New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-17
Venezuelan PresidentF Finds
He Can't Depend on
Force of 5000.
OFFICERS ARRESTED
AND PLACED IN JAIL
Students Protest to Project of
Police Against Closing Thei:
Association.
by cable 10 The Tribune. !


Caracas. March l6.-President Gomez
and his government are in precarious
condition. The army that he has Quilt "
with great care and al great expense -
the country is not the comforting element
that he expected it would be in time Of
stress. Now that he has worked the force
unto q state where it might perform good
service in the field. and it is likely that
such service will be soon required, Presl-
dent Gomez finds that this army, number
ing about 1900. is not the dependable force
that he expected TO have at his com
mand.
The President has found it advisable to
remove General Galavis from command
Of the army, and several officers have
been placed in jail for expressing political
views antagonistic TO the President. one
Of those arrested is Colonel Samuel Nc
Gill. instructor general OF the army, who
was brought here from Chilli 10 instruct
the army and place il on a thoroughly
modern basis About year and half
AGO Colonel McGin made trip to New
OIh 10 Duy d Ia &c HNoiiN's va 'i "'F
supplies
II has always been the belief OF opti-
mistic persons that the modern army that
Gomez had established was a fine thing
70 protect him against enemies at home
that Is, II the army remained loyal which
ina a Latin-American country is always an
important consideration. And now that
the President has spent many thousands
Of dollars in buying up-to-date uniforms.
arms and other equipment and has had
the men drilled according to modem
manual. the question is asked here,
What is ne going 10 do with it,
Dissatisfaction in Army.
The great issue on which President
Gomez is being opposed is that of con
tinuismo'-that is, GOmezs term of Office
has expired, and under the constitution
Of Venezuela he cannot succeed himself.
Yet he has so arranged matters that there
has been no election Of his successor, and
il looks as II he meant TO hold Office an
other four years. The cry against him
has stirred Up more opposition on this
ground than the government expected,
and il has extended TO the army. Gomez
built up the army TO keep himself IN
power. and now some of his own officers
are lined up against his plan 10 continue
in Office. so that he finds himself in an
awkward position There is no doubt
that he and his followers are much
alarmed.
Another sign OF the times is the protest
which the students Of the University Of
caracas have addressed to the Project OF
Police against the closing by government
order of the General Venezuelan Students
Association. This move has made it nee
essary for students at the university to
20 TO Peru. Colombia and Panama to
complete their courses and get their de
grees. The protest OF the students, among
whom appear the names of some Of the
best families in Caracas, reads in part as
follows:
This board under no circumstances Will
accept this blow TO our citizen rights
Y GU may. by violence and force. close the
doors of our meeting place. and even
lower our flag. but our association Will
always live as a moral support. as tie
between conscience and intellect and a
defence against barbarism.
The argument Of your communication
that constitutional rights are suspended
cannot be in effect any longer as the de-
cree suspending the same is unconsttu-
tional, the country being in perfect peace,
which condition reveals the criminal and
stupid plans for the usurpatlon of power
which are being cynically carried out. Our
ideals as students and patriots compel us
to protest against this abuse of power.
Therefore we protest against this and all
the criminal and Illegal acts of the gov
eminent"
Students Get Encourag cement
10 has been a long time since any body
has dared 70 use such language of protest
against anything the government has
seen TT 20 do. but the students were much
encouraged by the general political situa-
lion. The leader OF the anti-"continu-
.smo" movement is General Jose Manuel
Hernandez Gel Mocho'D. lie is the can
didate for the Presidency Of the National
party. He and his supporters have been
active in Curacao, Trinidad and Porto
Rico in planning an uprising which Will
seek the support of AL Venezuelans who