POPULACE RAGES
AGAINST CASTRO
Sacks Houses and Stores of Presi
dent's Chief Supporters.
Makes Bonfire of Fine Pictures and
Statues Rioting May Mean End
of Dictator's Rule Capital of
Venezuela Prey to Rioters All Day
Police do Nothing.
Caracas, Monday, Dec. 14 (via Wil
lemstad). Open revolt against Pres
ident Castro and his supporters broke
nut here today. Defying the police
which was powerless against its num
bers and fury, a great mob raged
through the city. It wrecked the prop
erty of Castro s leading supporters
and gathered together all of his stat
ues and pictures which could be found
and made a great bonfire of them on
the Boulevard de 1'laza.
Official action deposing Castro
from the presidency is expected at
any moment. His power is proba
bly ended.
An enormous crowd nf the inhabi
tants of the capital, swelled by peo
ple from the outlying country, gath
ered in the streets soon after day
break. The people began marching
up and down the main thoroughfares,
and it was easy to see that the ill
lemper would result in violence. The
police stood by and made no attempt
whatever to restrain the mob.
The first building to be attacked
and 'looted was that of the lottery
monopoly. The offices of the state
enterprise that has enriched itself at
the expense of the people were ran
sacked and pillaged. Furniture was
broken and thrown into the streets
and piles of lottery tickets were de
stroyed. The crowd then moved to
the printing office of El Constitu
tional, the organ of President Castro,
of which Gumcrsindo Kivas is editor,
and pillaged it completely. A steam
laundry belonging to Senor Kivas was
wrecked.
The crowd then turned its attention
to several drugstores belonging to
Senor Thielen, a son-in-law of Gen
eral Tcllo Mendoza. and turned them
inside out. General Mendoza was at
ne time minister of finance under
Castro, and one of his staunchest sup
porters. He is universally hated by
the enemies of Castro and his unpop
ularity and his close connection with
the president accounted for the anger
of the populace against the property
of his son-in-law.
Numerous inscriptions setting forth
the virtues of Castro and extolling his
powers next attracted the mob, and
every inscription was hacked out and
erased. Some of these legends were
carved in the public buildings of the
city.
It was after 1 o'clock by the time
the crowd had got thus far in its dep
redations. It was then that a detach
ment of troops was called out for
luty on the city streets, and Acting
President Gomez issued a manifesto
prohibiting further manifestations.
These measures had the desired ef
fect, for the mob quieted down and
then dispersed.
MAY OWN STEAMSHIPS.
Government Employes Inspecting Ves
sels at San Francisco.
San Francisco, Dec. 17. An inspec
tion board comprising Colonel J. B.
Bellinger, superintendent of the army
transport service, and Chief Engineer
John Donnelly and Captain Scott, of
the transport service, is completing an
inspection of the steamers Sierra, So
noma and Ventura, of the ocean
steamship line, with the probable pur
chase of them bv the government in
view. One of the officers admitted
hist night that they were making an
inspection of the vessels and would
forward the report of their investiga
tion to the department at Washing
ton. The shipping men of this citv be
lieve the goernmcnt intends to buy
the vessels for use in the much-talk-d-of
line between here and Panama. Re
cently the government purchased
three vessels at Boston to he used be
tween New York and Colon, and it is
believed the three ships in the Pacific
will link New York and San Fran
cisco via Panama by a government
owned steamship line.
Mexico Buys Canadian Grain.
Winnipeg, Dec. 17. A Mexican
syndicate has sent H. II. Cooper to
western Canada to buy an enormous
quantity of wheat and oats for ship
ment to the south on account of a
hitch in the rates for Atlantic set
norts via New York or Halifax. About
10 0011,000 bushels arc going via Van
couver, 15. C. Kates of 50 cents per
hundred for wheat and 47 cents per
liundred for oats have been m..dc for
Pacific ports, the railways refusing to
mote an all-rail rate through the cen
tral states. Cooper says the hard
northern is preferred to Kansas red
Trps Water-Filled Shaft.
Oroville. Cal.. Dec. 17. R. Mc
Ewcn, one of the owners of the Bum
blebee mine, six miles from this city,
while working at the inner end of a
C 10 foot tunnel last Sunday drove his
pick into an abandoned shaft tilled
with water, which gushed out into his
face, washed him and bis tools en
tirely out of the mine. McEwcn real
ized that he was working near the old
shaft and be was half expecting water,
but not in any such quantity as
greeted him.
