She then departed to visit the Antilles. During the Venezuelan crisis of 1902–1903, Germany and Great Britain, joined later by the Kingdom of Italy, issued demands for reparations following internal unrest in Venezuela; Venezuelan refusal led to the imposition of a blockade by the three powers. Gazelle and the Falke were the German contribution to the blockading squadron; they joined four British cruisers and three smaller vessels in enforcing the blockade. The Venezuelan gunboat was seized during the blockade; she had been moored in Guanta when Gazelle arrived there on 11 December. The Germans ordered the Venezuelan gunboat to strike her flag and disembark the crew and ten minutes later they complied with the German demands. Gazelle sent a steam pinnace and two cutters to board the vessel. Restaurador was then pressed into German service, under the command of Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Titus Türk, along with a crew of three other officers, a machine operator, and fifty men from Gazelle. The gunboat, in poor condition owing to neglect from her former crew, required repairs before she could join the German vessels.
