New-York tribune., 1903-01-25
WAR AGAINST VENEZUELA.

Repor-ts concerning the bombardment OF San
Carlos differ. Those from Venezuelan ana
American sources state that the German shlps
hogan the firing without provocation- The Ger
man commander on the other hand, says that
the Eenezuelans began it. While the Panther
was passing the Maracaibo bar she was uneX-
"pectedly attacked by Fort San Carlos. Sun
another story is that when the Panther ap-
preached suspiciousy and unwarrantably near
the fort shot was fired from the fort by way
of challenge or warning. and was followed by
q second, the object being not to attack the
ship but to attract her attention and get an
explanation Of her conduct in coming in upon
the fort. The Germans, however, took the shots
as an attack and forthwith began firing upon
the fort If this last story be true it leaves
srpon the German commander a heavy weight
of responsibility Since be was not under in
structions to wage war, but merely to maintain
a peaceful" blockade, he would have done well
to keep at a proper distance from the fort and
if he was obliged 10 go in to get good anchorage
he should have made that purpose and that
necessity clear, and should have been able to
discriminate between blank shot fired by way
OF warning or inquiry and one fired with mis-
cbievous intent.
Let US however, assume the German COM
manders story to be true. he was. by his own
confession, invading Venezuelan territory. He
was trying to enter the inland lake Of Mara
caibo, and bis only purpose in so doing must
have been to interfere in the domestic affairs
of Venezuela. The seizure Of that lake, says
the Berlin Foreign Office was necessary. But
not 10 the maintenance Of a blockade of the
port of Maracaibo. No, the latter could OBJ
viously be done best by remaining outside the
entrance to the lake, in the Gulf OF Venezuela.
sbo ,ofF FaE Tho oil
uelan territory. If the Germans propose to stop
traffic across the lake they mean to stop not
foreign, but domestic trade; not trade between
Venezuelan and foreign ports, but between diff
ferent parts OF Venezuela herself. That is not
blockade. 1t is invasion. Let us suppose the
port Of New-York TO be blockaded. The block
aiding feet would naturally lie off Sandy Hook,
between it and Coney Island. But suppose it
insisted upon coming up into the North River,
TO prevent traffic between this city and the
Nev-Jersey shore, under the pretext that if
New-York were permitted to communicate with
Jersey City it might thus communicate with
Canada. That would not be blockade, but in
vasion. Just that is what the Germans, by
their own confession, were trying TO do at Mara
caibo.
1t is difficult, therefore, to dismiss the con-
viction that for some reason the Germans have
renewed Tie actual Waglng or war against
Venezuela, and that as we have hitherto
.----nted CIT is deplorable thing while arbitral
negotiations pending. II is a harsh answer
to the Venezuelan request for a raising Of the
blockade. The latter request seemed not un-
reasonable. Since it is agreed that the con-
troyersy shall be arbitrated," said Venezuela IL
substance let the blockade be raised so that
commerce can be resumed and revenue be
received from which 10 pay the claims which
''may be decreed against us" In addition. the
Venezuelan Government expressly agreed to
pledge the revenue thus received through rails
ing the blockade 10 the payment Of claims But
Germany apparently replies that she will not
raise the blockade but, on the contrary. will
wage war against Venezuela, ravage the Venez-
,ean coast slaughter non-combatant Venez-