Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-14
DEFEAT FOR MORALES
INSURGENT GENERAL TRIED TO
CAPTURE GUIANA.
Castro's Forces Drove Him Off, Cap
turing 200 Men and Much
War Material.

dispatch from Caracas yesterday says:
About LOO revolutionists under General
Manuel Morales attacked Cumana, in the
state Of Bermudez, on the 4th. 9th and 9Th
of this month. Cumana was defended by
500 government troops.
On January 6, after hard fight, which
lasted for seven hours and which was wit
messed by the British cruiser Tribune, the
revoiutionists abandoned the field, leaving
800 Mauser rifles and $1,000 cartridges be-
hind them, and 200 of their number prison.
ers in the hands of the government forces.
The statement has been obtained from
rebel prisoners that if Cumana had been
taken the revolutionary leader would have
allowed his soldiers to sack the town for
eight hours.
The revolutionists have been very active
Tor the past week. knowing as they do that
If the blockade were raised their cause
will become much more difficult.
A dispatch from Willemstad, Curacao,
says: Herr Won Pilgrim Baltazzi, German
charge d'affaires to Venezuela in an inter-
view with representative of the Asso-
ciated Press, refused to speak concerning
the motives which led him to leave Caracas
last December in the manner he did. He
spoke highly, however, of President Castro
and his wife regarding the treatment shown
by them to Nine. Won Pilgrim-Baltazzi
while she was i'll In Caracas. i,
Notwithstanding the maintenance Of the
blockade ammunition is leaving this island
daily for the Venezuelan revolutfoniStS.
A dispatch from La Guaira, Venezuela,
says: The Russian bark Feeder, from Car
diff, with a cargo of coal for the La Guaira-
Caracas railroad. arrived off this port Tues
day morning and was notified to heave to-.
The bark, however, continued heading for
the port until. the British cruiser Tribune
arrived, firing two blank shots, and sig
nailed n british oh
bine to approach. The Feodor then anchored
outside the port and her captain was al
lowed to land and communicate with the
consignees Of the vessels cargo. The Eco
dor can only remain here five days, after
which she must leave.
The British flagship Ariadne arrived here
Monday and departed the same day.
The Columbine left La Guaira during
Tuesday.
The United States gunboat Marietta ar
rived here Tuesday from Curacao with the
mails Of the Red 3D. line steamer Zulia,
which reached Willemstad January II from
New York
London dispatch says: President Cas-
tro's request that the powers raise the
blockade of the coast of Venezuela is still
under discussion. The foreign Office inclines
to the belief that a suspension of the block
ade would reduce matters to the same
status that existed at the beginning of the
dispute, and it appears probable that unless
an eXpedient is devised Great Britain will
advocate a continuance of the blockade in
some form.
In a dispatch from Rome the correspond
ent there Of the Daily Mail says:
president Castro, through the United
States, has informed the three powers that
he is disposed to pay the expenses of main
tanning the blockading squadron in Vene-
zuelan waters on condition that the block
ade be raised Immediately. He does not
object to their warships remaining in Vene-
zuelan ports.
Italy is disposed to agree to this prop
osition, but she will be guided in her reply
by the decisions Of the other powers
The German foreign Office officials at Ber-
lin, commenting on the statement that Italy
is supporting President Castro in his reported
demand that the powers raise the blockade
before commencing negotiations at Wash
ington, say this Is quite incredible. They
also assert that the United States has not
asked that the blockade be raised.