The Van Buren press., 1903-02-21
CASTRO'S SOLDIERS.
A Wretched Lot and All Cigarette
Fiends, Says A. L. Stokes.
From the New York Evening Post

From the New York Evening Post
Alexander Z. Stokes. manager OF the
British Guiana Rubber company, ar.
rived here q day or two ago from
Georgetown. British Guiana. He had
travelled extensively in Venezuela and
was at Caracas when the present trouble
first broke out In the country. Speak
ing Of the conditions existing In
Venezuela. he said:
II do not think there Is any cause
for alarm In the little dispute in
Venezuela, although 1t Is seriously
damaging to trade. Ny line OF business
is almost completely tied up, so far as
Venezuela is concerned. The blockade
by the allies seems TO be the only serious
phase OF the situation ut present. A
section OF tho boundary between
Venezuela and British Guiana WAS be-
Ing guarded. in way, by Venezuelan
soldiers when | left Guiana about q
month ago, because 1t seems that Presi.
dent Castro is suspicious of the British
possession. The soldiers at his COM
mand are the most wretched looking
creatures it is possible to see anywhere.
They are nearly all cigarette tiends Of
the most virulent type, and many Of
them would not hesitate to commit II
murder in return for a package Of
cigarettes or nip OF bad whisky.
"As Venezuela is free country, no
one need Join the army, but the crafty
Castro, who thoroughly understands
the little weaknesses OF his people has
ways Of his own in persuading them 10
take up arms. He recently issued an
order that his troops be provided each
day with cigarettes free Of cost, in I'D
dition, Of course, to the meagre rutions
they get The new order WAS posted
up at every street corner and In the
public buildings in Caracas shortly be.
fore left that city and it worked like u
charm. Hundreds Of the unemployed
and regular loating element rushed to
the recruiting station in large numbers
to become soldiers. The cigarette or
der is responsible in a great measure
for the large number Of mere boys who
are joining the army.
Both the Venezueans and the Colon
banos have, as a whole, very little use
for foreigners, and especially those who
cannot speak their language, For
Americans thay have little more re.
special least ! have seen them show
it in many instances but 1t Is Of the
skin.deep order A large number of
Venezuelans- perhaps 40 per cent --
fully expect that America will champion
their cause II Great Britain and Ger.
many 10 too far Many are too ignor.
ant to understand what the Monroe
doctrine meana, and quite number Of
the most intelligent really believe that
1t was especially framed to protect their
country when In trouble, no matter
what the dispute, while the average
Venezuelan looks at It askance, but
with pretended Indifference. Which.
ever way they regard the Monroe
doctrine, however there Ia ever
an unmistakablo evidence Of cold.
ness behind It for Americans them.
selves But the Venezuelans, like their
neigh6ors the ColombIanos, are far be-
You'd the comprehension OF the ordinary
mortal, Their ways are the ways OF no
other, Although both peoples are Of
the came blood and the same faith, and
speak the same language, they never
Seem to be happy unless they are fight.
Ing and quarrellng, They are born
politicians md all want 10 DO president
OF their respective countries, would
be sorry to see America compelled TO
put her foot into the dispute ia
support Of Venezuela, for it would be
thankle@ task -