New-York tribune., 1907-01-28

at HIS command wifi make himself President
] General Alcantara, who is West Point gradu-
ate, according TO reliable estimates controls
these
In the Trinidad barracks. in Caracas, are TO-
/ 600 rifles and 100000 cartridges. and at La
/ Victoria are 15OO0 arms and 100000 cart
! ridges The latter are under the immediate
/; control of General Alcantara. while those in
! Caracas are guarded for him by Commandant
Bazo, loyal supporter of President Castro, who
refused 20 obey an order Of General Salvador
Araujo. Minister of War. changing the troops at
] Trinidad barracks. General Araujo is a Gomez
follower
From Los Andes in the western part OF the
+ country, comes the news that General Celestino
Castro. brother OF President Castro and Presi-
, dent OF the State of Los Andes. has recruited
$500 men TO support the man designated for the
Presidency by his brother
President Castro for a few years has been
preparing for just such situation as has arisen
now. He caused 20 be divided all shipments Of
arms and ammunition between La Guayra and
Maracaibo. The shipments to the latter port
We're sent to General Celestno Castro. While
General Gomez has always been popular with
the army and is himself a fighter, he is placed
at decided disadvantage by being surrounded
by foes, who are we'll equipped and his fight
would necessarily have TO be one from outside
of the capital and be a campaign of attack
rather than OF defence.
Even in his illness President Castro has re-
tained, II only nominaly. the executive power.
II is generally recognized however. that MS
close friends have practically been debating his
policy. and that it is to perpetuate their pow
er that he has designated his successor. The
situation is delicate one for General Gomez.
but he has thus far refrained in the face of try
ing circumstances from doing anything that
would precipitate Immediately the civil war that
must be fought out on President Castros death.
Another figure who must be left out OF
the calculations IS General Antonio Paredes,
who has prepared for insurrection outside
of Venezuela and was last heard from in Trini-
dad He and a party Of his supporters were
about TO embark for Venezuela, but were re-
strained by the British authorities in Trinidad
General Paredes has also a large supply of
material which has already been landed in
Venezuela. and he will be a factor in the fight
ing. According TO his representative IA this
city. he is free from any combination with any
of the factions in the coming conflict
General Paroles has by his own will exied
himself from his country, and seeks 10 depose
whoever stands IN the way OF the realization of
his political ideals which. expressed are lofty
and patriotic.
Another interesting phase of the situation Is
the re-entrance of General Manuel A. Matos into
the perspective General Matos has not been
in Venezuela since the failure OF his insurrec-
tion against President Castro a few years ago
He is in Paris, and has joined issue with
General Alcantara-
f.. General Matos is one OF the wealthiest men
of Venezuela and has large property interests
there. These were confiscated by President
Castro, and General Matos wants to recover
them. II is not understood that he will per-
sonally take part in battle. but will lend what
ever influence h. has TO General Alcantara.
General Matos has a representative In New
York, who about a week ago received from
Caracas a dispatch. which read Castro
grave Come"
There was a change for the better. however
and General Matos's agent did not sail. He Is
to go 10 Caracas. however. on President Castros
death, and effect an understanding with General
Alcantara.
AS things stand, General Alcantara's strength
is apparent and material, while that Of General
Gomez is problematic. 1t is suggested, however
that some of the older generals will not want
to serve under General Alcantara.
General Alcantara is only thirty-three years
old, and If successful. win be the youngest
President in the history OF Venezuela He dis
played the worth of his West Point training in
the Castro revolution against President Andrade
He then colonel Of artillery. temporary
blight put upon his career by an unfortu-
nate error of the commanding officer, who or
dered Colonel Alcantara TO fire. learning his mis-
take only when the American trained artillery
man had killed eighty of his own men,
General Alcanters is the OF the late Presi-
dent Francisco /. Alcantara Of Venezuela