Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-03
TIME IS UP FOR VENEZUELA
People of Dutch West Indies Waiting
to See Next Turn In
the Game.

WILLEMSTAD, Nov. 1.-The Neither
lands government fixed November 1 as the
limit of time for Verezuela to revoke the
decree of President Castro, issued on May
IL, prohibiting the transsIipment Of goods
for Venezuelan ports at Curacao. Presi-
dentCastro mas refused to revoke this de-
cree, but as yet, so far as known here,
the Netherlands government has not de-
cided upon definite action. There has been
much activity here of late, but in an inter-
view today the governor of Curacao said
that Holland ought to have assurances that
Venezuela had not revoked the decree at
the last hour Of the day fixed according
to the ultimatum before taking any active
measure. He believed that his government
had made ample preparations for any
eventuality and he added that a statement
would doubtless be issued tomorrow an
nouncing the position Of Holland toward
Venezuela and what action 1t was proposed
to take.
The opinion is held among naval officers
here that TO direct steps would be taken
within q week and It is understood that
the battleship Jacob Van Heemerck would
leave here tomorrow, following its custom,
for target practice. The Van Heemerck
and the protected cruiser Friesland, which
are now in this port, still have on board
the superfluous equipments which would be
discarded in time of war. The report is
current that Captain snethlage, who is in
command OF the fleet, has been promoted
to rear admiral.
Last evening the governor Of Curacao
received an important telegram from Hol-
land ana he Immediately called a meeting
of his council and the commanders of the
warships. The deliberations were lengthy
but the result has not been made public
The people Of Curacao are confident tina
the ships now here will soon be reinforced
by the battleships Hertog Hendrix, from
the East Indies, and the De Ruitter ant
the cruiser Utrecht from Holland. TIL,
protected cruiser Gelderland also Is IL
these waters.
There is no question, however, tina
Venezuelans believe that The Nethreland
government is preparing to blockade thei
ports. Advices received by the steame
Zulia from Maracaibo state that it wa
reported on October "a that President Cas-
tro had ordered the mobilization of 5000
troops, to be ready November 3 Tw
days later there were rumors in Maracaib
that General Nicholas Rolando, who pre-
viously had been charged with leading
revolutionary movement in Venezuela, wa
crossing the frontier with 10000 men fror
Cucuta, Colombia. No further account O
this movement could be learned becaus
mail and teiegraphlc communications wer
suspended the following day. Large shin
ments of powder and shells have bee
received at San Carlos, at Maracaibo lake
CARACAS, Oct. "a )via Wnlemstad), No,
ALARM is increasing among the resi-
dents OF the port Of Laguaira, in viev
OF the military preparations which hav
been going on to meet the threatened &C
ton of The Netherlands government
President Castro has been in poor health
but after several postponements he wa
able yesterday to receive the credential
OF Lorena Freiera, the new Brazilian mir
lister. Speeches were exchanged empha
sizing the friendly relations existing be
tween the two countries.