Evening star., 1902-08-15
NOT YET IN CONTROL
INSURGENTS HAVE NOT TAKEN
PORTO CABELLo
The Situation Practically What It Has
Been-Instructions to Com
mander Nickels.

| A message was received at the Navy De
partment today announcing the arrival of
| the gunboat Marietta at La Guaira from
| Port of Spain, where she went after her
cruise to the Orinoco.-
The announcement made at the Navy
Department late yesterday afternoon to
| the effect that the reyolutionsts In Ven
ezuela had obtained control OF Porto Ca
bello, Venezuela, is subject to possible
change. AS originally ieciphered 1t an
| nounced that there@w no immediate dan
ger of bombardment, and from this 1t was
assumed that the revolutionists had OBJ
tanned possession of the town and that
there was no immediate prospect of an at
tempt to retake the place by the govern
ment forces. 4 .-.-
After studying the dispatch more closely
today in the light of previous reports sew
eral Navy Department officials have come
to the conclusion that the situation is prac-
tically as it has been, the Castro forces be-
ing in control of the city, and the revolu-
postponing their attack. That was the
status of affairs when Minister Bowen
cabled Monday that in view of the threat
ened attack by the besiegers the Germans
proposed to land a naval force at Porto
Cabello and advising that we take similar
action.
Instructions to Nickels.
mander Nickels, who was at La Guaira
with the Topeka. was instructed to pro-
ceed at once to Porto Cabello and be ready
in case of attack to land jackies at the
port for the protection of American inter
ests and of foreign property if requested.
He was also directed to prevent lombard
ment without due notice. The lombard
ment referred to by him in the dispatch of
yesterday therefore may have referred to
the bOmb1rimpDt hV the reVOlllt iOniStS
which was feared on Monday.
Porto Cabelo is a town of about 10000
people. situated on spacious. deep and
safe harbor. by means of which. If neces-
sary, troops and supplies may be landed
or dispatched to other places in the coun
try. 1t Is but a short sail from La Guaira,
which is not far from the Venezuelan capt.
tai. crisis in affairs at Porto Cabello,
where the insurgents have been gathering
strength. has existed for some time. The
Topeka is looking after the interests of
Americans in that section of the country
and Commander Nickels was given full
authority to land a force If necessary. and
also to prevent bombardment without due
notice.
Report From Commander Rodgers.
The Navy Department is in receipt of the
following dispatch from Commander Rodg-
ers of the Marietta, dated Port of Spain,
August II:
"CThere are) three American citizens at
| Angustora, Venezuela. Life and property
safe when ship sailed. City controlled by
revolutionary military chief. Foreign sub
jects alarmed (over) situation. Three
American steamers, Orinoco Company,
forcibly detained at San Felix for govern
ment use
The place called Angustora mentioned in
Commander Rodgers dispatch from Port
of Spain as in the hands of the revolu-
tionists is about go miles up the Orinoco
river, and the more modern name for it is
| Ciudad Bolivar. General Matos, who is
practically at the head of the revolution
ago. and left one of his ieutenants in
charge.
Castro Hemmed In.
According to information now in possess
| sion of the officials here. Castro is being
| hemmed in from three sides at Caracas.
| General Matos advanced from Bolivar to
| the northwest to a place called Orituco,
| about sixty miles south Of Caracas. Ten
days ago Castro was reported as having
| left the capital with force to meet the
| revolutionary general, but subsequently he
| changed his mind and returned. More re-
| cent advices indicated that a battle was
| imminent on the plains Immediately south
| of Caracas.
| Early this week the revoutionists took
| Barcelona, to the eastward Of Caracas,
| and now, according to this last dispatch
| from Commander Nickels, they have OBJ
| tanned control of Porto Cabello to the west
| ward. The fact that the government had
| seized three of the steamers Of the OrinOco
| company at San Felix is not cause Of
| concern here. as it is understood that these
| ships fly the Venezuelan flag, and the right
| to impress ships for government use is we'll
| settled. No further steps have been taken
! toward sending additional ships to yene-
| zuela, and no fresh instructions have been
| sent to the commanders Of the American
| warships there, as the reports received
| from them are considered satisfactory.