The Saint Paul globe., 1902-12-15

British and German War
ships Bombord the Fort
at Puerto Cabello and
Soon Toke Possession
Italy Has Joined the
Other Two and Now
Insists on Payment Of
Her Claim Washington
Authorities Not Excited
Over the State Of Affairs.

| PUERTO CABELLO, Saturday, Dec.
l3.-The British cruiser Charybdis and
the German cruiser Vineta bombarded
the fortress here at o'clock this aft
ernoen and quickly silenced it. The
bembardment lasted forty-fye minutes.
The fortress is composed of Fort So
lano and the Castle Libertador.
After the firing ceased the Charybdis
sent marines to occupy the castle. The
fortress was almost demolished. It is
probable that only a few persons were
injured by the shelling. The command
er OF Castle Libertador has been taken
prisoner. The cruisers are still here.
At o'clock this morning the
Charybdis and Vineta arrived here
searching for Venezuelan 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 Topaze,
which was seized by the mob here last
| Wednesday, then visited the British
commander on board the Charybdis
and lodged a protest against the VIOLA
ton of his ship. The British captain
returned an hour later with a detach-
ment of fifty marines, who took charge
of the Topaze. The populace was
greatly excited at this incident and
raised the cry ito arms!'' but there was
no disorder.
Gave Short Notice.
The British commander then sent
message to the authorities at Puerto
Cabello demanding immediate satis-s
faction 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 author
tiles sent message to President Cas-
tro asking for Instructions. A commit
tee of the merchants of Puerto Cabello
then approached the American consul
here, petftioning him to intervene. The.
consul accepted this mission and WIS.,
tied the cruisers, but he could obtain
no altera ton in the decision Of the al
lies.
At 4:45 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 stipu-
lated for its receipt had arrived; the
cruisers Immediately opened fire on the
fortress. The fire was returned from
Fort Solano and Castle Libertador, but
the Venezuelan guns were soon silenc-
ed. While the firing continued there
was intense excitement in this port.
Every house in town was closed.
The people of Puerto Cabello cannot
account for this precipitate 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 Bombarded Port.
The entrance to the inside harbor at
Puerto Cabello is through narrow
channel, not more than a few hundred
feet wide. To the left of this channel
as one enters the harbor, situated on
a low sand pit, is the fortress which
was bombarded by the German and
British cruisers. 1t is an old-fashioned
structure. and was built in the eigh-
teenth century. It's sides are COM
paratively low, and would offer poor
resistance to modern shells. 1t is not
probable that the Venezuelan govern
nent 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. Steamers discharging at Puer-
to Cabello tie up Immediately in front
of the custom house. The town itself
is fiat, and stretches from the water
front inland to the base of the hills,
distance of two or three miles.
The outside harbor at Puerto Ca
beIlo is hardly more than a large bay,
offering comparatively little protection
to shipping. The inside harbor is very
secure and quite eommodious.