THE HEMISPHERE: Fizzled Blitz

In Venezuela's capital, the report spread quickly : Caracas was going to be bombed. Squads of firemen took up emergency stations. The National Guard was called out. Hundreds of families left the city for the country. CaraqueƱos, who have never known an air raid, need not have been panicky. President Romulo Betancourt was on top of the situation, and besides, the bombing was not due until Feb. 15, the inauguration day of his successor, Novelist Romulo Gallegos.

As soon as he learned that a plot was afoot, Betancourt sent Nicaraguan President Victor...

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