New-York tribune., 1902-12-15
BOMBARDED BY ALLIES.
PORT C4BELLO FIRED ON.
Old Fort Demolished by German and
British Guns.

Porto Cabello, Dec 13.-The British cruiser
Charybdis and the German cruiser vineta bonn
barded the fortress here at > o'clock this after
noon and quickly sfenced it. The bombardnnent
lasted for forty-fve minutes. The fortress is
composed of Fort soIano and the Castle Lib
ertador. After the firing ceased the Chary5dis
sent marines to occupy the castle. The fortress
was almost demolished it is probable that
only few persons injured by the sheIIins.
The commander of Castle Lfbertador has been
taken prisoner. The cruisers are still here.
At 4 o'clock this morning the Chary5dis and
the vineta arrived here. searching for venez-
uelan gunboats. The two cruisers sent their
boats into the inner rort. but. finding gun
boats. the boats returned The captain of the
British merchant steamer Topaze which was
seized by the mob here last Wednesday then
visited the British commodore on board the
Charybdis and lodged a protest against the
violation of his ship. The British captain re-
turned hour later with detachment of fifty
marines who took charge of the TOpaze. The
populace vas greatly excited at this incident
and raised the cry ITO arrnsr' but there was no
disorder.
The British commodore then sent message
to the authorities at Porto CabellO. 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 he
bombarded- On the receipt of this demand the
authorities sent a message to President Castro
asking for instructions.
A committee of merchants of Porto Ca
beIIo 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 40 o'clock a reply was received from
President Castro. who authorized the chief Off
ciaI here to give the British commander ample
satisfaction. Before this answer could be GEM
municated to the American Consul the hour
stipulated for its receipt had arrived. The
cruisers Immediately opened fire the fort
ress. The fire was returned from Fort Solano
and Castle Lbertador. but the Venezuelan guns
were silenced While the firing continued
there was intense excitement in this port. Every
house in town closed
The people of Porto CabeIlo cannot account
for this precipitate action the part of the
allies. which they consider to be proof that
Great Britain and Germany intend forcing
upon Venezuela
The British marines purpose to make use Of
the cannon in Castle Libertador- No damage
done the town. The excitement of the people
is suhsiding-
The entrance TO the inside harbor at Puerto
Cabelio Is through a narrow channel not more
than few hundred feet wide To the left OF
this channel as one enters the harboF. situated
low sandspit. is the fortress which was
bonbarded by the German and British cruisers.
It is an old fashioned structure which Uas rs-
built in the eighteenth century It's sides are
comparatively low. and would offer but PosF re-
sistance 70 modern shells. IT is not PTo0ah1s
that the Venezuelan Government had any mod
cannon there
The custom house az Puerto Cabello is situ-
4ted on the right, OF mainland side of the chan
nei. 1t is long two story briek building ana
contains. besides executive offices, large ware
houses Steamers discharsing at Puerto Caoello
tie up Immediately in front Of the custom house
The town itself is fiat. and stretches from chs
waterfront inland to the base Of the hills, a dis
tance of two three miles
The outside harbor at Puerto Cabelo is hardly
more than large bay. Offering comparatively
little protection 10 shipping The inside harbor
is very secure and quite commodioUs-
Puerto Cabello is second in Importance 20 La
Cfuayra. The trade OF several interior proVHl
centres here, and Puerto Cabello is the port OF
Valencia. important town IN the state or
Carabobo. A railroad, in which English capital
is largely interested, connects Puerto Cabslo
and Valencia