The Wilmington morning star., 1945-10-21
GUARD ATTEMPTS J
T0FREE MEDINA
Seven Man Revolutionary
Junta, Headed By Bet
tancourt, Set Up !
Rv EVERETT BAUMAN

Nv EVERETT BAUMAN
CARACAS, Venezuela, Oct.
2O-UP)-Rebel war planes
bombed Caracas late today
and heavy fighting broke out
in the city between Revolu,
tionary troops and National
Guard units loyal to deposed
President Isaias Medina. Cas-
ualties of the 36-hour-old re-
volution were estimated at
300 dead and more than l.
900 wounded.
The National Guard units, sup
ported by armed communists,
were trying to recapture the Cara
cas- Military school where Medina
and high military officers were re-
portedly held. Counter-revolution-
airy forces were reported massing
in the Andean areas OF western
Venezuela.
the revolutionary troops, using
tanks and artillery were resisting
the counter-attack Communists
were reported to have obtained
arms and uniforms by assaultinG
local barracks.
Use Airplanes
The revolutionary government
later announced the attack against
the military school had been re-
pealled by their forces, using two
airplanes and half dozen armor-
ed cars.
Medina supporters were barri-
caded in the $40, 100000 Ell Silencio
housing project, built by Medina.
and cars filled with armed national
guardsmen and communists still
roam the streets.
A report that revolutionary pro-
visional President Romulo Bettanc-
murt had been seriously wounded
in the afternoons fighting proved
unfounded. This correspondent
talked to Bettancourt personally to-
night.
CThe pro-Medina radio Tachira-
in western Venezuela - broadcast
an urgent bulletin late this after
noon claiming Medina, at the head
of loyal troops, had entered Mira
flores, presidential palace in Cara
cas-, after heavy fighting in adj
jacent streetS.)
Earlier, Maj. Mario Vargas,
member of the revolutionary Junta
announced that Gen. Lopez Henri
uuez, commander of the all-im-
portant Los Andes Military zone,
had pledge himself to the revolu-
ton along with Gen. Leon Jurado,
Governor NJ Falson State, also in
western Venezuela.
A seven-man revolutionary Junta,
headed by Socialist Leader Romulo
Bettancourt and including civilian
and military leaders of the move
ment, was established early today.
Bettancourt told the United Press
the new regime plans important
social reforms, but that it will be
characterized by moderation and
respect for existing interests.
The Junta, he said, is calling a
meeting of commercial and indus
trial interests at Miraflores palace
tomorrow morning in order to re-
assure business interests and gain
their active support.
Promises Order
Bettancourt personally assured
the U. S. embassy today that order
will be restored in Caracas shortly.
The revolutionists tonight ap-
peared to have consolidated their
hold in eastern, southern and CEN
trail Venezuela. Only in the west
ern Andean regions was there any
strong likelihood of a counter
revolutionary attempt.
Revolutionary leaders have Or
dered the air force at Maracay to
drop 10000 leaflets over Tachira in
western Venezuela tomorrow, ex-
planning the aims of the revolution.
The rebels domination over the
eastern part of the country was
completed tonight when DR.. Luis
Teofilo Nunez, co-proprietor of the
newspaper Ell Universal of Caracas
handed over the governorship ID
Sucre State to the rebels.
No newspapers will appear In
Caracas Sunday because of
power breakdown, resulting from
severance of many overhead
cables during street fighting.
Maj. Vargas, announced that de-
posed President Medina had tele-
graphed all state governors and
commanders of interior garrisons
: to cease all resistance to the
revolution.
according to dispatches from
Cucuta, on the Colombian side OF
the border with Venezuela, troops
,, and civilians loyal to Medina were
massing at San Cristobal, capital
Of the border state of Tachira.
They said that the Merida and
Trujillo garrisons were there.
) medina and communist forces
are now few blocks from the
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