Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-10-23
THE OUTLOOK VERY DISQUIETING.
Army Officers Investigate Situation 10
Venezuela.

Washington, II. I. (Speclal). LII the
opinion of officers of the army and OF
the State Department, the situation in
Venezuela is again becoming critical.
Important information of a political
and military nature was brought to the
War Department by Capt. c. B.
Humphrey, of the Twenty-second In
fantry, and Lieut.. E. Van D. Murphy,
of the Twenty-seventh Infantry, who
have Just returned from a secret mis-
sion to Venezuela. Last June these
two officers were sent by the War De-
partment to Venezuela with lnstruc-
tons to make careful and conservative,
examination of the military status OF
the country, in view of the possibility
that the United States at some not
very distant day might have to land
troops there to protect Venezuela
against foreign invasion.
The principal mission Of these OFF,
GERS, however, was to ascertain the true
feeling OF the Castro government
against the United States of Colombia
and the possibilities of war between
Venezuela and Colombia. Captain
Humphrey and Lieutenant Murphy
spent part OF their time in Caracas and
became very we'll acquainted with Pres
ident Castro They were regularly &C
credited to the Venezuela Government
by the State Department as the military
attaches of the United States. On their
way back to the United States the Off
GERS stopped on the ISthmus OF Pan
anna, under orders received from the
War Department, to consult with
Lieut.. Col. William Black, Corps OF
Engineers, United States Army, who
is still on the Isthmus investigating the
work being done on the canal by the
Panama Canal Company.
1t is not the intention Of either the
War or the State Department to make
any announcement regarding the mis-
sion of Captain Humphrey and Lieuten-
ant Murphy, but it is believed that
their report has thrown considerable
light on the present situation in Ven
ezuela and on the ISthmuS Of Panama.
1t is known that President Castro is
not keeping his pledges with the Euro
pean powers and setting aside each
month 30 per cent OF the customs dues
OF Puerto Cabello and La Guayra and
that the official papers Of Caracas have
been making it as disagreeable as pos
sible for the foreign commissioners ad-
Indicating the claims against Venezuela
in accordance with the protocols ne
gotiated by United States Minister
Herbert w. Bowen and the diplomatic
representatives of the foreign powers.
Just what the result of this policy Of
President Castro will be it is impossible
to state, but the General Staff of the
army intends that in the event OF any
violation of the Monroe doctrine the
army OF the United States shall be in
readiness to cope with the emergency.
Extensive preparations are now be-
ing made by the General Staff OF the
army for the gathering Of information
of military value from the countries OF
Central and South America. With this
end in view officers of the General Staff
will probably be sent to South America
i'll the capacity Of military attaches III
few days.
For several weeks three or four Off
GERS Of the General Staff Corps have
been taking a course OF instruction at
the military information division OF
the General Staff preparatory to going
to South and Central American coun-
tries for the purpose OF gathering in-g
formation. They will, it is understood
go to their respective assignments with
the full knowledge and consent of the
governments to which they will be &C
credited and in the capacity Of military
attaches.
In the opinion of many Of the mem
bers OF the army General Staff and OF
the Navy General Board the next wal
in which the United States will be en-
gagged will be in defense Of the Monroe
doctrine and will be fought, probably,
in some country Of South or Contra
America.