Gomez Dictator To Oppose Castro.

New York Times 100 years ago today, August 2, 1913:
Venezuelan Government Reports Repulses of Two Rebel Expeditions.
GUNBOAT GOES FROM U. S.
Legation Clerk Our Only Representative in Caracas — Secretary to be Rushed Thither.
    CARACAS, Aug-. 1.— In consequence of the outbreak of the revolution in Venezuela and the invasion of the country by forces under the leadership of ex-President Capriano Castro, the Federal Council has authorized President Juan Vicente Gomez to assume dictatorial powers until the movement is crushed.
    President Gomez on Wednesday night sent this telegram to the Governors of all the Venezuelan States:

    Gen. Cipriano Castro, impelled by ambition and the craze for power, has provoked a revolution in this Republic by ordering his partisans to arm themselves against the Constitutional Government. Already rebel forces in several localities have disturbed the public order.
    It is necessary for you to be alert and act rapidly and energetically in assisting the Government to crush the rebels. The peace of the country, which conscientious Venezuelans are obliged to nourish, cannot be left at the mercy of adventurers who possess no idea of decorum.
    I trust you will do your duty.

    The Governors in their replies promised unqualified support of the Government. Some requested the dispatch of additional arms and ammunition.
    Official dispatches say that an invading force from Colombia, under the command of Gen. Rosario Gonzalez, has been driven back on the frontier of the State of Tachira. On the other side of Venezuela revolutionists, commanded by a son of Gen. Torres Castro, a brother of Cipriano, attacked Macuro on Tuesday and were defeated by Government troops led by Gen. Zayago.
    No troops have yet been sent from Caracas to meet the rebels, as the Government believes the State troops strong enough to deal with them.

    WILLEMSTAD, Curaçao, Aug. 1.— Corroboration of the report of Castro's landing at Coro, Venezuela, was received to-day from Puerto Cabello.
    Gen. Simon Bello, Castro's brother-in-law, with a number of adherents, left here last night in a sloop oh the way to Venezuela.
    Special to The New York Times. WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.— That Cipriano Castro is at the head of the revolution that has broken out in that country was confirmed in dispatches received at the State Department to-day from Minister Carrett at Bogota, Colombia. The fact that Castro's organized forces have effected a landing at several places has aroused the Venezuelan Government to desperation, and, availing itself of the power given by the Constitution, the Council of Government has designated the President of the Republic as Dictator.
    At the request of Secretary Bryan the Navy Department this afternoon ordered the cruiser Des Moines to La Guayra to look after American interests.
    It is understood that many old followers of Castro joined his standard, and that armed revolution is under full headway at a number of points widely separated, so that the military resources of the Government will be taxed to the utmost to cope with them.
    The United States Government is represented in Venezuela at present only by a legation clerk, Richard J. Biggs.
    Minister Northcott has resigned and quitted his post, and Secretary Caffery is now in Washington, attached to the Latin-American Bureau. It was announced that a Secretary would be rushed to Caracas immediately, to be followed by a regularly accredited Minister as soon as one could be appointed and confirmed.
    The State Department to-day called upon the Navy Department for a warship to look after American interests in Venezuelan waters, and the gunboat Des Moines, now at Brunswick, Ga., was ordered thither. It is calculated that the gunboat can make the run to La Guiara, the nearest point to Caracas, in about six days.