The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-09
VENEZUELA CALLS
RECRUITS TO ARMS
Castro Makes Ready for War;; but
His People Talk Of
Revolt.

Willemstad, Island Of Curacao, Fri
day, Feb. "A traveller who arrived
here today from Venezuela said:
President Castro is busily engaged
in enlisting thruout the republic and in
other ways preparing for war. Cen.
erals in each state have been commits
stoned and orders have been given to
call the recruits to the colors.
Information from the best sources
indicates that the people do not sup
port President Castro. On all sides are
and overthrow the president s govern
ment as soon as the French blockade
is declared.
Troops Will Desert. -.
ga well-informed Venezuelan told
me that the troops would desert their
colors as they have all been compelled
to join the army, voluntary enlistment
being unknown in Venezuela. Puerto
Cabello and La Guaira are the only
,;ports capable of making a slight de-
Tense. The former has two modern six
inch guns and the latter has four mod
ern ix-inch guns with the usual display
Of old Spanish. pieces which would be
blown to pieces at the first shot.
-" It is doubted whether President Cas-
tro can raise more than 10000 men who
will take the field with any show Of
spirit. The men are armed with Mauser
rifles, but they never practice shooting.
They have 20,OOO,O00 rounds of ball
cartridges and a few mountain guns.
The Venezuelan navy consists of five
"Well-posted persons express fear
that the French citizens in Venezuela
will be in great danger if war breaks
out President Castro is of q revenge
full character and the inhabitants Of the
country are at his mercy.
Russell Persona Non Grata.
cit Is reported at Caracas that the
American minister, Mr.. Russell, is per-
soma non grata, owing to the apparent
siding of the United States with France
and that he may be given his passports
Matters are nearing climax.
Give days ago the newspaper I'll
Critic de Pueblo suggested that the peo'
pie should not resist the French. The
editor was Immediately imprisoned
without a show Of trial and the paper
was suppressed.
E'The German charge Indignantly
contradicts the reports, said to be cir
culated by President Castro and others
Of his surrounding, that Germany is
supporting Venezuela s policy against
France.
General Alcantara, a Venezuelan
educated at West Point, has been ap
pointed to the military command of Ii
Guaira. He has received orders to fire
on any French warships the moment
they are sighted.'
Warships on Castro's Coast.
Washington, Feb. 9.-The battleshit
division of the Atlantic fleet, with 3
tender, has sailed from Culebra fol
Trinidad. It is. explained at the navy
nothing to do with the Venezuelan sit
uation, altho the Venezuelan coast il
only few miles distant from TRIM
dad. It is said the ships are simply
working out part of a war game in thu
exceptionally suitable waters Of tn
Gulf of Paria. '%@~.H's&. =, >%''. -
The armored cruisers Of the sam
are bound for some Of the Windwarl
islands to give the sailors a brief shor
leave.
Taigny in Washington.
M. Taigny, the charge d'affaires o
France; who was expelled from Vene
arrived in: this city last; nieht. had
conference with the French ambassado
yesterday; He gave M. .Jusserand
history of the happenings in Venezuel
since his last visit here, which the. an
bassador will forward to his govern
ment. M. Taigny, who came to Wasl
1ngton for this purpose, expects to sa
from New York for Paris on Saturda,
M. Taigny said:
1T is impossible to maintain sati
factory relations with a. man like Ca
tro. His chief object is to get none,
no matter from W here or in what wa;
This is at the, basis Of everything" ",
Castro Could Fight. r..
When asked what he thought of a
invasion Of Venezuela by a Frenc
army, M: Taigny shrugged his shoulde
and protested not to have much know
edge of the chance Of success of sue
an undertaking. 49,.
1T is an extremely difficult count,
to fight in, he said. 1.-THE country
very mountainous, and tho Caracas
only nine miles from the coast as II
crow flies, the road to the capital
ABOUT tWenty-fiv miles and easily d
ftensible:. The people love nothing mo
than fight and would welcome such
beautiful chance. Besides, a1tho su
or the ultimate result, there is alwa;
the danger Of complications with B
Y n1ted States or any other FOREIGN n
tlon, and France is not likely To- 81
park on such an expedition as long
she can use other remedies. ~:
p. GUY ST John of winono r,h. -. - .