Escaped Prisoner is Ghoul.
Seattle. Dec. 17. George Williams,
the red-haired prisoner who slipped a
handcuff nd escaped from Detective
Tack Barck Monday, has been identi
fied as "Kid" Harnett, who mutilated
victims of the Galveston flood in 1S9S
and escaped a death penalty only
through the tears of a broken hearted
mother. i
EXPRESS CAR LOOTED.
O. R. & N. Passenger Train Held Up
Near Portland.
Portland, Dee. I8.0. U. & N. train
No. 1, tho Chicago Express, weHtbound,
was held up by threo robbers at 9:10
o'clock last night eight miles east of
Portland. Entrance to the express car
was obtained by nitroglycerin, and
the express messenger, O. II. Huff, was
compelled to open the way safe, which
was looted.
Tho passengers were not molested
and the desperadoes made good their
eseapo after uncoupling the engine and
forcing tho engineer, (ieorgo Jv Don
Ion, to carry them down tlio track u
mile or more.
That, tho robbers got but little for
their trouble was due to t lit quick ac
tion of Messenger IfulT. Warned by
shots and tho uncoupling of the two ex
press ears, mail ear ami engine from
the rest of tho train, Huff quickly un
locked the safe and taking out packages
containing from $2,000 to $4,000 turew
them into an obscure corner. These he
replaced with packages that had littlt
value, which he grabbed from a shelf
beside tho safe. It was these bundles
that the robbers got when thuy com
pelled Huff to open the safe.
That the robbers were, desperate and
ready to kill without compunction was
shown by tho fact that they fired on
the slightest provocation both at Mes
senger Huff ami tlnv fireman, Mark II.
Hon. Neither man was injured and no
Knots were fired at the robbers.
Although the passenger coaches were
not invaded, the occupants were terri
fied during the holdup. The traiD was
about one mile west of Clarnji; when
Engineer Poiilou and Fireman Hon
were startled Ijy a command to throw
up their hands. Turning, they were
confronted by three men, two of whoa
were masked and the third had hii face
blackened. The engine crew had no op
portunity to offer resistance, and En
gineer Donlon was ordered a moment
later to stop the train, which he did.
The moment the wheels ceased turning
two of the robbers left the cab, taking
with them the fireman, while the third
member of the gang remained to guard
the engineer.
Under orders from the robbers,
backed up at all times with ready re
volvers, Fireman Bon endeavored to cut
off tho mail and express cars, but was
badlv frightened and unable to un
couple the cats speedily enough to suit
tbe robbers, who shoved mm asiae ana
completed the work in a way that
showed them to be thoroughly familiar
with that work.
As Fireman Bon was shoved aside, he
. ... . . . i . i .i
was lett momentarily ungu:iru"u, aui
made good his opportunity to dash
away trom the rollers. as ne ran,
however, one of the highwaymen
turned and fired at him, but missed, al
though the distance was short. Bon
stumbled and fell a second later, and
this gave the robber opportunity for
another shot its the fireman arose, this
also going wild. Bon redoubled hig
speed and ran to the observation car at
the rear of the train, where he found
Conductor Dunn, with whom he went
to a nearby farmhouse and telephoned
news of the crime to the Portland po
lice.
The express and mail cars were th-?'i
left standing on the track while tne
robbers forced the engineer to carry
them nearly
to
to
Montavilla. where they
a street car line into
were close
Portland.
The hoi. hips are believed to hare
boarded the train at Hood Kiver. for
that was the last stop made on the trip
before the robbery, with the exception
of a short stay at Bonneville uider
special orders to take on a physician.
Tbe evident leader ot tne gang is uc
scribed as short and wearing a dark
mustache. He was masked about the
upper part of the face with a hand
kerchief. Another of the robbers was
a Swede, who talked brokenly, and
whose face had been blackened. No
description of the third member of
the gang was obtained.
PRACTICALLY STATE OF WAR
Gomez' State of Defense Means Same
Thing to Us.
Washington. Dec. 1. flurry
caused in diplomatic circles today
the report which generally obt'
that Venezuela had declared
against Holland. These reports
was
aver
Hied
war
had
their foundation in the dispatch to the
state department by way of Bogota,
transmitting a telegram from Caracas,
saying that the government had made
such a declaration. It was also pointed
out, however, that the announcement
was based on Vice President Gomez's
declaration that the country is in a
state of defense because Holland had
seized the coast gnardship Alexis.
