Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-12-18
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
DUTCH TAKE PATROL SHIP
FROM VENEZUELA.
Capture of Warship Causes Great Eek
element at Willemstad, Curacao
Was in Accordance With Plans of
Holland Government Trouble Is Re
suit of Long. Standing Differences.

Willemstad, Curacao, Dec. 14.-The
Dutch cruiser Gelderland came into
this port this morning towing the
Venezuelan coast guard ship Alix with
the Dutch flag flying and Dutch crew
on board. The Gelderland captured the
Alix off Puerto Cabello Saturday. At
that time the Alix was lying close in
shore and notwithstanding the threat
which the Venezuelans had made to
fire upon any of the Dutch warships
committing a hostile act, the Colder
land steamed at full speed toward the
moored vessel. This they did without
resistance and no shots came from the
forts on land.
The crew of the Alix was put ashore
and the Dutch officers and marines re-
manned on board, the Gelderland finally
taking the Alix in tow and 'steaming
away with her prize.
| The seizure of the Alix was in ac-
cordance with the plans of the Holland
government when instructions were is
sued to the Dutch warships now in
these waters to make a demonstration
off the coast of Venezuela and to cap
ture any Venezuelan ships of war or
guard vessel that they might find.
/ Willemstad Is Joyous.
The arrival of the Gelderland at Will
lemstad was greeted with unbounded
enthusiasm by those who noticed the
cruiser approaching, and soon the entire
population was down to the water front
to welcome the return of the Colder
land, towing the first of the enemy g
ships. Naturally the people of Curacao,
who have been long clamoring for &C
tivity on the part of the Dutch gov
eminent, are greatly rejoieed over this
evidence that Holland has at last be-
gun active measures against Venezuela,
but the governor of Curacao discussed
the incident as follows:
"The capture of our warships of the
coast guard and war vessels is not to
be considered an unfriendly act against
, the Venezuelans. 1t is merely repri
sal against Castro's government, which
: refuses to give satisfaction for his un
3 friendly acts toward Holland. The
seizure of these vessels will make il
: impossible for the Venezuelan govern
: ment to carry troops or ammunition t.
9 and from the various ports. A com
munication to this effect has been for
: warded by the Dutch government to thu
German minister at Caracas.
Cause of the Hostilities.
The situation between Venezuela ant
The Netherlands has been strained TO
i some months. The trouble arose indi
b rectly from the expulsion from Caraca
n of M. de Reuss, the diplomatic repre-
n sentative of Holland, but it had al
It ready been rendered acute by tn
q course of Venezuela in issuing deere
l. on May IA last that practically kille
. the commerce of Curacao.
# Other incidents that have added t
a, the illfeeling have been the stoppag
of Dutch sailing vessels at sea by tn
}: authorities of Venezuela and the storm
g. ing of the Venezuelan consulate at Wi
t, lemstad by mob.
9 Venezuela has made preparations
J; resist hostilities. Forts at La Guayr'
); Puerto Cabello and Maracaibo hav
been reinforced with men and nun
tions of war, but until Saturday no VI
d, toward act had occurred that woul
10 give Venezuela an opportunity to al
ee swer force with force The naval fore
ne of Venezuela consists of IL vessel
8, Three, the Bolivar, Miranda and Ma
ID agarita, are gunboats. The others, wit
e. the exception of the Restaurador, whiC
Id was formerly the steam yacht Atlant
We are hardly worthy of mention. The
ne are nothing but armed tugs. There
12-pound gun on the Restaurador, b.
ng aside from this, there is no gun in Il
st, feet bigger than six-pounder. II
O; Venezuelan forts, however, mount son