Arizona republican., 1914-07-03
CONSUL'S BLUFF
 WORKED IN VENEZUELA


 HOUSTON, Texas, July 2.-Its hard for q Latin American complica- tion to get far without providing a neat little limelighted space for Con sul Phil Hanna. He has turned up this time at Monterey, Mexico, and promptly forwarded to the Washing ton government a detailed account of what happened to him and what he thought about it.
 A great many years ago he was consul at La Guayra, Venezuela when a little revolution broke out. military martinet in command of the town announced himself dictator and needing money to carry on his activi- ties, seized a bunch of American, English and German residents in the place and locked them in the town jail. They were informed that they would be released when they had made certain cash contributions to the revolutionary war chest
 Hannawas notified of the situation and, locking up the consulate and leaving an extra-sized American flag flying, he marched up to the head quarters of the dictator MT. Dictator" said Hanna, q note that you have locked up a number of Americans Permit me to introduce myself as the American consul" The dictator asked what interest that fact had for him. Tt signifies that I am here in the name of my government to demand that these Americans be released in stantly." replied Hanna. Cant do a thing for you," replied the general. They've been told that when they cough up they'll be turned loose"
 They'll be turned loose without | coughing and without delay" retort- ed Hanna. T desire in the name of my government to say, that if the American and all the European citi- zens whom you have locked up are not released by 6 o'clock this after noon l shall proceed to shell the town,"
 ITO shell-what'll you shell it with?" snorted the dictator Why
 
 !, a thousand miles and you know it. What I said" replied Hanna with frozen-faced dignity, was that if | these people are not released by o'clock I'll shell the town" And he marched out again.
 Hanna knew perfectly well that there wasn't an American ship nearer | than New Orleans, and he knew that the dictator knew it. But he had something up his sleeve. He went | back to his office and waited patient | ly. meanwhile sending a clerk down to the waterfront to watch things. The day wore on to midafternoon | Hanna was getting nervous He must 1 make good somehow. At last his | messenger returned.
 Two British cruisers are coming into the harbor, sir he reported T knew they were due today" re- piled Hanna. Now, you get word to | the commander about what we've done here and tell him it's very i'm portant for him to come and see me-" | At o'clock that afternoon three very impressive officers in the uni form of the British navy came ashore and marched straight to the Ameri- can consulate
 Hanna Slouched out of his chair, shook hands all around and explained his scrape. The naval man wanted to know how he could best serve the necessities of the moment. Just go back on shipboard and be- gin clearing those vessels for action in the most ostentatious way you can,' replied Hanna. "I'll do the | rest"
 As soon as the necessary time had elapsed to assure that these facts would have duly impressed themselves | on his dictatorship Hanna started for the palace again. He didn't have to wait for admittance.
 Have the American and European prisoners been released?' he asked They have not" replied the dicta- Then permit me to say that at 6 o'clock sharp. as I mentioned this morning, I begin smelling this town." Where's your American ships? ?" persisted dictator. 'The two British cruisers that en- tered the harbor today are under my orders," replied the American consul. and we'll blow you and your town off this coast before morning if you don't perform. Do you get it?' | The dictator didn't know whether 1 it was bluff or not but at 5:59 o'clock | the prisoners were turned loose. Hanna got a promotion for the job.