Officials profess to see no actual dif
ferenco between a "state of war" and
a "state of defense," taking the posi
tion that it is a "case of distinction
without a difference." A renewal of
the demonstration against the Castro
administration would not be a surprise
to the state department.
Should the feeling against the presi
dent develop to the extent of an open
revolution, the state department, it is
said, would lose no time in assuming
diplomatic intercourse with the new ad
ministration to the extent that som
action might le taken on the unsettled
claims against Venezuela and the re
sumption of friendly relations.
Plan Reforms in India.
Iondon. Dec. IS. Lord Moiley. Tii
dian secretary, speaking in the house of
lords today, "unfolded a plan for the re
form of the government of India, open
ing wnat he described as "a verv im
portant chapter in the liistorv of the
relations between Great Britain and
India." He made no attempt to min
imie the formidable difficulties con
fronting the government of India, ow
ing to the unrest and anarchy, but dep
recated the alarmist views regarding
tho situation.
Money for Coast Liie.
Madison. Wis., Dec. IS The Wis
eonsin railroad commission has ap
proved the issuance of $150,000,000 of
stocks bv the Chicago, Milwaukee &
St. Paul railroad to provide funds for
its Pacific roast extensions. The road
recently filed notice of th issue of
stork with the secretary of state and
paid fee of $150,000 for the privilege.
HAPPENINGS GATHERED IN AND
AROUND WASHINGTON. D. G.
Saturday, December 19
Washington, Dec. 1'J. Both bouses
of congress adjourned today, until
January 4. During the two weeks'
intermission many of the representa
lives and senators will return to their
homes to spend the holidays. A mini
ner will remain at tne capital to par
ticipate in the deliberations of minor
committees, although the big tariff
hearing, which lias consumed five
weeks of the time of the ways and
means committee of the house, is
practically ended.
Washington, Dec. Hi. Vice-President
Fairbanks today announced a
senatorial committee of Senators
Knox, Lodge and Bacon to co-operate
with a committee from the lower
house in making preparations for the
inauguration of President-elect Taft.
Senator Flint, of California, today
introduced a bill in congress for the
establishment at South San Francisco
of a naval base for the Pacific coast.
Washington, Dec. H). Representa
tive Cushman, of Washington, has un
successfully attempted to get the
house to consider his bill opening to
homestead entry 12-to acres of land
on Puget sound, now abandoned mil
itary reservations, occupied by (it set
tiers.
The Southern Pacific railroad is
granted the privilege of constructing
a tunnel under the Fort Mason mili
tary reservation, in San Francisco,
from its tracks to the wharf, in a bill
which passed the house today. The
bill has passed the senate, only the
president's signature being required
now to make it a law.
Friday, December 18.
Washington, Dec. 18 Shortly after
the holidays the senate probably will
decide where it will place marble busts
of two of its vice-presidents, Roose
velt and 1-airlianks.
Mr. Roosevelt's
career in the senate
was extremely
it ended about
to this time no
made.
brief, and although
seven vears ago, up
bust of him has been
Washington. Dec. IS. The name of
eorge W. Wickersham, of New York,
has been under consideration several
davs for the post of attorney-general.
Among others consulted by Mr. Taft
concerning Mr. Wickersham 's qualifi
cations was Senator Knox, ex-attorney-
genorai ot the I nited States, the clioice
ot Mr. Taft for the post of secretary
of state.
Washington, Dec. IS. The president
is considering the advisability tvi Hav
ing a thorough examination and report
made on the character of the formations
that underlie the locks and dams along
the line of the Panama canal. It is re
garded as important to determine at
this time the exact magnitude of the
task of providing stable foundations for
these locks and dams.
Washington, Dec. IS. The president
will soon send to the senate the nomi
nation of Sherman Moreland. of Kl
mini, N. Y., to be associate jus
tice of the supreme court of the Philip
pine islands. The vacancy was created
by the resignation of Judge .lames G.
Tracy. Judge Tracy will return to his
home in Albany, N. Y., to resume the
practice of law.
Thursday, December 17.
Washington, Dee. 17. The postal
savings bank bill was before the senate
today for more than an hour, liurk
ett, of Nebraska, making a comprehen
sive argument in favor of its pass-age.
