River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-12-17
CASTRO'S VESSEL
SEIZED BY DUTCH
COAST GUARDSHlP ALIx Is CAP
TURED BY CRUISER.
is TOWED TO WILLEMSTAD
Gelderland's Prize Greeted JoyfuIly
by People of curacao-venezue-
Ian President Talks on
Way to Cologne.


Willemstad, Island of Curacao, Dec.
1.-THE Dutch cruiser Gelderland
came into this port Sunday morning
towing the Venezuelan coast guard
ship Alix with the Dutch flag flying
and Dutch crew on board. The Gel
derland captured the Alix off Puerto
Cabello on Saturday.
AT that time the Alix was lying
close inshore and, notwithstanding the
threat which the Venezuelan govern
ment had made TO fire upon any of
the Dutch warships committing hos
tile act. the Gelderland steamed at
speed towards the guardship and sent
an officer and guard in launch to
sistance and no shots came from the
forts on land.
The crew of the Alix was put
ashore and the Dutch officer and mar
ines remained on board, the Colder
land finally taking the Alix in tow and
steaming away with her prize.
Great Joy at Wilemstad.
The seizure of the Alix was in ac-
cordance with the plans of the Hol
land government when instructions
were issued to the three Dutch war
| ships now in these waters to make a
demonstration off the coast of Vene
zuela and to capture any Venezuelan
ships of war or guard vessels that
they might find The arrival of the
|
with unbounded enthusiasm by those
who noticed the cruisers approach,
and soon the entire population were
down to the waters edge to welcome
the return of the Gelderland, towing
the first of the enemy's ships, as
though from great conquest.
Naturally the people of Curacao,
who have long been clamoring for &C.
tivity on the part of the Dutch govern
ment, are greatly rejoiced over this
evidence that Holland has at last be-
gun active measures against Vene-
| zuela.
Governor Explains Act.
The governor Of Curacao, in ex-
planning the incident, had this to say:
"The capture by our warships of
| coast guards and war vessels is not to
be considered an unfriendly act
against the Venezuelans. 1t is merely
reprisal against Castro's govern
ment, which refuses to give satisfac-
ton for his unfriendly acts towards
Holland The seizure of these vessels
will make it impossible for the
| Venezuelan government to carry
troops or ammunition to and from the
various ports. A communication to
| this effect has been forwarded by the
Dutch government to the German min
lister at Caracas
1t is learned from the officers of the
! Gelderland that the battleship Jacob
Van Heemskerk and the cruiser Fries
land are now off La Guaira and that
further captures may be expected at
any time.
Castro Tells of Peace Desires.
Paris, Dec. 14-President Castro of
Venezuela and his party left here Sun
day for Cologne, where consultation
of physicians will be held to determine
upon the advisability of an operation
on the president If an operation is
| found necessary DR.. Israel probably
will perform it at Berlin.
During his stay in this city Castro
kept himself closely confined to his
hotel, refusing to give out any state
ment to newspaper men, except
through some member of his suite.
On the train Sunday, however, he ac-
corded an interview to a representa-
tive of the Temps, saying that as he
was leaving France he felt at liberty
to receive a journalist.
The interview, while guarded, fully
confirms the representations made by
Castro at Santander to the effect that
he was DESTROYS of settling Venezue-
las outstanding diplomatic differences
and, so far as France is concerned,
had already made the first steps in
| that direction.
Depends on Gable Company Affair.
While avoiding direct question as
to what he expected to do toward set
thing Venezuela's foreign quarrels,
pointing out that as private citizen"
he was not qualified to answer, he
made it clear that the resumption OF
diplomatic relations with France de-
pended entirely upon the settlement of
the French Cable Company contro-
versy.
1T is incontestable," he said, that
the French Cable Company was an &C
complete against my government in
the Matos revolution"
But that did not justify the expul-
sion of M. Taigny, the charge daf
faires," said the interviewer.
In this, as in other differences with
the powers" replied President Castro
Venezuela only defended herself"
Hansbrough Still Very Sick.
Minneapolis, Mimi, Dec. 14.-Al