EX-PRESIDENT CASTRO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 34, 3 August 1911, Page 3

EX-PRESIDENT CASTRO.

SAILS AS A PIBATE. ' A MYSTERIOUS CRUISER. New York, June 15, Cipriano Castro, the ex-dictator of Veiiezuela, is at present playing hide-and-seek on the high seas with the American Government. He has obtained possession of a cruiser "bought on behalf of the Haytian Government, and America is now making every effort to prevent him again entering Venezuela and starting anarchy once more. The whole consular service of the United States in Central and South America and the West Indies, as well as at other ports, has been pressed into action as a detective bureau by the State Department to keep Castro under the strictest surveillance; the Federal secret service is watching all likely American seaports to prevent the _ outfitting of a filibustering expedition; a special watch has been set at New Orleans, wherq it is reported that 3000 rifles and appropriate ammunition are secreted; and several American warships have been ordered to Port au Prince to enquire what Castro is doing aboard the cruiser, where he is reported to have established floating headquarters.

If Castro is really flying the German flag, as is reported, the vessel may be seized as a pirate. Even if this is not done, Castro will be headed back towards Europe when America comes up with him.

There is much uneasiness in Washington lest Castro should suddenly leave Hayti and effect a landing on some obscure part of the Venezuelan coast. Should he depart from Hayti, American warships will practically establish a blockade of Venezuela and try to drive him off.

There is some humor in a situation in which one little South American revolutionist is being driven hither and thither on the Atlantic, but it does not appeal to the American Government, which is in deadly earnest in its effort to prevent the old-time disorders again breaking out in Venezuela.