Castro Must Face A Triple Alliance.

New York Times 100 years ago today, March 6, 1913:
Venezuela, Colombia, and Nicaragua United Against Him, Their Agents Say.
WON'T LET HIM LAND THERE
For if He Once Got Into the Mountains He Might Cause Much Trouble All Around.
    A triple alliance of South American governments, each of which has pledged its entire naval force to keep Cipriano Castro out of Venezuela, has been formed, according to South American agents stationed here. The governments are said to be Venezuela. Colombia and Nicaragua, each of which in its turn has frequently felt the disturbing hand of revolutionists and is said at present to want peace much more than any visit from Castro and an army such as it might be possible for him to recruit.
    Francisco Escobar, Consul-General of Colombia, told yesterday about the plans being made by his government to keep Castro away from the neighboring State of Venezuela.
    "We have three naval vessels out on patrol," said Mr. Escobar, "to see that Colombia's coast is not invaded by a Castro force. They are the cruiser Cartegena, which has been recently overhauled and prepared for war, and the gunboat Pinson and a companion vessel whose name I cannot recall.
    "Not only are these preparations being made at sea, but on land our government is equally determined to afford no refuge for Castro and his plotters. Every preparation has been made to seize him immediately upon landing should he slip past the naval guards. Should Castro elude both the naval vessels and the coast guards and escape into the mountains, he would become a formidable problem, for our neighboring State if not for ourselves."
    The plan of the Castro forces, according to a version of the story concerning his revolutionary designs, is to land his men at the town of Santa Marta, in Colombia, or some spot within marching distance of that town, and assemble there to recruit men from the Andes.
    Castro was born in the Andes and it is generally reported that he is still a great hero among the Indians of the mountains and the men of mixed blood who live among Indians and share their prestige as fighters.
    The town of Santa Marta is only a few miles from the Venezuelan border and the foothills of the Andean range rise behind it. Castro's army, it is held, could easily retreat into the Andes if pursued and could there draw to the revolution's standard all of the impetuous mountaineers who are only half-civilized and have no comprehension of any method of changing Presidents other than an open revolution.
    A rumor to the effect that Castro was planning to appeal to the Nicaraguans for support under the title of Honorary Commander of the Nicaraguan Army, which was bestowed upon him while Zelaya was President, was called to the attention of Humberto Pasos, Consul-General of Nicaragua.
    "Castro is a General without any army," said Mr. Pasos, "and we are not likely to give him any." Mr. Pasos said that his country was acting like Colombia to keep Castro out of the country and prevent his stirring up trouble on South American soil. Officials of Colombia, and Nicaragua, it is understood, will attempt to keep Gen. Hernandez, former Minister from Venezuela out of their territory for fear that once established near Venezuela he will join any movement inaugurated by Castro for the overthrow of the government. Gen. Hernandez has said, however, that be would never make an alliance with Castro although they were both opposed to the present Venezuelan government.
    Mr. Castro, who attended the inauguration in Washington, returned to this city late yesterday afternoon. At the Hotel Savoy last night it was said he was fatigued, had retired early, and could not see a reporter. At his apartment it was said Mr. Castro had received no official information that three South American republics had decided not to allow him to set foot on their territory, and that he was not disturbed by the report.