The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-12-15
ANOTHER PIECE Of
CASTRO'S NAVY
BBGGEO
Dutch Sailors Arrive at Willem-
sted With Prize
IN A STATE OF DEFENCE
Acting President Corner Declares
Venezuela Has Been Wronged
BY Holland Government.

Willemstad, Dec. 15.-The Dutch
naval force today captured another
Venezuelan ship. The crew was land
ed and the prize was brought into this
port.
Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Dec.
10, via Port OF Spain. Dec. 15.-The
news Of the capture of the Venezuelan
coast guard ship Alexis by the Dutch
cruiser Gelderland last Saturday be-
came known in Caracas yesterday
morning. A big crowd at once as
sembled in the Plaza Bolivar and
made a demonstration in support of
the Government.
A crowd of citizens, including a
large number of students, went to the
Office of I'll Constitutional, the organ
OF President Castro, and INDUCED in
counter-demonsration The feelings
of this crowd were plainly hostile to
Castro and to the steps taken by Go
mez. A pitched battle ensued be
tween the employees Of the paper and
the crowd on the streets. Many shots
were exchanged. and the fighting last
ed for five minutes. Several men
were wounded and one has since died.
The police were summoned. and APP
peared on the scene armed with rifles.
The crowd then dispersed.
The captain Of the Alexis, who came
ashore at Puerto Cabello has sent up
to Caracas the communication handed
him by the Dutch officer who came
aboard from the Gelderland. This
note is as follows:
On Board the Cruiser Gelderland.
Dec. 2.
Her Majesty the Queen Of Hol-
land has given orders for her war
ships temporarily to sequestrate
and embargo all Venezuelan Gov
eminent vessels This is a retail
atory measure. We demand that
you lower your flag and surrender
your ship and your persons to the
commander OF the Gelderland. All
resistance will be useless. II YOU
resist the result will be the loss Of
your vessel and death to many Of
you
Second Lieut.. Boinar.
Acting President Gomez promptly
issued a decree in which he related
the capture Of the Alexis, after which
he declares:
consider these acts true in
vasion OF Venezuelan territory,
and an aggression against the
Venezuelan Government. They
constitute "a grave offense. The
national sovereignty is threaten
ed and the territorial integrity
honor. and dignity of the Father
land Is in danger.
decree the Nation is state
of defense. and consequently the
Executive assumes and will eXer-
else the extraordinary faculties
conferred upon him by Section
VIII OF Article LINK Of the Yen
ezuelan Constitution.
The news that the republic had
been declared in a state OF national
defense against Holland ran through
the city like wildnre and In few
moments there was an enormous
crowd In front Of the yellow House.
the executive mansion, to greet Act
ing President Gomez.
Gomez made his way across the
plaza to the yellow House aud was
received with enthusiasm. The house
was crowded with the most distin-
puishcd citizens Of Caracas. Speeches
were made demanding that all politi'
cal prisoners be set at liberty and that
the existing Government monopolies
be- abolished. The threatened danger
from without had a double effect on
the people: they demanded measures
Of protection but at the same time
they insisted upon the termination OF
one Of the most unpopular courses OF
the Castro administration, the main
tenance Of government monopolies In
the necessarles OF life
Foreign Minister Paul made
speeeh in reply for the Acting Presi'
dent. He exhorted the people to trust