Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-06
BLOCKADE TOBE MAINTAINED
Powers Decide to Continue Present Policy
in Venezuelan Waters.
SHIPS STAY TILL PROTOCOL PASSES
Arbitration Negotiations Are Ignored
while Details Are Arranged
Rebels Reported victOrs
I'm Battle.

BERLIN, Jan. 5.-Great Britain and Ger |
many came to an understanding four days
ago to enforce the blockade of the Ven
ezuela coast. precisely as though the ne
gotiations for arbitration were not going
on.
II was doubtless in consequence of this
understanding that the vessels landed ma
rines at Puerto Cabello. though both the
Foreign office and Navy department are yet
without advices showing that Venezuelan
vessels we're taken or marines landed
Commodore Schroeder telegraphs that the
Germans on Saturday seized a number Of
large Venezuelan sailing vessels at Puerto
Cabello. The prizes were towed 10 Los
Roques, where they remain under guard.
Otherwise there have been no developments
at Puerto Cabello.
The official view here Is that the blockad-
ing commanders acted quite In accordance
with their instructions. The allied gov
ernments' determination appears to be that
pending the signature Of a protocol the
blockade within the limits agreed upon
shall be sharply applied Hence, unless
the prellminaries for arbitration are ar
ranged Immediately, action similar to that
adopted at Puerto Cabello will naturally
be taken at other ports. BY making the
blockade felt, It is claimed, President Cas-
AAo utNioluhs Will pTODdUlg ut udSltutus
There is also an impression that Presi-
dent Castro ought to have a taste Of the
allies powers while making up his mind,
as a completely eventless blockade would
make the allies rather ridiculous in the
eyes of the Venezuelan people and of the
rest of the world. 1t s pointed out by
naval officers that a state of war exists
and that, therefore, acts of war ought to
follow as rapidly as the circumstances war
rant until the peace preliminaries are
signed. The German cruiser Sperber sailed
| today from Kiel for Venezuela.
No Answer from the Powers.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-The responses
Of the allied powers to Castro's last propo-
sition to submit Venezuela's case to the
arbitration of The Hague tribunal have
not yet been received, but it is not be-
| lieved they will be much longer delayed,
| as a continuance Of the present state Of
affairs on the Venezuelan coast is not
viewed with satisfaction here.
The blockade Is understood to be working
| injury to American interests, therefore the
| desire is strong to see the protocol, which
will include a provision for termination
OF the blockade, speedily agreed upon.
| MIR. Bowen's advices show that condi-
tions there are very much disturbed; that
I
tensihed and that President Castro b
sorely beset.
Castro ia without Hope.
NEW YORK, Jan. 5.-According to the
Herald's correspondent in Willemstadt, the
revolutionists are advancing in three coll
umns on General Castro's army.
! desperate fight occurred Saturday night
within eight miles of the city of Caracas,
] IL. 49, a,Na
They are cutting all the telegraph lines,
| tearing up the railroad tracks and are
! hourly expected in the immediate neighbor-
/ hood of the city. A condition of extreme
| panic prevails among those who have here
tofore believed that Castro was invincible.
committee OF the most prominent citi-
Zens has gone to President Castro and
made representations of how hopelessly un-
! tenable Is his position, but he insists on
| holding on until his forces are defeated in
a decisive battle. 1t seems that this can
not be far distant.
President Castro is already planning what
| he shall do when the inevitable comes, but
he will make a desperate fight before
! quitting, as he has no chance to escape.
The only alternative is Imprisonment.
The correspondent adds that no attempt
! is now being made by the allies to conceal
the fact that they are affording assistance
to the revolutionists.
| 1t was announced today that a protest
had been sent to Secretary Hay complain
ing of the treatment accorded the Red d
line steamer Caracas at La Guayra by the
blockading powers.
Caracas arrived here today and the
owners of the cargo. which was not dis
charged at La Guayra, declared that they
would seek TO obtain an indemnity through
the United States government.
| 1t is understood that the contention OF
| the steamship line and the shippers OF the
cargo is that Caracas had cleared from this
port before the blockade had been declared
and should have been allowed to land
the cargo at La Guayra.
Mr.. Bliss, one of the heads Of the Red
d line. said today that he wrote Secretary
Hay a week ago on receipt of a cable
gram from the firms agent at La Guayra
concerning the treatment Of Caracas at
that port. He requested an inquiry into
the matter.
Mr.. Bliss expressed confidence that the
secretary would see that the company re-
eeived whatever might be due II under in
ternational law.
Army Marching on Capital.
CARACAS. Jan. 5.-There is no truth in
the report that government force was
defeated on Saturday night within eight
miles OF this city by the revolutionists
About 1900 revolutionists are reported to
be marching on Caracas.
The financial panic here has been mo-
mentarily arrested by an agreement be-
tween the leading traders of Caracas, La
Guayra and Puerto Cabello and the Bank
OF Venezuela The traders have agreed to
accept the banks notes in payment OF all
accounts. The run on the bank has ceased
Fourteen hundred roNolutionists under
Generals Ramos and Penalcsa attacked 500
government troops under the command of
General Acosta Sunday morning near Qua
tire. After four hours lighting the rev.
olutionists abandoned the field, with fifty
seven killed and many wounded One OF
their guns was captured prisoner cap
tured by the government forces is author
ity for the statement that the revolution
lists still lack ammunition.
American Vessel Privileged.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Jan. 5-The
special permit granted by Admiral Doug
las to the steamer Bolivar TO pass the
blockade and proceed to CIudad Bolivar
has caused much adverse criticism here,
but mostly from persons interested in
local competition for Orinoco river fTeigh s,
] Admiral Douglas says he granted this per-