The senate listened also to a message
from the president recommending a
change in the government of the Dis
trict of Columbia by which a single ex
ecutive head would take the place of
the board of three commissioners, who
now jointly act as a governing board.
The senate adjourned till Saturdav.
A great many of the senators left
Washington today to pass the holidays
at their homes, as congress will a 1
journ from Saturday next until Janu
ary 4.
Tin senate today passed a bill ciiang
ing the name of the Willamette customs
district to Portland customs district.
Washington. Dec. 17 By unanimous
vote the house today adopted a resolu
tion presented by the special commit
tee of five calling on the president for
proof of his charge that members were
fearful of an investigation by the secret
service agents. The committee sub
mitted its report and recommendation
immediately after the house convened.
Wednesday, December 16.
Washington. Dec. 1t Without dis
cussion the senate today adopted Sen
ator Fof.aker's resolution introduced
in the senate yesterday calling on the
secretary of war for various informa
tion concerning the employment of
detectives for use in the Brownsville
affair.
Senator Clapp. of Minnesota, chair
man of the Indian affairs committee,
has prepared a bill to authorize the
secretary of the interior to build two
bridges and a roadway on the Warm
Springs reservation in Oregon, tolls
to be collected if necessary.
Senator Ablrich. of Rhode Island,
today introduced, and the senate
adopted, a resolution looking toward
the censuring of President Roosevelt
for his action in connection with tin.
employment of the secret service offi
cers. Washington, Dec. lfi. Except for a
few moments spent in the transaction
ot routine business and the passage
of two bridge bills, the house of rep
resentatives today devoted its entire
Taft to Visit Panama.
Washington. Dec. l.. President
elect Taft is planning a flying visit to
Panama before bis inauguration. He
feels that the completion of the canal
is one of the biggest problems that be
has to confront at the beginning of
his administration, perhaps the big
gest, and he is anxious to make one
more visit to the isthmus and go over
the operations before be assume the
duties of chief executive. He plans to
go abour the middle of January.
time to the further consideration of
the bill to revise the penal laws of the
United States. The Garrett amend
ment, which came over from last
night and which prohibited sending
through the mails information bear
ing on transactions in futures, was de
feated by a decided vote.
Without opposition, an amendment
by Mr. Houston (Tenn.) was adopted,
making it an offense to deposit in or
ship through the mails intoxicating
liquors.
There was still pending when the
bill was laid aside an amendment by
Mr. Humphreys (Miss.) providing for
the identification of intoxicating liq
uors transported by interstate carriers.
This proposition caused extended de
bate today.
Representative Ifawlcy. of Oregon,
today introduced a bill to appropriate
$10,000 for repairing dykes at Tilla
mook bay and $5,000 annually for the
maintenance of work at Tillamook
bay, directing the secretary of war to
order a survey for an estimate of the
cost of channels, respectively 13 and :jo
feet deep at mean low time at the bar
of Tillamook bay, corresponding
depth to be maintained in the bay and
in the slough to Tillamook City.
Tuesday, December 15.
Washington, Dec. 1 .1. Senator Car
ter today spoke in support ot
the postal savings bank bill. After
referring to the various indorsements
by political conventions and other or
ganizations of the principle involved.
Carter said that, while there are only
1-152 savings banks, there are more
than r,l,00: postoffices. 40,000 of which
ire money order offices. He declared
that postal savings banks are in oper
ation in practically all civilized coun
tries of the world except the United
States.
Senator Borah, of Idaho, introduced
a Dili requiring lcnerai courts, unless a
good cause to the contrary is shown.
to dismiss indictments against per
sons who through no fault ot their
own are unable to obtain a trial dur
ing the term of court following that in
which the indictment was returned
against them.
The senate has confirmed the fol
lowing Oregon postmasters: John F.
Loggan, Burns; L. B. kuthcrlord,
Rainier; Ben Weathers, Enterprise;
also John k. Willis, of Oregon, as col
lector of customs in Alaska.
Washington. Dec. 1,5. Efforts arc
being put forth by Representative
Mondell of Wyoming to smooth the
way lor the passage at this session ot
congress ot Ins bill increasing the
quantity of land that may be taken up
for a homestead trom l'"i0 to :20 acres.
