is here regarded as crit
ical
Minister Bowen, at Caracas, has &C.
cepted the trust placed upon him. to
look after teh interests of the British
and German citizens in Venezuela and
this has brought him into conflict with
President Castro. He has Informed
the state department that number of
these citizens were arrested Tuesday in
Caracas. Mr.. Bowen at once addressed
himself to President Castro to secure
their release. He represented that he
had been charged with the care of the
British and German subjects in Vene
zuela, but President Castro was unwill-
ing at first to recognize his authirity.
Finally the minist er convinced him that
he was acting within his rights and
President Castro consented with re-
luctance to release the principal pris-
oners.
Bowen Willing to Be, Peace-Maker.
Mr.. Bowen will insist upon the re-
! lease of the remainder. Nothing in his
reports to the state department indi-
foreigners except that they were Ger
mans or British. Mr.. Bowen wishes to
play the part of peacemaker between
the principals in this dispute and the
state department.. after considering
his statements, has decided thai he may
do this only upon application from
Venezuela for his good. offices, and if
thesame shall be acceptable to the Brit
ish and German representatives. This
attitude is said to be consistent with
that assumed by the United States gov
eminent in many preceding interna-
tional troubles in which her good Of
fees have been invoked.
| Seizure of Venezuelan Fleet. ;
| Caracas, Venezuela, Dec. .11.-At four
| o'clock Tuesday 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 warships Gen.
eral Crespo, Totumo, Ossum and Mar
garita. The ships were manned by 800
| Tho IF no o.
warships is not yet generally known
in the capital. Great excitement will
undoubtedly prevail when it is an
nounced.
Venezuelan Gun1,oat Seized.
London, Dec. 1.-THE admiralty has
received information of the seizure Of
the Venezuelan gunboat Bolivar at
Port of Spain. Island of Trinidad.
Given FHrty-EiEht Hours to Yield.
Caracas, Dec! lit is said on good
authority that the captain of the Brit
ish cruiser Retribution Tuesday after
noon sent special courier from La
Guaira to Caracas with an ultimatum
for compliance with the note deposited
Monday by the British and German
ministers at the home of the foreign
minister before their departure from
Caracas. It is said the ultimatum
gives a maximum of 4S hours in which
Venezuela is to accede. The note, it
is said, requests the immediate cash
payment of $4,000 each to Great Brit
ain and Germany and for the settle
ment' of claims arising from past revo-
buttons by mixed tribunal, the same
as the last agreement made with
France.
It is also said that the British min
lister at the last moment failed to
present claims, except for $4,000, but
his claim is not duly supported by
legal documents and facts and is con-
sidered absurd.
It is understood here that United
States Minister. Bowen has assumed
charge of British and German inter-
ests. 49,
Hurrfes Minister to Venezuela.
Paris, Dec. FLOWING to the gravity
Of the situation in Venezuela the for
eign office has directed M. Wiener, the
newly appointed French minister to
Venezuela, to start Immediately for
Caracas without waiting for the ar
I rival here Of the Venezuelan minister,
Il Cen .Velntini, as at first intended. The
I foreign office also has selected Count
de Peretti de Rocea as the French rep
\ resentative in the arbitration with
| Venezuela and has ordered him to pro-
coed to Caracas Immediately with NJ.
/ Wiener. The arbitration covers the
4 losses sustained by French citizens
J, whose houses were burned and whose
plantations were destroyed during the
revolution. The sessions of the arbi-
traitors will be held at Caracas. The
French officials will probably depart
q within two days. On their. arrival at
I; Caracas there will be a formal resump-