Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-11-25
Pres. Castro Will Under :
go Al Operation
Greatest Excitement at the
venezuelan Capital.
Departure May Lead to Settle.
ment Of European Disputes.

Caracas, NOV. l1.-Nl
Nov 24.-President Castro will sail to-
morrow from LaGuaira on the steamer
Gaudeloup for Bordeaux, to undergo
All operation by skilled specialist or
Berlin. Efforts, which were made re-
Gently to have DR.. Israel of Berlin
come to Caracas, failed. AS an opera
ton was imperative and President Cas-
tros attending physicians were unwill-
ing to take the responsibility, the Pres
ident decided to go abroad.
The operation will be performed i'm
mcdiately on President Castro's arriv-
oil at Bordeaux, where Dr. Israel will
be in waiting Should the operation be
successful the President will visit
Paris, where he will rest for a few
days only as he wishes to return to Ca
racas at as early date as possible
Three OF the leading Venezuelan physi-
clans will accompany the President,
and several members of his immediate
family The physicians are DR.. Pablo
Acosta Ortiz, DR.. Fonseca and DIR. Jose
Baldo. DR.. Baldo has been the Presi-
dents chief physician for three years
and is now minister of education. DR..
Ortiz is one of the noted surgeons of
South America and has already operat-
ed on President Castro several times.
The greatest excitement prevails in
Caracas, and political intriguing al
ready has commenced. 1t is thought
that the Presidents departure may
open the road for the settlement of the
Holland American and French dis
putes Vincent f. Gomez, the vice pres
ident, will assume the Presidency.
fn1au iSCup6 tho fol-
lowing proclamation:
Special circumstances compel me to
leave for Europe for short time. The
Venezuelan nation already is on the road
TO true prosperity ana greatness, because
of the strict fulfllnent Of obligations
and tie sound condition of the revenues
and because of the stable peace which we
enjoy and which it is your duty to main
tain, that my work may endure
First Vice President Gomez is hereby
constitutionally charged with the presi-
dency. Surround him and lend your CO.
operation in the fulfilment of his high
mission, as if it were I, myself, and you
will have done your duties"
The President OF Venezuela is suffering
from AN internal abscess in the region of
| the kidneys and his attending physicians
long ago advised him that the only posi-
bile relief Vas in an operation by Ger
man specialist At that time there did
not appear to be any imminent danger
and President Castro decided to postpone
the trip to Europe as long as possible
He was not Frustrated at any time, but.
on the contrary, for many weeks was
able to make his regular early morning
visit to his Office in the Yellow House
During that period every effort was made
to bring the specialist to Caracas, but
recently cablcsram was received an
nouncing that the specialist selected, DIR.
Israel, would be unable to make the trip.
When it was announced a few days ago
| that the President had finally determined
| upo1 proceeding to Eurone, Caracas was
| all excitement. and the probabilities OF ms
carrying out this program were the sub
| jects of discussion throughout the city
wherever one turned. That he would only
| take this step as a last resort, was known
| to everybody, and his most Intimate
! friends were disposed to doubt his avow-
ed intention. President Castro breads the
| sea and has suffered severely from sea-
| sickness even on short water trips. He
has never been out of Vnezuela and t is
now felt that extraordinary pressure must
| have been brought to bear upon him IN
order to have him consent to the voyage.
| Especially interesting is President Cas-
| tro's departure, because of the embarrass-
| ing effect it is likely to have on Holland
plans to force Venezuela into revoking the
trans shipment decree, which Castro mas
refused to do peacefully If Holland
should send out a confidential agent. as
suggested by Castro in his last answer
to Hollands demands. that functionary
may find no Castro with whom to deal.