The house passed a bill placing an
annual tax of $100- on all dealers in
cigarettes or cigarette papers. The
measure was offered by Representa
tive Mann, of Illinois, as an amend
ment to a bill imposing a tax of $12
on all dealers handling manufactured
tobacco products.
Monday, December 14.
Washington. Dec. 14. The Browns
ville riot case again became a live is
sue in the feud between President
Roosevelt and Senator For.aker today.
The senator reopened the controversy
by reading letters from some of Un
discharged soldiers, telling of at
tempts of detectives to extort con
fessions. Then he offered an amend
ment to his bill for the reinstatement
of the ex-soldiers, providing that evi
dence as to their guilt or innocence be
taken by a commission of three re
tired army officers as a prerequisite
to their re-enlistment, thus taking this
power from the president.
This assault was met bv a counter
blast from the president. A special j
message w as rend, accompanied by j
the report of detectives, who have as-
ertamed w hat purport to he the tacts i
ahout the riot, with the n.iint
.f t
1C
ringleaders. The president recom
mended that those e-sohlitrs who
could show their innocence be rein
stated. Senator Fulton today introduced a
resolution authorizing the secretary of
war to prepare a project for the im
provement of the mouth of the Sins
law river at a cost not exceeding
S'.'dO, ouii. the government to bear half
the expense, and the remainder to be
paid by state or local community.
Senator Dick, of Ohio, today intro
duced a resolution in the senate urg
ing that February 12. 100!). the hun
dredth anniversary of Abraham Lin
coln's birthday', be fittingly celebrated
by the nation. He suggested a joint
session of congress, with addresses by
prominent men and meetings in all
the cities throughout the country and
in all educational institutions. The
motion met with no opposition.
Washington. Dec. 14. Whi'e con
sidering bills dealing with affairs in
flic District of Colli nhia, the house
today passed a measure providing for
s.'i-cent gas in Washington. The bill
now goes to the senate. a well as an
other bill abolishing bucket-shops in
the District. A bill providing for
free lectures in the public schools was
voted down.
An attempt by Henry, of Texas, to
obtain a change in the reference of a
bill prohibiting the making of future
contracts on agricultural products
brought forth the promise from
Chairman Scott, of the agricultural
committee, that his committee would
soon grant hearings to farmers'
unions and others on this subject.
The house voted to adjourn S.atur
day. December l'.), to Monday. Janu
ary 4. .
Volunteer Army Bill.
Washington. Dec. IT. Representa
tive Hull, of Iowa, has introduced in
the house a general staff bill giving
the president authority to raise a
great volunteer army in time of war.
making every citizen between the ages
of IS and 45 liable for military duty.
The house passed an amendment to
the present postal law making the
penalty of an embezzlement theft
from the United States mail as a pos
tal employee, a tine of $50;l and im
prisonment for five years, or both.
DENA1 llfliD ALCOHOL.
Oregon Agrhul jral College Gives In
formation n This Subject.
fit C. E. Bradley, rrtgon Agricultural College
C urvallU.
On June 7, 1900, congress passed a
law removing the internal revenue tax
of $2.07 per gi Ion on grain alcohol
which had been properly denatured or
rendered unfit lor drinking purposes
by the addition of certain materials,
such as wood .alcohol, benzine or py
ridine. It was hoped that by the re
moval of this tax alcohol could be ob
tained cheaply enough to compete
with petroleum for light and fuel. The
demand for such alcohol can be read
ily seen when we note that approxi
mately 3,000,000 gallons of gasoline
are consumed daily in the country and
that the increased demand for it, due
to the development of the modern ex
plosion motor, has doubled its price
in the last ten years. Indiana and
Ohio oils contain only about 5 per
cent of gasoline and the per cent of
the lighter distillate in California and
Texas crude oil is very low. The
supply of gasoline therefore seems to
be limited, but the demand increasing.
Alcohol, it has been demonstrated,
can meet this demand. Furthermore,
the annual consumption of kerosene
in the United States approximates 1.
000,000,000 gallons, three-fourths o'
which are probably used by the far
mers. Since one gallon of alcohol i
equivalent to two gallons of kerosetit
for lighting purposes, 375,000.000 gal
lons of alcohol could be used on the
farms of this country each year. This
would require for its production 140,
000,000 bushels of corn, or 5.000,000
acres, an increase of 5 per cent over
that now grown. If made from pota
toes, this 375,000,000 gallons of alcohol
would require, 450,000.000 bushels, or
5,000,000 acres, an increase of CO per
cent over that now produced. The
present consumption of alcohol
amounts to but 10,000,000 gallons per
year.
