The San Francisco call., 1908-12-14
DUTCH CRUISER
CAPTURES A
CASTRO SHIP
Venezuelan Coast Guard Vessel
Alix Captured Under Guns
of Fort
Grew Sent Ashore and Fighting
Craft TOws Prize TO
WiIIemStadt
The Netherlands Government
Declares Act Is ReprisaI
Against Little Dictator

WILLEMSTADT. Curacao. Dec. Ia
sThe Dutch cruiser Gelderland came
.nto this port this morning towing the
Venezuelan coast guard ship Alix with
fhe Dutch flag flying and a Dutch crew
on board The GeIderland captured
.the Alx of Puerto CabeIlo Saturday.
~ that time the -AliS was lying close
iHshore, and Notwithstanding the
reat which the Venezuelan govern
mont had made TO fire upon any of the
Dutch warships committing hostile
sct, the Gelderland steamed at fun
Ebced toward the mocred ship and sent
az officer and guard in a launch TO
seize her. This they did without re-
Eistance and no shots came from the
forts on land.
'1':kfIEs PRIZE AWAY
The crew of the AK was put ashore
and rhe Dutch officers and marines re-
'7Qained on board. the GeIderland finally
taking the Alix in tow and steaming
spsay with her prize.
Tie seizure Of the Alix was in ac-
eordsnce with the plans Of the Hol-
sand government when instructions
were issued TO the three Dutch war
ships now in these waters to make a
demonstration off the coast Of Ven
ezuela and toA capture any Venezuelan
SHIPS OF war or guard vessel that they
might ind The arrival of the Gelder-
lane at Willemstadt this morning was
greeted with unbounded enthusiasm by
those who noticed the cruiser approach.
SJld. soon the entire population were
down TO the waters edge to welcome
t:le- return of the Gelderland, towing
tfe first of the enemy's ships. as
though from a great conquest.
Naturally the people Of Curacao. who
have. .been long clamoring for activity
on the part Of the butch government
are. greatly rejoiced over this evidence
that Holland has at last began active
measures against Venezuela, but the
governor Of Curacao discussed the in
cident as follows:
REPRISAL AGAINST CASTRO
The capture by our warships of
coast guard and war vessels is not to
be considered an unfriendfy act against
the Nenezuelans It is merely a re-
prisal against Castro's government,
whica tends TO give satisfaction for
his nnfriendly acts toward Holland
The seizure OF these vessels will
make IL impossible for the Venezuelan
government TO carry troops or am
munition 10 and from the various ports.
A communication to this effect has
been forwarded by the Dutch govern
ment 10 the German minister at
Caracas
1T is learned from the officers of the
Gelderland that the battleship Jacob
Van HeemsEerk and the cruiser Fries
further captures may be expected at
sny time
CLEARED FOR ACTION
These two vessels left here on Fri
day. cleared for action. and il was be-
3ieved at that time that the intention
was to make a forcible demonstration
at la Guaira. The opinion is held here
that The Venezuelan government in
the absence Of President Castro. will
not so 50 far as to fire upon the Dutch
7Tarslips. which. in view of the fact
that Nenezuela is practically without
NAVY hold the Venezuelan ports at
their. mercy
The naval force OF Venezuela con-
ests of 10 vessels OF these three, the
Bolivar. Miranda and Maragarita- are
Gunboats. The others, with the ex-
ception Of the Restaurador, which was
formerly the steam yacht Atalanta. are
nothing more than armed tugs. There
IS y pound gun on the Restaurador,
but aside from this there is no gun in
the fleet bigger than a six FOUNDER.
The Venezuelan forts, however, mount
some modern six inch Krupp guns.
Castro Leaves Paris
PARIS, Dec. 13.-President Castro of
Venezuela and his party left here to-
day for Cologne, where a consultation
Of physicians viii be held TO determine
upon the advisability of an operation
on the president If an operation is
found necessary DR.. Israel probably
VIII perform it at Berlin.
On the train today Castro said that
rs he was leaving France he felt at
liberty TO speak freely. The interview.
while guarded. fully confirms the rep
Tcsentations made by Castro at San
tander to the effect that he wanted to
settle Nenezuela's diplomatic dificul-
ties, and so far as France is concerned.
had already made the first steps in
that direction He said, however, that
everything for the moment must be
subordinated to the restoration of his
health
While avoiding direct question as
90 what he expected to do toward set
tling Venezuela's foreign quarrels, lie
made il clear that the resumption of
pended entirely upon the settlement of
the French cable company controversy
1T is incontestable." he said, that
the French cable company was against
my government in the Matos revolu-
ton"
II is specifically denied that Castro
offered a basis of settlement to the
government while here. A member of
his suite, however. declared that the
presidents personal representative
called upon Foreign Minister Pichon
pointing out that this might prove to
be an entering wedge for future
negotiations.
Interest in Washington
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-Great in
ferest attaches TO The Netherlands gov
ernment's next move in which II ap-
parently intends 10 force matters to an
issue.
For some time there was talk OF a
blockade, but such proposition might
cause Holland to come in conflict with
Germany, England and other powers
foJ the claims against Venezuela, the
paFments Of which are pending.
IT, r4ofo danarfr7arfsS affffude has