The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-15
Bombardnent Mas of Short Duration as Guns Were
 Quickly SieRCed
RESISTANCE WAS OFFERED
 BUT AMOUNTED 10 LITTLE
castro's First Officer Makes State ment In Which He Says If 1t is War He Wants to be
 So Notified.

@ UERTO CABELLO, Saturday. R December la.-The British cruiser ,,,,,.
 Charybdis and the German cruis- CT vineta bombarded the fortress here at o'clock this afternoon and quickly silenced 1t. The bombardment lasted for forty-five minutes. The fortress is com posed of Fort So1ano and Castle Loer- tador. After the firing ceased the Charybdis sent marines to occupy the castle. The fortress was also demolish- ed. It is probable that only few per sons were injured by the shelling. The commander of Castle Libertador has been taken prisoner. The criusers are still here.
 At o'clock this morning the chardybdis and the vineta arrived here searching for Venezuelan gunboats. The two cruisers sent their boats into the inner port, but finding no gunboats, the boats were returned. The captain of the British merchant steamer Topaze which was seized by the mob here last Wednes- day. then visited the British commodore on board the Charybdis and lodged protest against the violation of his ship' The British captain returned an hour later with detachment of fifty marines who took charge of the Topaze. The populace was greatly excited at this in- cident and raised the cry 'to arms" but there was no disorder.
 Demanded Satisfaction.
 The British coi.4modore then sent a voeaaa0e to the authorities at Puerto Ca- belio demanding immediate satisfaction for the action of the mob in having hauled down the British flag from the Topaze, saying that if this satisfaction was not forthcoming in two hours, at o'clock the fortress and the custom house would be bombarded. On receipt of this demand the authorities sent a message to President Castro asking for instruc- tons.
 committee of the merchants of Pu- erto Cabello then approached the Ameri- can consul here, petitioning him to inter- vene. The consul accepted this mission and visited the cruisers, but he could ob- tain no alteration in the decision of the allies.
 At a quarter before five A reply was re- ceived from President Castro. who au- thorized the chief official to give the British commodore ample satisfaction. Before this answer could be communicat- ed to the American consul the hour stipu- lated for it's receipt had arrived and the cruisers immediately opened fire on the fortress. The fire was returned from Fort Salano and Castle Libertador, but the Venezuelans were soon silenced. While the firing continued there was fn- tense excitement in this port. Every house in town was closed.
 <.R I.,a .k% (oI 11I count for this precipitation on the part of the allies, which they consider to be proof that Great Britain and Germany intend forcing war upon Venezuela.
 The British marines intend to make use of the cannon in Castle Libertador. No damage was done to the town. The ex- citement of. the people is subsiding.
 Description of the Harbor.
 The entrance to the inside harbor at Puerto Cabe1lo is through a narrow chan nel nor more than a few hundred feet wide. To the end of this channel. as one enters the harbor, situated on low sand pit, Is the fortress which was bombarded by the German and British cruisers. It Is an old-fashioned structure which was re- built in the eighteenth century. It's sides are comparatively low and would offer but poor resisfsnce to modern ohells It is not probable that the Venezuelan gov ernment had any modern cannon there.
 The custom house at Puerto Cabello is situated on the right, or mainland side of the channel. It Is a long, two-story brick building, and contains. besides executive offices, large warehouses. Steamers dis charging at Puerto Cabello tie up imme- diately in front of the custom house. The town itself Is flat and stretches from the water frcnt inland to the base of the hills a distance of two or three miles.
 The outside harbor at Puerto Cabello is hardly more than large bay, offering comparatively little protection to ship ping. The inside harbor Is very secure and quite commodious.