Ethyl or grain alcohol is a natural
product, formed by the fermentation
of various kinds of sugar through the
agency of yeast organisms. Since
starch is readily convertible into su
gar by either natural or artificial
means, materials which contain nota
ble quantities of either starch or su
gar may be utilized for making alco
hol. The more important sources of
alcohol are the cereals, potatoes, mo
lasses and fruits. In France alcohol
is chiefly made from the sugar beet, in
Germany from the potato, and in
America from corn. A bushel of corn
will yield approximately 2h gallons ot
05 per cent alcohel; a bushel of pota
toes three-fourths of a gallon and a
bushel of apples o-ie-third of a gallon
In the large distilleries it costs
about 17 cents t? manufacture and
place on the market one gallon of al
cohol, and the cost of the raw material
used brings this ordinarily to approx
imately 30 cent!!. Allowing for the
necessary profit, a)obol wijl reach the
consumer at about 10 cents per gallon.
But alcohol at -10 cents can compete
with kerosene at - rents for lighting
purposes, since alcohol has twice the
illuminating value of kerosene, and in
competition kerosene can never de
mand more than one-half the market
price of alcohol.
For making cheap alcohol a cheap
concentrated raw product and a well
equipped plant are necessary. The
plant should have a capacity of at
least 100 gallons per day. the ccst of
such a p'ant being in the neighbor
hood of $10,000. No such plan: can
operate successfully on waste pro
ducts alone, especially if such sre to
be obtained for only a brief part of
the year, as, for example, waste fruits.
There must be some more stapl: pro
duct as a basis, with the wast? ma
terials handled as a side issue. For a
staple in the Northwest we must look
to potatoes or sugar beets, and dam
aged grain when it can be secured, on
which materials, together with various
waste products, a plant could be op
erated throughout the year.
Because (if the persistent irquiries
relative to the merits and d:m:rits of
the wheat known locally as "Alaska.'1
the Idaho experiment s-t ition has
given the wheat a milling t'.'St and
subjected the flour so obtained U
chemical examination and baking
tests. The results of these tests, to
gether with such other information
concerning the wheat as could be
gathered from reliable sources, have
just been published in bulletin form.
The vheat is apparently of the same
variety that is. known in southern Eu
rope as Poulard, or Egyptian. It is
used there for' making macaroni and
other pastes, and the flour made from
it is said to be in demand by certain
French markets.
Under field conditions the wheat
has not made any phenomenal yields,
averaging this year perhaps no better
than ordinary winter wheat. The ker
nels are large and plump and compare
favoraMy in appearance with much cf
the wlif.it that is raised in northern
Idaho; because of their size and shant
!hcy are easily broken, however, and
rare must be exercised in threshing to
prevent this.
The results of the milling tests
how '.hat no particular difficulty is
met with in grinding the wheat. The
flour secured is described as sharp
and granular, and is capable of mak
ing an excellent quality of biscuits,
muffins, cakes, etc. When made into
light bread, color, flavor, texture and
size of loaf were noted. In color the
bread was darker than that baked
from Turkey red. but decidedly
liehter than that baked from little
club tlour. Flavor and texture were
Pronounced good. In sire the loaves
ere inferior to those baked from
Turkey red. but compared very favor-V-
this rcenect with tno linked
V m litt'c club tlour. The bulletin
! s by .'.'rcssii'g the Ex-
"eriment Station, Moscow.
When a woman goes Into a dry 1
goods store, and Is pleased with every- ;
thing shown ner. it is a sign luur suo
has no Intention of buying. Hut If
she finds fault with everything. sh
intends to buy that day.
Qol( Useful.
"She has a very useful husband."
How do you make that out?"
"He can always suggest something
that he wants for dinner." Detroit
Free Press.
EVANS DEFENDS
AMERICAN NAVY
Says Our Ships Are Equal to British
of Same Date.
Admiral Answers Critics With Much
Vigor Latest Type Beat Dread
naught Armor is Well Placed
Says Only Blunder is Due to Line
Officers.
