The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-15
United States Apparently Is Not
Interested i'm Situation.
STATE OF REAL WAR
Exists Between the Castro Gov
ernment and Holland.
There Is Not a Yankee WarShip
in the NeighborhOOd.

Washin gton, Dec. 15.-The exist
ence of what amounts practically to
a state of war between Holland and
Venezuela the absence for the first
time in many years in an acute crisis
of this kind of American warships
from their proper sphere of influence;
and the profession by the state depart
ment officials of their ignorance of
the intentions of Holland, constitute
most curious and interesting inter
national situation. The fact that
America has quarrel of her own
with Venezuela and has terminated
diplomatic relations with that country
gives rise to doubt as to the accuracy
of the statement that this govern
ment is not interested in what is going
off the coast of Venezuela In
deed, there is reason to believe that
While the official records may fail to
show the existence of any formal
Netherlands, the government of the
latter country is proceeding with the
consent of America, to bring to an end
the chaotic conditions that have pre-
vailed in an international sense in
Venezuela for the past two years.
So long as the Dutch ships act
strictly within the lines of the Mon
roe doctrine as construed in the an
nual message to congress of PreS1-
dent Roosevelt of last year; so long
Venezuelan ships, the blockade of
ports and the attempt to redress the
affront to Hollands honor there
probably will be no interference on
the part of the United States govern
ment. Of course it is inconceivable
that this government has not already
received some assurances from Hol-
land on this point, but it is probably
the case that these have not been re-
duced to writing but are simply mat
terS of mutual understanding.
The experience of the allied powers
who operated against Venezuela sew
eral years ago, would seem to have
indicated to Holland the necessity of
coming to some understanding with
the United States before proceeding
to the point of actual hostilities, which
after all is the situation on the
diplomatic disclaimers.
Logically, the next step will be the
declaration of a blockade, and of this
due notice must be given by Holland
to all maritime nations in order to
unwarrantable injury inflicted upon
neutral commerce. Meanwhile the ac-
ton of the Dutch cruisers in Selling
Venezuelan ships is calculated to have
Venezuela and to discourage prospec-
tive shipments of merchandise in the
present unsettled conditions.
Dutch Take Another Vessel.
Willemstad, Dec. 15.-The Dutch
battleship Jacob Van Heemskerk ar
morning towing as a prize the Vene-
Zuelan coast guard vessel "23 De
Mayo Word of the capture had al
ready been received here and a great
throng of people lined the docks to
witness the entrance of the Dutch bat
tleship conducting her capture within
the harbor.
The flag of the Netherlands had
hot cd 70 kIoa l.
tured Venezuelan coast guardship,
and -astern the Dutch flag f1oated the
Venezuelan colors. Although the Ven
ezueIan flag was still shown it was in
minor contrast to the Dutch pennant
flying from main mast and foremaSt, /
both of the warship and its prize.
The capture of the "23 De Mayo
was effected on December 13, at a
point little north of Cumana on the
Gulf of Curacao. The battleship ia
cob van Heemskerk observed the "23
De Mayo" in the offing, took possess
sion of her and sent a prize crew
aboard The Venezuelan crew which
had been in charge of the "23 De
Mayo" was sent ashore in the small
boats of the captured ship. The Van
then proceeded back to
this port, escorting her prize.
The Dutch cruiser GelderIand left !
here yesterday for the Venezuelan
coast. She had on board a seaman
acquainted with the small
bays and inlets along the Venezuelan
shore.
The "23 De Mayo" while classed as
a coast guard vessel, is a unit of the
Venezuelan navy, but her size and
are insignificant. She is of
80 tons and is armed with one ma
chine gun.
She is after the Venezuelan torpedo
boat Margarita, steel vessel of 81
tons and armed with four three
FOUNDERS and two torpedo tubes The
vessel is supposed to be at the island
of Margarita.
leave here tomorrow to resume her
natrol service on the coast