The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-15
SHOT AND SHELL BURST
IN CABELLo FORTRESS

CONTINUED from Page L.
and German ministers, the arrest of
all 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
bombardment would follow at once.
Aside from the dispatches from Min
lister Bowen, there were no important
developments in the Venezuelan sit
uation so far as the state department
is concerned. The officials are watch
ing events with keen interest so as to
be ready to act promptly should such
a step become necessary, but nothing
was done today except to make some
representations to the German and
English governments in the matter of
a peaceful blockade now being en-
forced by those governments in Vene-
Zuelan waters. Secretary Hay took the
dispatches from Mr.. Bowen over to the
White House during the day and dis
cussed the situation in Venezuela for
some time with the president, but he
had nothing to make public on the
subject.
Precautionary Measure.
In the matter of the blockade, the
secretary has instructed our ambaSSa-
doris at Berlin and London to represent
TO those governments ludt the O1llC0
States must not be understood as Civ
ing its consent to any extension of the
international right of peaceful block
ade. It is not known that this instruc-
ton was called forth by an incident
making such representation necessary.
1t was made simply as a precautionary
measure and gives the attitude of this
government should any development
arise making its position matter OF
Importance.
1t was confidently hoped that before
this time some answer would have been
received from the German and British
governments to President Castro'S re-
quest that the claims of those govern
ments be submitted to arbitra ton. This
request was transmitted from Caracas
by Minister Bowen during the latter
days of last week. and in turn was
handed to the embassies of Germany
and Great Britain at this capital. Sec
rotary Hay. up to this time, has not
received any reply.
The visit of President Castro to the
bedside of the invalid wife of the Ger
man diplomatic representative at Car
acas created good impression here,
as it did at that place, whereas the
necessity for bombardment of Puerto
CabellO made an equally unfavOrable
one. It is regretted that the COM
manders Of the German and British
vessels should have found it necessary
to resort to such a severe step as bonn
bardment of the city for an act for
which satisfaction might have been OBJ
tanned in a more peaceful manner.
Grave Danger.
The greatest fear is that such acts
viii result in inflaming the minds OF
the Venezuelans, who naturally are of
an impetuOus nature, and that retaiia-
ton may follow of assaults on foreign
residents 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
cial circles of the report that the Ital-
ian government has presented 10 Vene-
zuela an ultimatum for the payment OF
the claims of that country. thus taking
similar action to that already insti-
tUted by Germany and Great Britain
The presence of the United States
gunboat Marietta at La Guayra, ac-
cording TO official explanation here. is
without special significance. the YES
sci having gone there presumably IL
accordance with the itinerary hereto
fore arranged for her. Nothing came
10 the navy department today from hei
commander. Secretary Moody said to-
night that If had not been decided &c
send any vessels Of war to Venezuelan
waters.