The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-23
8OnbardmeRt by German Yes seIs Continues Resulting
 in Many Deaths
RAMPARTS ARE COVERED
 WITH METAL FRAGMENTS
Cannon on Fort Cannot Reach War ships, Which Are About Four and Half Miles Out-The Com
 mander Is Dead Game.

Maricaibo, January 22-The lombard ment of Fort San Carlos by the German cruisers Vineta, Panther and Falke was continued yesterday afternoon until 6 o'clock. It was resumed this morning at daybreak. The first shells were hurled at the fort at o'clock at long range. At 6 o'clock the Panther, being of light draught. closed in and again became ac. lively engaged. The fort replied. At s o'clock the engagement was proceeding as fiercely as yesterday. Twelve dead and fifteen badly wounded Venezuelan sof- diers were counted in the fort at o'clock last night by the correspondent of the Associated Press.
 The Panther left her position close into Fort San Carlos which she took up at 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon and joined the Fake. This was half mile outside the bar and about five miles from the fort.
 Long nange Fire.
 At 8 o'clock the correspondent of the Associated Press in a rowboat approached one side of the fort, out of range, and from this point witnessed the long-range fire of the German cruisers which was continued from until 6 o'clock. The Vi- meta and the Fake were close together and nearer the fort than the Panther. The first two vessels, at range of four and a half miles, poured in a continuous rain of shell upon the fort and only stopped firing with the advent of dusk at 6 o'clock. At this hour the German ves- sells retired seaward after having made a second intellectual attempt to land troops in the village of San Carlos, situ- ated at the base of the fort.
 At o'clock Wednesday afternoon the correspondent. who was accompanied by a government telegrapher bearing a tele- gram from President Castro to the conn mandant of San Carlos, landed on the island and entered the fort. The walls of the fort are terribly battered, and there were many evidences of the fierce engage ment.
 Twelve Soldiers Dead.
 Twelve dead Venezuelan soldiers were counted behind the ramparts and fifteen other men seriously wounded, were lying on a low platform. The fort is lierally covered with pieces of broken shells. It was seen that a great many of the Ger man shells had not exploded. The maga- zine had very narrow escape. two shells having come within an ace of penetrat- ing it. The walls of the fort, which face towards the entrance of the lake, suf- fered particularly, and were greatly dam aged.
 It Is estimated by the commandant, Gen. eral Bello, that the German ships fired more than 1900 shells at Fort San Carlos. Although the damage inflicted upon the fort by the fire of the German cruisers Is very great 1t Is not all that could be ex- pected from continuous fire from mod Tn bigh ba villa of Ga n, Carlos suffered greatly. The aim of the German gunners appear to have been in- accurate, for more than 60 per cent of their shells exploded in the village before reaching the fort.
 The cannon mounted at San Carlos have not sufficient range to reach the Fake and the Vineta, so the fire from these vessels was not returned as they kept out of reach of the Venezuelan ar tillery. The Vineta and Fake are of too great draught to cross the bar. The Pan- ther alone can do this. and this fact ex- plains why the last mentioned cruiser was the only one to come in close to the fort.
 Five Guns Still In Shape.
 Some of the artillery in the fort has been destroyed by the German fire, but there are still five guns that can be fired General Bello is soldier of remarkable courage and daring. He has shown great bravery and Is in no way intmidated. He will not abandon the fort, but will resist as long as it is possible for him to do SO He swears that on January r, on the occasion of the first bombardment, the Panther fired upon him first without req. son and without provocation
 The report that the biggest of the thre, attacking vessels was either an Englisf or Italian ship Is untrue. It is knowr that all three vessels are German.
 The Venezuelan gunboat Mirandi Is 1T Lake Maracaibo. It was doubtless th, intention of the Panther to try and pas. the fort and get into the lake to captur. this vessel. The passage over the bal that leads into the lake Is narrow ant the fort commands 1t. General Bello i. confident that he can sink the Panther i, she attempts to get by with the fire ot the five guns that remain in the fort.
 Wednesday night passed without incl dent and the garrison of Fort San Carlo: rested from the fight of the day and mad, preparations for what the morrow migh- bring
 A fisherman from the village of Sar Carlos has arrived here in a canoe witt his family. Two of this mans chiIdrer were killed by shells from the German cruisers. He reports that more thar twenty-five Indian fishermen have beer killed or wounded at San Carlos. The fishermen there are helpless.
 Last night there was a popular demon. stration on the streets of this town. The people paraded, but there were no word: of hatred or insults as they passed the German stores, which are numerous 1T Maracaibo.
 OFFICIALS ARE AMAZED.