Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1902-12-17
AND SHE'LL
rOrt and Castle ar Puerto Cabello
Quickly Destroyed.
This Means That War Has Begun Be-
tween Great Britain and Germany
On One Side and Venezuela
On the Other.

Puerto Cabello. Saturday. Dec. 10
The British cruiser Charybdis and the.
German cruiser Vineta bombarded tho
fortress here at o'clock this after
noon and quickly silenced 1t. The BON
bardment lasted for 40 minutes The
fortress is composed of Fort Solano
and the castle Libertador. After the
firing ceased the Charybdis sent ma
rines TO occupy the castle. The for
| treSs was almost demolished 1t Is
probable that only few persons were
| injured by the Smelling. The com.
mander OF Castle Libertador has been
taken prisoner The cruisers are still
here
| AT o'clock this morning the Char
ybdis 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 returned. The captain VI
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 viola
| ton of his ship. The British captain
returned an hour later with detaca-
ment of 30 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.
The British commodore then sent y
message 20 the authorities ut Puerto
| Cabello demanding immediate satisfac-
ton for the action OF the mob in hay
ing hauled down the British nag from
the Topaze, saying that ii this salts.
faction was not forthcoming in two
hours at . o'clock the fortress and
the custom house would be lombard
| ed. On receipt of this demand the
authorities sent a message 10 Presi-
dent Castro asking for instructions.
a committee of the merchants OF
| Puerto Cabello then approached the
American consul here, petitioning him
20 intervene. The consul accepted this
mission and visited the cruisers. but
he could obtain no alteration in the
| decision of the allies.
| At 5:15 a reply was received from
President Castro, who authorized the
| chief official here to give the British
| 'OihlhOuOit ample SdllSldCllOH. 0elOTe
this answer could be communicated to
the American consul the hour slip
ulated for its receipt had arrived: the
cruisers Immediately opened FIRE on
the FORTRESS. The fire was returned
from Fort oolano and Castle Liberia
dor, but the Venezuelans' guns we're
soon silenced. While the firing con
tinued there was intense excitement
in this port. Every house ia town
| was closed.
The people of Puerto Cabello can not
account for this preciplta:e 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 propose to make
use of the cannon In Castle Libertador.
No damage was done to the town.
The excitement OF the people is sub
siding.
Caracas. Saturday. Dec. 13.-The
British legation here was reopened
tonight under the American flag by w.
w. Russell, secretary of the American
| legation.
her legation here, is to demand pay
ment of her claims against Venezuela
has been confirmed.
The arrival of the United States
| gunboat Marietta at La Guaira yester-
| day was due to a rumor that United
| States Minister Bowen was in danger.
| There has been no ground for such a
Tumor, and the presence Of the Mari
eta was not requested by Mr.. Bowen.
The situation in Caracas continues
TO be critical, and there is intense
excitement among the German resi-
| dents Of the city To-day the Germans
sought refuge at the American lega-
ton where they were sheltered. Mr..
Bowen has gotten in quantities OF all
Kinds Of provisions, TO be prepared for
any emergency
The enlistment OF Venezuelan sol
| diers continues. Two thousand men
from the environs OF Caracas and Va
lencia came into this city to-day
Priests are preaching for war II is
reported that 80 Germans living in
the country have offered to support
| the Venezuelan government against
! Germany
! The people Of Caracas are astonish-
| ed that the government at Washington
remains silent i'm spite Of the recent
acts Of the allied fleet.
Aged Photographer Dead.