The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-24
MERELY ON THE DEFENSIVE.


Correspondence of the Associated Press.
WILLEMSTAD. Island of Curacao Jan.
12-"Raise the blockade is the cry of
Venezuela. While in the interior there is as
yet no suffering, at the ports of the re-
public the action of the powers has thrown
many persons out of employment Be
sides, SO long hostile men of war are
before the ports, there is danger of bonn
bardment with casualties in its train and
unconcealed fear that in spite of the Mon
roe doctrine attempt may be made to
carve up the republic.
1t is stated with emphasis by high
British authorities that the first and last
bombardment in which British vessels had
representation was that of Puerto Cabello
last month, and Commodore Montgomery,
commander of the blockade explained that
it was necessary because of the outrages
committed upon seamen belonging to the
British steamer Topaz.
All the German ships with the excep-
ton of the Panther, have just sailed from
Curacao where they received coal and
stores. They are cruising off the channe;
leading to Lake Maracaibo and off Puerto
Cabello, which they are closely blockading
and are seizing schoOners, some of which
are small that il seems hardly worth
while to dispatch steam launches to effect
their capture. The British and Italian men
of war are also Selling sailing craft which
Having intrusted her case to Minister
| Bowen. thus indicating that she is willing
| TO make an Immediate settlement, Vene-
zuela feels that the powers should remove
/ all apprehension of further bomha rdment
by lifting the blockade.
Approaching the weakness of the forti-
| hcations OF his country and fearing that
in case of action damage might be inflicted
! upon one of the bockading ships which
would increase the financial burden i'm
posed upon his government President Cas-
| instructions Ub oh
| offensive operations will be begun by his
artilerists. So fearful, in fact are the
AUTHORITIES at Laguyara that, for instance.
on New Years eve, the mayor of the port
| sent word to Capt. S. V. Y. De Horsey
| commanding the British cruiser Tribune,
participating in the blockade, that it was
| the custom In Venezuela to celebrate the
| advent of the new year; that bombs and
| rockets would be fired during the night
and he courteously requested that the ships
| take no notice of the celebration. Cap
| tain De Horsey replied in equally courteous
| terms that he would not and that night
within three hundred yards of the batteries
| the Tribune lay at anchor and witnessed
the New Years festival of the residents
| of Laguyara.
| If the Venezuelans really desired to carry
on war and were possessed of initiative
| they have had many opportunities to infiict
| serious injury on the allies. When the
| Giovanni Bausan an Italian cruiser was
| at Laguyara she anchored within fifty
| yards of the shore
How easy it would be-" observed a
British officer, for Venezuelan to swim
out at night with a mine place it under
the hull of the Bausan and explode it. You
! notice that Captain De Horsey is more care
full. At dusk he gets under way and steams
forward and back until dawn"
When on board the Bausan the cOrre-
spondent of the Associated Press asked
| Captain Orsini. her commander. if it were
not dangerous to remain anchored at night
before a hostile port
There is no danger" he asserted, ''the
Venezuelans will do nothing; besides we
oil oil nc
Where the Carlos Alberto, which succeed
ed the Bausan. and the Tribune lie they
are within easy range of the guns of the
| fort and the battery of Laguyara, which
| comprise the defenses of the place.
| All persons travelling from or TO Laguayra
| are TO a certain extent under surveillance
| n guard requires them to give their names
! when leaving Laguayra and again after de-
| parture from the station midway between
the port and Caracas. In this way char
acters dangerous to the peace and safety
of President Castro's government are ex-
cluded from Caracas. No indignities are
offered foreigners. even those whose ma
tionality is that of one of the governments
engaged in hostile operations against Ven
eZuela. To Americans the Venezuelans are
especially friendly.
At the governments request boycott of
goods imported from the enemy's countries
is maintained, with consequent advantage
TO American commerce.
Germans in Venezuela, discussing the ac-
ton OF their government, generally approve
of what IL is doing, and say the measures
enforced should be severe enough to con-
vince every Venezuelan that Germany pur-
poses to protect its interests. whatever the
cost. These men advocate foreign control
of the country. They do not want govern
ment by the United States alone but they
would like joint control in which Germany
would participate. The VeneZuelans are
apprehensive that their territory is i'm dan
ger and they look to the United States to
save ii from partition.
General Matos. the head of the Venezue-
Ian revolution. who is living at Willem-
stad, was asked what he would do in case
of an attempt by one of the powers to oc-
cupy Venezuelan territory. II do not be-
| lieve such occupation is contemplated" he
said, but IL anything of the kind were
attempted, then all Venezuelans would
rally around the same standard and would
offer a united front to the enemy
With Great Britain and Italy declaring
that they have no intention of infiictine
hardshps upon Venezuela greater than
necessary TO bring about the PREPARATION
they seek. interest centers in Germany
| procedure. Herr Won Pilgrim Baltazzi
Germauy's charge d'araires In Caracas
! and Commodore Scheder have repeatedly
eald that their government has no inten.