Evening star., 1963-02-14
Venezuelan
Reds Seize
Freighter

NAAAASt NNAASSNSAot ANSs
IA (AP).-United States Navy
planes sighted and circled a
hijacked Venezuelan freighter
today about 200 miles due south
of the Dominican Republic in
the Caribbean Sea, the Vene-
zuelan Navy announced.
The freighter was seized
Tuesday night by members Of
a Communist terrorist organi-
zation opposed to the govern
ment of President Romulo Be-
tancourt, Communications Min
lister Pablo Militant reported.
Earlier reports said the ter
roristS had help from an uni
Identified warship.
The Venezuelan government
declared the seizure an act Of
piracy and asked the navies of
all nations to help in capturing
it.
The Navy announcement said
the United States Navy planes,
presumably from Puerto Rico,
were circling the ship.
Search Requested
The government ordered de-
stroyers into the search for the
3,l27-ton freighter Anzoategui,
whose skipper radioed that
members Of the Communist
Armed Forces for National Lib
Grafton (FALN took over as
she steamed toward New Or
leans, But 1t was learned that
no destroyers have left the
navy base at La Guaira. The
Navy kept its search plans
secret.
But Foreign Minister Marcos
Falcon Briceno said the gov
ernment had made specific
requests for searches from the
United States. Colombia, Pam
ANA, Brazil, Costa Rica and
the Dominican Republic.
Mr.. Miliani's report changed
the time Of the hijacking from
Wednesday to Tuesday, shortly
after 1t left Venezuelan waters.
The government shipping
company first reported that the
captain Of the ship had mes
saged the ship was intercepted
by a warship but later the
company said 1t could not con-
firm whether another vessel
was involved.
Mr.. Miliani said there was
evidence the terrorists slowed
away with the help OF some Of
.he 36-man crew.
The terrorists said in mes
sages they meant the seizure
OF the ship to stir world opinion
against Mr.. Betancourt.
Fuel for Is Days
The Anzoategui left the
Caracas port of La Guaira
Tuesday and was reported to
have been seized at a point
about 10 miles off the coast.
But in Washington the
Venezuelan Embassy reported
1t had been informed by Ca
racas the ship had been seized
3l7 miles north of Caracas.
The ship was reported TO
have enough fuel for Is days.
The 50 million vessel is owned
by the government shipping
company. Venezolana de Nave
gacion.
An extremist Caracas news
paper said before the report Of
the sighting by the United
States planes that the ship had
turned toward Brazil.
Venezuela has six destroyers
but only two are operational.
In Caracas. a fresh wave OF
terrorism exploded, apparently
timed with the seizure OF the
freighter. More than a score OF
persons we're wounded In scat
tered gun battles between
FALN terroriSts and police.
Terrorists also burned down
a tire factory and set fire n
several buses and cars.
Armed Forces Alerted
The terrorists threw flaming
bottles OF gasoline at passing
police cars and against the
building OF Radio Continente,
a pro- o-Betancourt station.
The armed forces and police
were placed on the alert.
For more than a week, the
FALN has conducted terrorist
raids In Venezuela aimed at
embarrassing Mr.. Betancoutt
and hoping TO force him 10
cancel a trip TO the United
States 10 see President Ken
See NENEzIiEIA pnn. a.