The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-13
President of Venezuela Replies
to German UltImatum.
Allied Powers Realize There
May Be Serious TrOnble.
BETWEEN TWO FIRES.
Must Watch United States and
the Republic of France.
Other South American States
Are Showing an Interest.
BETWEEN TWO FIRES.
LA GUAYRA ABANDONED
Government Will Make 1t,
Stand at the Capital.

LoCLllus 1GC 10 AGSlQCill NSeASAAO .
ply to the German ultimatum is re-
fusal to yield on any point
The foreign office has not received the
text of President Castro's reply but only
a bulletin from the German charge daft
faires. Herr Won Pilgrim -Baltazzi, dated
December 10. announcing the presidents
answer had been placed in his hands
that day and that the Venezuelan exec
utive refused to yield to the German
demands on all points This telegram,
with the text of the reply was filed at
Port of Spain. island of Trinidad. With
this exception the foreign office has re-
ceived no news since yesterday to indi-
cate that the situation has grown
worse. A landing in force is not con-
sidered probable under any contingency.
The orders to blockade the coast stand
and that is all the naval commanders
for the present are to do.
Any proposition that Minister Bowen
might make in behalf of President Cas-
tro would be received in good spirit
and carefully considered out OF regard
for the channel OF its transmission. but
no proposition to arbitrate has vet
reached Berlin.
Neither is the foreign Office aware
that the United States has made so far
any suggestion to arbitrate
Herr Won Pilgrim -Baltazzi is still on
board a British vessel in the harbor of
La Guayra.
MORE WAR SHIPS ARRIVE.
La Guayra, Venezuela, Dec. 12.-The
British cruiser Charybdis, flying Com
modore Montgomery's flag; the German
crJ ser Vineta and the German train
ship Stosch arrived here this morning
and have taken position commanding
the town and fortresses. Several mer-
chant men, the Dutch steamer Prinz
William ". a British steamer of the
Harrison line and a royal mail steamer
arrived off the port today, but were pre-
vented from entering the harbor by the
captain of the British cruiser Indefati-
gable, who said he would not be re-
spOnsible for what might happen if the
vessels were allowed to enter. The
steamers applied for lighters to enable
them to discharge their cargoes but
their request was refused by the Gus
toms house authorities, who declared
the vessels might enter the port as
remaining outside
All ammunition IS being removed from
the fortresses and barracks here and
taken to Caracas and it is apparently
abandon the town.
MANNED BY BRITISH SAILORS.
Porte of Spain. Dec. 13-The CAPTURED
Venezuelan gunboats are now manned
by British sailors and are doing British
work. There is one British cruiser at
this port. The other men of war con-
tinue to blockade the Venezuelan coast.
The navigation Of the Orinoco has been
reOpened.
COMPARTMENT THREATENED.
London, Dec. 13.-A dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Willemstad Curacao
dated December IL. says that the for
eign residents of Puerto Cabello are TAX
ing refuge on board the German cruiser
Nlneta and the British cruiser Ariadne
and that these vessels are threatening
to lombard the port
TROUBLE WITH FRANCE.
Washington, Dec. 13.-If there is an
attempt to possess themselves of all the
customs rece1Dts on the part of Great
Britain and Germany. protest naturally
might be expected to follow from
France, which holds claims aggregat ting
more than the combined claims of Eng.
land and Germany, and Venezuela. ii is
understood, already has arranged fo1.
their payment ON an installment plan
out or Venezuelan customs receipts an
Arrangement that might be disturbed bv
the Bpltlsh and German proceeding 1t
IS evident here now that the allies have
Deen Obliged to proceed against Vene
zueia FAR beyond the point where thei,.
original programme ceased The eorre
spondence shows there was not the least
apprehension that Castro in his resist :
ance would make it necessary for Greas
Brltaln and Germany to go beyond a
peaceful blockade. and it is the UNDER
standing that London and Berlin au-
tnorltles are now obliged to prepare :.
new programme for execution in case
MI. boWen's efforts at arbitration fail