The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-27
Esfuerzo Is N OF En-
titled to American
Protection.
PUNITIVE ACTION
ISNOT CALLED FOR
Adviccs Received by State De
partrnent Shed New Light on
Nicaraguan Affair--British
Ships, Now En- Route,
May Further Complicatc
Tense Situation.

Washington, May os.-If the schoon-
ser Esfuerzo. which was searched by
the Nicaraghan gunboat Venus, was
flying the United states flag at the
time she was overhaulod. as has been
reported she was carrying the stars
and stribes without any authority. ac-
cordlngi to Official adviccs received
here.
1t Us admitted at the state Depart
ment that the seizure of the Esfuerzo
by the Nicaraguan gunboat Venus
calhs for no punitive action on the
paSt of this government.
dispatches received at the state De-
r,a'rtment from United States Consul
Mos1at at Bluefields and from Capt.
Gilmeir, commanding the naval forces
in that vicinity, show that the Esfuer-
20 was sailing under false colors and
Is not ersti,led to the protection OF
this government According to these
owned by Americans. Is registered as
a Nicaraguan7 vessel and is not en-
titled to ny tlpe United states flag.
No Violation OF lights.
Although Thea action m the Venus
In searching herr may have been ir-
regular. 1t involveo1, 1T /, declared. no
violation of Americsli-5A-Sfts, and con-
sequently called for no action on the
part of the American guiaboats Padu-
cab and Dubuque, engaged in the en-
forcement Of the admini, ,stration pol-
icy at Bluefelds
The situation at that port WILL he
come further complicated lin day- OF
two by the arrival there .of the Brit
fish cruiser scylla and 4he Estrada
gunboat Utsteln. The s'cylla saile,,
from Jamaica last Sunday or Monday
under orders from London to guard
British interests on the east coast OF
Nicaragua. narticularIy ia the neigh.
borhocd of Rinefelds. be, scyslla pa.
troiled that coast several months age
and prevented the bon,bardment by
the Estrada fleet of the town of Grey
town, occupied by the AIadriz forces
1t Is expected that she Y.ill co-operatt t.
with the American gun!boats In pro-
tecting. foreign interests at Bluetields
sailed From New Orleans.
| Tho Ctstein cleared from New Or
leans on the 10Th instant flor Bluehelds
with the avowed purpose OF putting the
Madriz gunboat Venus olpt of coi:,alis-
1 sion. The Utstein carried several guns
and large supplies of am tnunition. she
| is said to be under tha command OF
General Sussman. Estra{a's agent at
New Orleans. with Gabriel Conrad. a
| Louisianan, as his chief fighting lieu
| tenant
| Conrad has rendered g1ood service III
| the cause OF the insurgents and is cred
I. tied with having led EStrada's army
| to victory at Ell Recreo
! Change I'm Our Attitude.
Indications are that th4re mas been
| a slight change in the attGtude OF the
| government here regarding the olock-
| ade at Bluetie1ds. although no admls-
| sion to that effect can be secured
| II is quite evident. however, that
| there is now less disposition to inter-
fere with the operations o$ the Madri2
| cruiser Venus than was III hrst mani
|fested In other words, SO long as
| her commander observes the rules OF
| civilized warfare eand refrains from
| BON harding an junforttied town as
well as from Interfering with foreign
commerce he Will probably not be again
lmanders Admitting the existence OF
a state. OF war at Bluefelds. certain In
Iherent privileges must be conceded tc
= the belligerents on both Sides else the
! strup gle would never come to an end
Captain Gilmer. of the Paducah, the
(senior American naval officer on tho
/ spot, has been given the instructions
. usual III such cases. They We're cablet
i to-day.
. These allow him considerable liberty
! of action. but, of course. would mo-
warrant him plunging the United
States into war with either of tht
Nicaraguan factions. unless a grea
emergency should arise, which is no
. anticipated For instance, he woule
j not attempt to prevent the Venue from
, bombarding the custom house bluff
four miles from Bluefelds. which com
mands the approaches to the town
The bluff is understood to be defended
by two six-pounders. and to be gar
risoned by an armed force of insur
| gents. so that it is conceded to be I
: proper point Of attack under the rule
} of modern warfare. Likewise the Nav,
n Department holds that 1t is not Can
tain Gilmer's business to Interfere J
the Venus should stop and search
E Nicaraguan vessel belonging to tn
opposing faction, which explains VIII
no protest was made against tn
!, search of the Efuer2o yesterday.