Venezuela.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 296, 16 December 1902, Page 1

Venezuela.

Nkw Yokk, December 11

President Castro, in an indolent manifesto, alleges that ail the Venezuelan States are rallying to (he defence of their country.

Tnree of the captured Venezuelan ships have sunk. The fourth is claimed to belong to Franc**.

One hundred and thirty Gorman sailors landed at Li. Guayra, and rescued three English directors of the Hirbour Com-

pany. A Bri.ish detachment lan leu aud removed the Vice-Consul and his family.

All the British and Germans arrested at La Guayra have been liberated.

Two thousand troops, under the Minister of War, have arrived. President Castro is sending other i enforcements.

The Ameiican newspapers are very- hostile in their attitude towards President Cstro. The diplomatists at Washington consider the arrests of British and Germans under American protection equivalent to an act of war. The German newspapers rejoice in the solidarity of the allies in enforcing treaty rights.

December 12

Mr Cullom, chairman of tire Foreign Committee of the Senate, thinks attacks on helpless Venezuela wrong, and fears thai President Cast i o wili create a situation entangling the United S'ates with i'oivign powers.

The New York Times aud Tribune do not protest against the use <f force for fear a moving event may hurry the Powers in going faither than thtir announced intention. The sinking of Venezuelan warships has created a bad impression in America. There is a general disposition to attribute ihn punitive character of the proceedings to Germany.

The Venezuelans have imprisoned the British aud German Consuls ;tt Puerto Cabello.

All adults are being summoned to the army.

President Castro is offering the important commands to rebel leaders.

The populace of La Guayra aud Caracas are extremely excited and are arming.

New York advices state that 5000 troops and 50 guns are expected at La Guayra to-day. Mr Shadforth has given notice to move in the House of Representatives that President Kooseveldt should be authorised to propose arbitration m the Venezuelan dispute.

The Italian cruiser Carlo Alberto and the American gunboat Marietta have been ordered to La Guayra. The women are filling sandbags fot (lie defence of La Guayra. General Ferrier, the Minister of War, haß posted troops, with 18 guns, on the heights behind La Guayra. Major-General Castro, the President's brother, is bringing 1000 men, all Venezuelans, armed with Mausers.

The remainder of the prisoners have been released.

Renter's Agency reports that President Castro has ask#d the American Minister in Venezuela to act as arbitrator between Venezuela and England and Germany.

The Americans assert that Germany sank the prize vessels in order to prevent the-liS-V. ~.- ; *.v of removing them to British pc \~

A member of President xtoosevelt's Government has admit* if that the Powers have the.rig'nt to seize the Customs, blockade the ports, land troopp, and occupy the capital without infringing tlu Monroe doctrine. Germany, in writing, an . Britain, verbally, have agr»ed not to seize territory in lieu of indemnity, or to pwnidnently occupy Venezuela. ucspiy- London, December 12. Cranbome in reply to questions, stated that the German commodore sank two Venezuelan prizesi The British war-shop Albert captured the Venezuelan troopship Tamora and a coastguard vessel, and conveyed them to Port of Spain, releasing the crews. The Venezuelans have seized a British steamer which was discharging coal at Puerto Cabello. The St. James Gazette trusts that Britain will not allow herself to become entangled in the trouble with Venezuela, but restrict her action to the enforcement ci her actual claims. Germany is talking of the occupation of Caracas to maintain her offended dignity. December 13. The Standard, says that after President Castro's scornful treatment of the reasonable demands of the Powers arbitration cannot be substituted for a definite settlement, j Lord Lansdowne, speaking at the United Service Club dinner in London, in referring to the Venezuelan trouble said that little ebullitions were not without their advantage. England, would see

the British and German sailors enforcing just demands. Berlin, December 13.

German official circles affirm that if ships taken as prizes were really destroyed it was due to their unseaworthiness or for military reasons. The fleets werfl originally ordered to seize the revenue cutters before the blockade.

The following; particulars regarding Venezuela, extracfcek from The Statesman's Year Book, may be useful to our readers in view of the cable messages now being received concerning events in that little South American republic. The area of Venezuela is about 594,000 square miles, or about five times that of New Zealand, and its population in 1891 (the latest available) was two and one-third millions, besides about 300,000 native Indians. Caracas, the capital, is a good-sized city of 72,000 inhabitants (in 1894), and there were then seven other towns of over 10,000, anJ averaging over 20,000 each. In IS9I the permanent army consisted of 9000 men, and besides these regular troops every citizen from 18 to 45 years of age must be enrolled as- a member of the national militia. The Government is modelled on that of the United States, hue more independence is givt-n to provincial and local government.--. Tue President is elected for two years only, and cannot .sit for two terms in succession. The legislature consists of two Houses, a Senate of 24 and ii- Mouse of II presentatives of 52. Etch of the States has its Oongie*d or Provincial Government, the members of which are elected by universal suffrage. Mnce 1896 several contracts have been ntnde for introducing immigrants, but not many have been introduced. The State religion is Roman Catholic, but all others are tolerated, though they are not allowed to make any out-door demonstrations. The number of people who are Roman Catholics is under 10,000. Education is free

and compulsory, and there are about 1500 rchoois, 4 normal pcliools, one of arts and trades, two universities, 33 colleges (besides 26 private colleges). Caracas has a national library of 32,000 volumes, and a national museum. The foreign debt in 1901 was a little over 5 millions, a considerable part of it being built up of unpaid interest, The internal debt was about 44 millions.