The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1908-12-18
MAKEFIRSTC CAPTURE
TAKE PATROL SHIP
FROM VENEZUELA
Capture Of wsrship Causes Great Ex-
element a. Wllemstsd Curacao
was tn Accordance With Plans Of
Holland Go7eument-Troubls Is Re
suit Of Long Standing Differences

Wmenstad CursesO, Dee. 1.-THE
Dutch cruiser GeIierland came into
This port this morning towing the
Venezuelan sOas: gard ship Alix With
the Dutch flag flying and a Dutch crew
u board. The Gelderiand captured the
ak OF Puerto CabeIlo Saturday. At
tia; time the AliK was lying close in
shore and Notwithstanding the threat
which the Yenezuelans had made TO
fire upon any Of the Dutch warships
committing a hostile act, the Colder
AMI steamed at full speed toward the
moorei vessel. This they did without
resistance and no ssots came from the
forts on land.
The crew Of the Alix vas put ashore
and the Dutch officers and marines re-
NAMED on board, the Gelderland finally
taking the Alix in tow and steaming
away with her prize.
The seizure Of the Alix was in ae-
cordance with the plans Of the Holland
government when instructions were =
sued to the Dutch wzrships now in
these waters 70 make a demonstration
OF the coast Of vencLuela and to cap
,ure any Venezuelan ships Of war or
guard vessel that they might find.
wnemstad Is Joyous
The arrival Of the Gelderland at VIII
Iemstad 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's
ships. Naturally the people Of Curacao,
who have been long elamOring for ae-
tlvity on the part Of the Dutch gov
eminent, are greatly rejoieei Owe this
evidence that Holland has at last be
gun active measures against Venezuela,
but the governor Of Curacao discussed
the incident as follows:
"Tbe capture Of our wsrshiPs Of the
coast guard and war vessels is not to
be considered an unfriendly act against
the Yenezuelans. Il is merely a repr-
sh against Castro's government, which
refuses to give satisfaction for his IN
friendly acts toward Holland. The
seizure Of these vessels will make il
impossible for the Venezuelan govern
nent 10 carry troops or ammunition 70
and from the various ports. a com
nunieation 70 this effect has been for.
warded by the Dutch government to the
German minister at Caracas"
Cause Of the Hostilites
The situation between Venezuela and
The Netherlands has been strained for
some months The trouble arose indi.
reetly from the expulsion from Caracas
Of ". De Reuss. the diplomatic repre-
sentative Of Holland, but it had al
ready been rendered acute BY the
course Of Venezuela in issuing a decree
on Nay II last that practically killed
the commerce Of Curacao.
Other incidents that have added to
the ~illfeeling have been the stoppage
Of Dutch sailing vessels at sea by the
Authorities Of Venezuela and the storm.
ing Of the Venezuelan consulate az vii
iemstad by a mob.
Venezuela has made preparations to
resist hostflities. Forts at La Guayra.
Puerto Cabello and Maracaibo have
been reinforced with men and NUM-
tions Of war, but until Saturday no IN
toward act had occurred that would
give Venezuela an opportunity to an.
swer force with force The naval force
Of Venezuela consists Of u vessels.
Three, the Bolivar, Miranda and Mar.
agarita, are gunboats. The others, with
the exception Of the Re~staurador. which
was formerly the steam yacht Atlanta.
are hardly worthy Of mention. They
are nothing but armed tugs. There is
a E-pound gun on the ~Restaurador, but
aside from this, there is no gun in the
feet bigger than s six-pounder. The
Venezuelan forts, however, mount some
modern sixineh Krupp guns.