Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1908-12-18
MITCH TAKE PATROL SHIP
FROM VENEZUELA.
c.,t,,re of Warship Causes Great Elk
ci+ament at Willemstad, Curacao
Was in Accordance With Plans of
Holland eovernment-Trouble Is Re-
sult of Long Standing Differences.

Willemstad, Curacao, Dec. 14.-The
nuteh cruiser Gel ierland came into
this port this morning towing the
Venezuelan coast guard ship Alix with
the Dutch flag flying and 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 Venezueans 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-
NAMED on board, the Gelderland finally
taking the Alix in tow and steaming
away with her prize
The seizure of the Alix was in ac-
eordance with the plans of the Holland
government when instructions were is
sued to the Dutch warships now in
these waters TO make demonstration
off the eoast4ef Venezuela and to cap
4 ture any Venezuelan ships of war OF
guard vessel that they might find.
willemstad Is Joyous.
3 The arrival of the Gelderland at VIII
lemstad was greeted with unboundes
enthusiasm by those who noticed tn
cruiser approaching, and soon the entir
population was down to the water from
to welcome the return of the Geldel
land, towing che first of the enemy
ships. Naturally the people of Curacao
who have been long clamoring for az
tivity ON the part of the Dutch goN
ernment, are greatly rejoiced over tn
evidence that Holland has at last b.
gun active measures against Venezuei
but the governor of Curacao discusse
the incident as follows:
ssThe capture of our warships of tt
coast guard and war vessels is roks
be considered an sunfriendly act again
the Venezuelans. 1t is merely a repl
sal against Castro's government, wins
refuses to give satisfaction for his u
friendly acts toward Holland. T
seizure of these vessels will make
impossible for the Venezuelan Cover
ment to carry troops or ammunition
and from the various ports A co
munication to this effect has been Il
warded by the Dutch government to
!. German minister at Caracas.
Cause of the Hostilities.
The situation between Venezuela a
The Netherlands has been strained
some months. The trouble arose IN
rectly from the expulsion from Cara
of M. de Reuss, the diplomatic rep
sentative of Holland, but it had
ready been rendered acute by
course of Venezuela in issuing dee
on May IA last that practically XII
the commerce of Curacao.
Other incidents that have added
the illfeeling have been the stopp
of Dutch sailing vessels at sea by
authorities of Venezuela and the sto
ing of the Venezuelan consulate at
lemstad by mob.
Venezuela has made preparations
resist hostilities Forts at La dua.
Puerto Cabelio and Maraea1po
been reinforced with men and m
tions of war, but until Saturday no
toward act had occurred that W.
give Venezuela an opportunity TO
swer force with force The naval
of Venezuela consists of ~ yes
Three, the Bolivar, Miranda and
agarita, are gunboats. The others,
the exception of the Restaurador, W
was formerly the steam yacht Aua
are hardly worthy of mention.
are nothing but armed tugs. Thei
12-pound gun ON the Restaurador'
aside from this, there is no gun u
fleet bigger than six-pounder-
Venezuelan forts, however, mount
modern six-inch Krupp guns.
Ruef Not Yet Sentenced