NEWS OF THE WEEK.
WE regret to be unable to chronicle any real improvement in the Venezuelan imbroglio. It had been hoped that Germany would allow the blockade to be discontinued during the negotiations, but this hope appears to have been altogether unfounded, and Germany seems determined to have her pound of flesh, both in the matter of bombarding herself and in commanding the acquiescence of our ally. On Tuesday the German cruiser ' Panther,' of Hayti fame, bombarded the fortress of San Carlos—a place at the entrance to the inland sea or lagoon which gave its name of Little Venice to the Republic—but she was driven off by the Venezuelan gunners with some loss. On. Wednesday she returned with two consorts, the Vineta ' and the
and the bombardment was begun again with great perti- nacity, the village of San Carlos being set on fire by the shells. The German inhabitants are said to have protested strongly against the action of the warships. It is hardly necessary to say that great excitement has been produced. in the United States by these unnecessary and useless acts of force. The temper of the American people is, in fact, becoming very ugly. Meantime we are in the humiliating position of not being able to lift a finger to restrain German action with- out a breach of faith. Unless we are greatly mistaken, it will be a long time before Britain enters into another such alliance with Germany.
