The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-23

Caracas jan. 23.-The bombardment Of
Fort San Carlos near Maracaibo, which
was recommended Wednesday by the Ger
man cruisers Gazele and Vineta and the
any intermissiOn until night set In and 1t
was impossible for the gunners atioat or
ashore to locate their adversaries.
AS soon as 1t was light enough Thursday
morning to see, the warships resumed
their positions and reopened fire.
The reports that the fort was denol-
ished Is wholly false. This was evidenced
by the fact that as soon as the warships
opened fire the garrison ashore replied
vigorously.
At o'clock Thursday afternoon the
ombardment was proceeding as furiously
as ever, and tho fort was responding val
iantly.
It may appear strange to Americans
that the fort Is able to Withstand the ter
rible pounding to which it apparently has
been subjected, but this Is accounted for
by the fact that the Gazele and Vinita
draw too much water to cross the bar at
the entrance Of the lake. They are there
fore not able to get within the most ef-
fective range of their guns. They are
compelled to deliver their fire at dis
tance of five miles, with consequent dete-
rioration In their craftsmanship. Many
Of their shells have missed the fort entire
ly, and have landed in tho village adjacent
to the fort
The Venezuelans are deeply enraged by
the action OF the Germans in face Of tho
negotiations that are now under way for
q peaceable, solution of the dispute with
the allies. It is claimed here that there
Is absolutely no justification for the bonn
hardnaent Of Fort San Carlos.
Senior Torres Gardenas, President Cas-
tros secretary, said:
Il cannot imagine what the Germans
desire. We have accepted In principle all
their conditions, and have sent a plentpo
Tertiary, who is not a nobody, to treat
with them. Nevertheless, knowing this,
they act In this outrageous way. Believe
me- at bottom there is something else"
At Z o'clock Wednesday afternoon the
correspondent, who was accompanied by
a government telegrapher bearing tele-
gram from President Castro to the COM
nnandant 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 en-
gagement Twelve dead Venezuelan SOL
diers were counted behind the ramparts,
and fifteen other men, seriously wounded,
were lying on a low platform.
The fort is literally covered with pieces
Of broken shells. It was seen that a
great many of the German shells had not
exploded. The magazine had very mar
row esctpe, two shells having come with
in an ace Of penetrating It, The walls Of
the fort which face toward the entrance
of the lake suffered particularly and were
greatly damaged.
It is estimated by the commandment
General Bello, that the German ships fired
more than 1000 shells at Fort San Car
los.
Although the damage inflicted upon the
fort by the sustained fire Of the German
cruisers is very great, it is not all that
could be expected from such continuous
fire from modern high-power guns. The
village of Fort San Carlos suffered Sc
verely. A7great portion Of the fire of tho
war vessels fell short. and 60 per cent
of their Shells exploded in the village be-
tore reaching the fort.
The commander Of the fort has shown
great bravery and is in no way intimi-
dated. He will not abandon the fort, but
will resist as long as 1t is possible for
him to do so. He swears that on Jan.
II the occasion Of the first bombardment.
the Panther fired upon him first, without
reason and without provocatfon.
A fisherman from the village of San
Carlos has arrived here In a. canoe with
his family. Two Of this mans children
were killed by shells from the German
cruisers. He reports that moro than
twenty-five Indian fishermen have been
killed or wounded at San Carlos.