The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-17
Says Venezuela Should Make
Attack on New Orleans
WOULD THUS AVEAGE INSULT
Soldiers Are Active, But Weapons Are
Very inferior and the Men Are
Poorly Trained to Carry
on Warfare.

Willemstad. Island of Curacao, March
15.-According to trustworthy advices re-
ceived here. the situation in Venezuela Is
unchanged. both internally and as to for
eign affairs, except that the relations be-
tween Castro and the various legations at
Caracas are little more strained. Castro
has now ceased to talk with the European
representatives concerning the Venezuelan
Indebtedness and the recent recall of Gen.
Antonio Velulini second vice president OF
Venezuela, who has been IN Europe for
some time endeavoring to arrange for a
settlement with the British and German
bondholders. Is regarded as an indica-
tion that the negotiations have failed.
The members of the diplomatic corps are
chaffing under the state of affairs now
existing, and some of them are frank in
saying that the existing situation cannot
be much further prolonged. 1t is said that
none of the diplomats have been able to
have an interview with Castro concerning
disputed international questions for
months.
President Castro maintains his pelliger-
ent attitude and continues to make milf
tary preparations. lie apparently regards
an attack on Porto cabello and LaGuayra
as probable, and has mounted six new
French 8-inch guns, and a number of
small guns on the heights overlooking che
ports, and has available three small coast
defense vessels.
Regard II With indifference.
1t is said that the majority OF Ven
zuelans look upon the possibility Of for
eign Intervention either with indifference
or favorable. as present international con-
ditions are causing much unrest. Excess
sive taxation, heavy expenditures, the
political preferment of incapable men,
and the resulting chaotic business CON
ditons are turning from Castro much Of
the best element In Venezuela.
NeighboringthS South American republics
also seem to regard the idea of inter-
vention without resentment.
Brazilian newspapers are openly advo-
eating settlement of affairs in Ven-
ezuela, and the South American press
generally Is less caustic In Its criticisms
OF American interference In the affairs
of southern republics. Castro's attitude Is
reflected In a pamphlet just issued
through one of his advisers, Colonel Juan
Baudisa Lamedo, in which plans for send
ing 10000 VenezuelanS against New Or
leans are disclosed. me pamphlet urges
the public to avenge the insults offered
to Venezuela by the Americans, and de-
clares the invasion of the Mississippi
valley would be the most effective means
of curbing the power of the United
Stetes.
This is an extract from the pamph-
let:
Want to Avenge insult.
perhaps 10000 Venezuelans bearing the
glorious national banner; that very BAN
ner whose floating iris illuminated the
waters of La Plata with the splendor
of the Venezuelan fatherland to the
echoes of the clarions of Caraboboa, OF
Bombona, and of Auchoya, would today
be sufficient to wash away the insult
which our glorious flag has received from
North America In the very waters Of tho
Mississippi. Cunduncurca Is not more
distant from Venezuela than the hostile
land and the territories which we have
to cross to arrive there, is almost the
same as the fatherland. Colombo, the first
of these will readily open it's frontier to
give passage to the sons of Bolivar, as
well as Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mex
leo, the fatherand of Jaures, the feared
by France and by Europe for his for
midable and terrible patriotism There
would willingly open the way for the
army of Venezuela in order that the
SOM of Washington should not be al
lowed to believe themselves more valiant
and warlike than the sons of Bolivar.
This may seem foolish to many eu-
topian visions, but when we reflect that
the North American squadrons cannot
operate In the forests and that traders
will always be traders inept and cow
ardly In feats of heroism. our hearts
swell within us how we are willing to
take our stand In the vanguard among
the distinguished heroes OF the new world
who are called once more TO prove that
venezuela is immortai ana the nrst 10
take up the glove Wniehils thrown down
tooay 10 the "hoie Oh Spahish-America-
Constant Movement of Troops.
,rbara 90 a constant ynovement ~ troons {.
ana n 10 imnossihle to ascartain how
f,aatros Forces are distrihuted or how
many soldiers ba has. PracticaiIv ALI his
srrnv 20 noade I'm m man from the Anaas
Most of them are mart Indian. thew wear
rough straw hats coarse khaix, ,,nisorr,s
a I'd aandaIs As tbav march througb tha
streets carrying their old -fasbioned r,fss
their annearance IL NOT unlike that of a
chinese mIlitarv ORGANIZATION. Few wh,ta
-. ~, a., ~ rar,,.s a,,a ~ ,,.,,,es.