Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-26

tlon here for tho past six days, but the
b-int as to whether Panther or Fort San
Carlos fred the first shot has not yet been
settled.
n reliable person says:
The foreign element who are IN close
touch with the civil authO4 I'll s know mat
Fort sar Carlos had received orders from
Caracas that IN Panther attempted TO pass
nrst with powder 10 call attention.
to narrow channel Inside the bar 4 ur
mica from the fortress, heading for the
interior OF the lake, the fort hred a
the Intention OF Panther was to pass up
the channel and force a passage TO gain
Fort Maraeaibo and the Venezuelan gum
boat Miranda, the fortress fired with shell
and instantly Panther at 1900 yards an
Uwerei with twelve guns, followed by hun
Crcds OF shots.
II IL reported that Panther carried a rel
las, as the signal, but as the fortress
possessed no signal code and could not
i Tbfia St,n the ,5 REQ cf nag az a peace symbol
II regarded the action of Panther as a pc.
neditated aggression.
Venezuela RepTieo to Germany.
CARACAS. Jan 25.-with reference to
'he German claim that the fort at San
Carlos fred at Panther FIRST and so began
The recent bombardment, the foreign minis
ter said:
Panther on January II attacked the fort
srst, without proVocation. The gun boat
approached the fort and fred on 1t. We
can guarantee that the attack was pre-
mediated and planned In Berlin. The proof
OF this assertion Is a litter we received on
the morning OF January 16, from Curacao
and which President Castro retains in his
possession. notifying us that San Carlos
would be attacked between January "a and
rival Of United states Minister Bowen at
Another proof that the attack was pre-
nl-ditated Is the circumstance that General
Bello, who Is In command of the fortress,
received no notification as to the object of
Panther in approaching the fortress, similar
to the written ultimatum that the Germans
transmitted through the United states con-
sui 20 the Venezuelan representative at
Puerto Cabello when Fort Ldbertador was
shelled.
The letter referred 20 above has been
communicated to certain legations.
different Allies.
DR.. Torres cardenas, President Castro's
secretary, said:
Panther attacked first. We have proof Of
ouct by asserting that the fort fred on
the vessels first, but we deny 1t. 1t was
rot the fortress, which Is immovable, that
which was enforcing the blockade outside
the bar, six miles from the fortress, which
one morning attacked the fort. Why should
We attack? Have we tried, since Decen.
Der ., TO trouble the erman English OF
Italians, Notwithstanding their aggressive
policy? Our role was finished a fortnight
ago. Mr.. Bowen, the United States minis
ter. represents our interests and we were
Patiently awaiting the result OF his mission
Nhen this sad event occurred. To compart
the conduct of England and Italy with
Germany's system of enforcing the block
AIDE, you will see that the latter alone has
Interest In creating trouble.
The Venezuelan war minister said:
TIL report that we fired first on Panther
81 stupid. Venezuela being aware that th'
rum Of the fortress were inferior and ol
earned by the experience OF the Smelling
~ Puerto Cabello that II any one suffered
IL would be the fortress.