The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-12

| Paris. December 10-A Venezuelan
! government communication to the rep
| resentative here. protests that Great
Britain and Germany. acting in con-
| cert, have committed an act Of hostil-
| ity in manner as arbitrary as il In
| unprecedented by the seizure of vens-
zuelan vessels lying at LaGuaira The
communication says, that indignation n
Venezuela is at its highest pitch and
the government is resorting 10 tustt-
fable reprisals. 1t has arrested the
resident subjects of both hostile coun-
tries and has seized the railways and
other undertakings belonging to them.
At the same time, adds the commursica-
ton, President Castro has appealed 10
the Venezuelan people TO take up arms.
He has decreed general amnesty for
all political offenses and has ordered
the restitution of the confiscated prop
erty OF Venezuelan citizens
Venezuelan Warship. Taken.
Caracas. Venezuela. Tuesday, Decen-
cember l0.-The British cruiser Charyb-
combined German and British fleet
seized and towed out side the harbor
OF LaGuaria all the vessels which were
then there. These were the warshipg
General Crespo. Totumo, Ossun and
Margarta. The ships were manned by
$50 men.
The news of the capture OF the war
ships is not yet generally known in the
capital Great excitement undoubtedly
will prevail when IT is announced.
Bolivar Seized at Port of Spain
London. December iO.-The Admiralty
has received information OF the seizure
of the Venezuelan gunboat Bolivar at
Port Of Spain. Island OF Trinidad.
The seizure Of the gunboat was effect
ed on instructions previously issued by
the British admiralty.
Kingstown, Island Of st. Vincent, De-
cember 01.-The British cruiser Charyb-
dis. was the vessel which seized the
Venezuelan gunboat Bolivar I'm the
harbor OF Port Of Spain. Trinidad. last
| night. British warships have left
Trinidad 10 open the Orinoco river to
free navigation and trade II is re
| ported here that the British and Ger
man warships Will blockade the entire
Venezuelan coast from the Orinoco To
| the frontier of Colombia
No OmcfaI Informatfen
London. December TO- p. m-In re-
| sponse to an inquiry made at the for
| eign office, representative OF the Asso-
| ciated Press was informed that up to
| o'clock this evening. no information
| OF an official character had been re-
| ceived from Venezuela. everything be-
| ing left to the commander OF the Brit
/ ish fleet, who had received explicit In
| structions as To what course to pursue
and regarding the aggressive measures
| TO be undertaken.
The foreign office explains that the
| last communication sent TO President
| Castro was not second uItimaturn.
| but notification that the commander
| had been instructed TO act to the
! effect that the second stage OF the re-
| prisais. which include other measures
| besides the seizure Of the customs.
would be commenced unless satisfAc-
| tory answer was received
| ne IJrelRn OIIlcE neaFn nothing from
| United States Minister Bowen. who has
charge Of British and German inter
| ests at Caracas. regarding the impris-
| onment of British subjects. IL stnl
| thinks. however. that the British a:
| Caracas will probably be safer in p-is-
| on than outside
F! The reports Of friction between Ger
many and Great Britain ere denied. The
| foreign office says that TO all intents
and purposes the two powers are TAX
| ing joint action. though in certain
| eventualities each country is free 10 act
| independently.
Cablegran from Minister Bowen.
| Washington. December l0.-Rat one
| cablegram has been received today by
the state department from Minister
| Bowen. At Caracas. That relates 10 the
seizure OF British and German vessels
OF the Venezuelan navy at LaGuaira-
II