Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-12-18
PORTO CABELLO
IS bOMbARDEO
British and German Men of
War Fire on Defenses of
That Port.
THE FORT IS SOON slLENCED
Custom House Also sheiled BY the At
lacking Warships-Castro Sends u Note
to Germany Declining to Yield One
Point TO the Powers

Porto Cabello, Dec. 15.--The Brit.
ish cruiser Charybdis and the German
cruiser Vineta have bombarded the
fortress here. They quickly silenc-
ed it.
The Charybdis and the Vineta ar.
rived here Saturday morning. The
captain of the English merchant
steamer Topaze which was seized by
the mob last Wednesday visited the
English commodore on board the
Charybdis and returned an hour later
with detachment of fifty marines
who took charge Of the Topaze.
The populaco were greatly excited
at this incident and raised the cry ito
arms" but no incident occurred.
The English commodore sent a de
mand to the authorities for immediate
satisfaction for having pulled down the
British flag from the Topaze and ad-
vised the government that IL satisfac
ton was not forthcoming in two hours
the fortress and the customs house
would be bombarded. The authori.
ties on the receipt of this demand sent
message to President Castro asking
for instructions.
A committee of the merchants of
Porto 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 de.
cision Of the allies.
At q quarter before 5 a reply was
received from President Castro, who
authorized the chief official here to
give the British commodore ample
satisfaction. Before this answer could
be communicated to the American
consul the hour stipulated for as re
ceipt had arrived; the cruisers i'm.
mediately opened fire on the fortress.
The fire was returned from Fort
Solano and Castle Libertador, but the
Venezuelan guns were soon silenced
While the firing continued there was
intense excitement In this port. Every
house In town was closed.
The people of Porto Cabello cannot
account for this preciptate action on
the part Of the allies. which they con.
slider to be proof that Great Britain
and Germany intend forcing war upon
Venezuela.
The British marines purpose tc
make use of the cannon in Castle
Libertador.
No damage was done to the town
The excitement of the people is sub.
siding. Only few persons were in.
jured by the shelling
La Guaira, Dec. 15.-The German
cruiser Vineta captured near Guanta
the Venezuelan gunboat Restaurados,
formerly George ]. Goulds yacht At
lanta. A crew from the Vineta was
put aboard and the captured vessel
was sent to Trinidad.
Berlin, Dec. 15.-President Castro's
reply to the German ultimatum is
refusal to yield on any point.
The foreign Office has not received
the text of President Castro's reply,
but only a bulletin from the German
charge d'affairs. Herr Won Pilgrim
dated December 10, announc.
ing that the presidents answer had
been placed in his hands that day and
that the Venezuelan executive refused
to yield to the German demands on all
points. This telegram, with the text
Of the reply, was filed at Port of Spain.
Isle of Trinidad. With this exception |
the foreign Office has received no news
since yesterday to indicate that the |
situation has grown worse. A landing
force Is not considered probable under |
any contingency. The orders to block |
AIDE the coast stand. and that Is all the |
naval commanders are authorized |