The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1908-12-18
THE DUTCH
GET BUSY
MAKE FIRST CAPTURE
IN VENEZUELA.
THIS THEY DID WITHOUT RE-
sIsTANCE FROM SHIPS OR
FORTS ON LAND.

Dutch cruiser Gelderland came into
this port this morning towing the
Venezuelan coast guard ship Alix with
the Dutch flag flying and a Dutch crew
on board. The Gelderland captured the
Alix off Puerto Cabello Saturday. At
that time the Alix was lying close in
shore and Notwithstanding the threat
which the Venezuelans had made to
fire upon any of the Dutch warships
committing a hostile act, the Colder
land steamed at full speed toward the
moored vessel. This they did without
resistance and no shots came from the
forts on land.
The crew Of the Alix was put ashore
and the Dutch officers and marines re-.
manned on board, the Gelderland finally
taking the Alix in tow and steaming
away with her prize.
The seizure of the Alix was in &C.
cordance with the plans of the Holland
government when instructions were is
sued to the Dutch warships now in
these waters to make a demonstration
off the coast Of Venezuela and to cap
ture any Venezuelan ships of war OF
guard vessel that they might find.
Willemstad Is Joyous.
The arrival of the Gelderland at viii
lemstad was greeted with unbounded
enthusiasm by those who noticed the
cruiser approaching, and soon the entire
population was down to the water front
to welcome the return of the Gelder
land, towing the first of the enemy!
ships. Naturally the people of Curacao
who have been long clamoring for &C
tivity on the part of the Dutch gov
eminent, are greatly rejoiced over thi'
evidence that Holland has at last be
gun active measures against Venezuela
but the governor of Curacao discussed
the incident as follows:
"The capture of our warships of thu
coast guard and wal vessels is not t.
be considered an ~unfriendly act agains
the V~enezuelans. 1t is merely a repri
sal against Castro s government, whicl
refuses to give satisfaction for his un
friendly acts toward Holland. TIL
seizure of these vessels will make
impossible for the Venezuelan govern
ment to carry troops or ammunition t.
and from the various ports. A com
mu~nication to this effect has been fol-
warded by the Dutch government to tn
II ar1,o- rn.n.ekor - CDrooo
Cause of the Hostilities.
The situation between Venezuela an
The Netherlands has been strained TO
some months. The trouble arose ind
rectly from the expulsion from Caraca
Of M. de Reuss, the diplomatic repre-
sentative of Holland, but it had al
ready been rendered acute by tn
course of Venezuela in issuing a deere
on May IA last that practically kille
, the of Curacao.
Other incidents that have added t
the illfeeling have been the stoppag
of Dutch sailing vessels at sea by tn
authorities Of Venezuela and the storm
ing of the Venezuelan consulate at Wi
lemstad by a mob.
Venezuela has made preparations t
resist hostilities. Forts at La Guayrs
Puerto Cabello and Maracaibo hav
been reinforced with men and nun.
tions of war, but until Saturday no VI
toward act had occurred that woul
= give Venezuela an opportunity to al
swer force with force The naval fore
of Venezuela consists Of IL vessel,
. Three, the Bolivar, Miranda and Ma
agarita, are gunboats. The others, wit
the exception of the Restaurador, whic
was formerly the steam yacht Atlantis
: are hardly worthy of mention. The
: are nothing but armed tugs. There
: a 12-pound gun on the Restaurador, br
t aside from this, there is no gun in til
+ fleet bigger than a s~ix-pounder. Th
f Venezuelan forts, however, mount SON