New York, Dec. 15. The latest bat
tleships built by this country are
vastly superior to England's Dread
naught is emphatically stated by
Rear-Admiral Kobley D. Evans in a
magazine article written by him.
wherein he strongly defends the
American navy, and replies to criti
cisms of it.
"I do not for a moment claim that
the Indiana and her sister ships are
equal to the Dreadnaught of the Eng
lish navy," says Admiral Evans, "only
that she is the equal of the English
ships designed at the same time. But
I do claim that our latest ships are
vastly superior to the Dreadnaught,
and 1 believe that every fighting man
who has given the subject intelligent
consideration will agree with me."
1 he admiral urges the superiority of
the 13-inch gun over the 12-inch gun
and asserts that the change to the les
ser caliber to conform to England s
type was a most serious blunder. This
is chargeable, he says, to the seago
ing officers ot the navy and not to
any staff corps.
Regarding the waterline armor belt,
he says:
"1 am sure, after many weeks of
close observation, that the lower edge
of tbe. armor belt is too high rather
than too low." It had been strenu
ously contended by critics that the
low location of the belt was a vital
point of weakness. "As the upper
edge of the belt is always even with
or above the level of the protective
belt," continues Admiral Evans, "the
danger to be apprehended from a
projectile penetrating above the belt,
beyond the wrecking effect of such
projectile, is that due to the amount of
water that may enter the hole. It is
the damage that may be done by such
projectiles entering below that may
cause the ship to sink by exploding
tfiagazines or boilers, but this is im
probable. It will require many 12
inch shells on the waterline or on any
other to disable or sink such a ship,
if tbe officers and men know their
business and want to fight."
. CASTRO IN RAGE.
Declares Act of Holland Outrage on
Civilization.
Berlin, Dec. 15. "The seizure of the
coast gnardship Alix by the Dutch
cruiser Gelderland is no less than
naval brigandage. It is an outrage
on civilization. By that act Holland
has put herself outside the pale of de
cency. I do not know what Vene
zuela will do about it."
Jn this caustic language President
Castro of Venezuela commented to
day on the warlike move made by
Holland Saturday, the news of which
was not conveyed to him "until he
reached this city this afternoon.
Castro declares that his visit to this
city is to consult Dr. Israel. He as
serts that whoever says he is not sick
is telling a lie.
The Venezuelan president has en
gaged the first floor, containing thirty
rooms, at the Hotel Esplanade, and
his bill will be a trifle over $250 a
. IT , r . r
ciav. tie nas engaged tor ine use or
himself and his partv ten motor cars.
at a cost of $500 daily. He is sur
rounded by a small army of detectives
and followed by a retinue of gaily at
tired flunkeys. Representatives of the
foreign office greeted Castro today.
They have been ordered to show him
everv courtesy.
Examiner on Double Duty.
Chicago, Dec. 15. Cassius C. Jones,
chief state bank examiner, assigned to
Cook county, has suddenly resigned
his place rather than face the scandal
which his superiors say will be stirred
up if letters , written to him by city
bank officials are made public. The
charge made against Jones is that be
was privately employed by these
banks as an examiner while he was
doing the same duty for the state. The
banking act says no employe of a
bank shall be appointed as a bank ex
aminer to inspect the institution by
which he is employed.
Anniversary of Washington's Death
Fredericksburg. Va . Dec. 15. The
Masonic lodge of this city yesterday
sent a delegation of its members to
Mount Vernon to place a memorial
wreath on the tomb of George Wash
ington, on the occasion of the one
hundred and ninth anniversary of the
death of the first president. It was in
the Fredericksburg lodge that Gen
eral Washington was made a Mason,
and for many years past the lodge has
regularly observed the anniversary of
his death.
Ceylon Entertains Fleet.
Colombo. Ceylon. Dec. 15 The
United States and Ccvlon pail their
. ., ...... i. i-
rcspects to cacti outer ina.ay uiromju
official visits between Rear Admiral
Snerry. of the battleship fleet, and
Sir Henry Edward McC.il'um. gov
ernor of Ceylon. The American war
ships .arc coa'ing for their journey
through the Indian ocean to the Suez
canal.
Grafters Denied New Trial.
Harrisburg. Pa. Dec. 12 Judge
Kunkel yesterday overruled a motion
for a new trial for Snyder. Sanderson,
Mathue and Shumaker. the officials
and contractors who were convicted
on the charge of conspiring to de
fraud the state in the matter of the
state capitol contract.