The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-15

Puerto Cabello, Saturday, Dec. H.
The British cruiser Charybdis and the
German cruiser Vineta bombarded the
fortress here at O'Clock this after
noon and quickly silenced it.
The bombardment lasted for forty
five minutes. The fortress is composed
of Fort Solano and the Castle Liber-
tador After the firing ceased, the
Charybdis sent marines to occupy the
castle. The fortress was almost COM
pletely demolished. 1t is probable that
only a few persons were injured by
the shelling. The commander of Castle
Libertador has been taken prisoner.
The cruisers are still here.
At o'clock this morning the Charyb-
dis and the Vineta arrived here,
searching for Venezuela gunboats.
The two cruisers sent their boats into
the inner port, but finding no gunboats,
the boats returned. The captain OF
the British merchant steamer Topaz,
which was seized by the mob here last
Wednesday, then visited the British
commodore on board the Charybdts
and lodged protest against the VIOLA
ton of his ship. The British captain
return an hour later withvva detach-
ment of fifty marines, who took charge
of the Topaz. The populace was great
" excited at this incident, and raised
the cry. ITO armsi" but there was no
disorder.
The British commodore then sent a
message to the authorities at Puerto
Cabello demanding immediate satisfac-
ton for the action of the mob in hav-
ing hauled down the British flag from
the Topaz. saying that If this satisfac-
ton was not forthcoming in two hours,
at o'clock the fortress and the Gus
tom house would be bombarded. On
the receipt of this, demand the author
tiles sent message to President Cas-
tro asking for instructions.
A committee Of the merchants of
Puerto Cabello then approached the
American consul here, petitioning him
to intervene. The consul accepted this
mission and visited the cruisers. but
he could obtain no alteration in the
decision Of the allies.
At 4:45 o'clock a reply was received
from President Castro, who author
lied the chief official here to give the
British commodore ample satisfaction.
Before this answer could be communf-
Gated to the American consul, the hour
stipulated for it's receipt had arrived;
the cruisers Immediately opened fire
on the fortress.
The fire was returned from Fort
SOlanO and Castle Libertador, but the
Venezuelans were soon silenced. While
the firing continued there was intense
excitement in this port. Every house
in town was closed.
The people of Puerto Cabello can
not account for this precipitate action
on the part of the allies, which they
consider to be proof that Great Brit
ain and Germany intend forcing war
upon Venezuela.
The British marines purpose to make
use of the cannon in Castle Liber-
tabor. No damage was done to the
town. The excitement of the people
is subsiding.
The entrance to the inside harbor at
Puerto Cabello is through a narrow
channel, not more than few hundred
feet wide. To the left Of this channel,
as one enters the harbor, situated on
q low sand spit, is the fortress which
was bombarded by the German and
British cruisers. 1t is an old fashion,
ed structure, which was rebuilt in the
Eighteenth Century. Its sides are
comparatively low and would offer poor
resistance to modern shells. 1t is not
probable that the Venezuelan govern
ment had any modern cannon there.
The Custom House at Puerto Cabello
is situated on the right, or mainland
side, of the channel. 1t is a long, two
story, brick building and contains, be-
sides executive offices, large ware
houses