Arizona republican., 1903-01-23
THE COMMANDMENT
 OF FORT CARLOS
Some Venezuelan Blood Shed
 by German Shells
Scientific Interest Mainly Lies in the Intellectual Fire of the Germans During Many Hours From Three War Vessels.

Maracaibo, January 22.-The bonn bardment of Fort San Carlos by the German cruisers Vineta, Panther and Fake was continued yesterday after noon until six o'clock. It was resumed this morning at daybreak. The first shells were hurled at the fort at 1 o'clock at long range.
 At six the Panther being of light draught closed in and again became actively engaged. The fort replied. At three o'clock the engagement was pro ceeding as hercely as yesterday. Twelve dead and fifteen badly wound ed Venezuelan soldiers were counted in the fort at seven o'clock last night by the correspondent of the associated press.
 The Panther left her position close to Fort san Carlos, which she took up earlier in the day, Wednesday after noon at o'clock and joined the Fake. which ship was half a mile outside the bar and about five miles from the fort. At o'clock the correspondent of the Associated Press in a rowboat ap preached the side of the fort out of range. and from this point witnessed the long-range fire of the German cruisers which continued from until 6 o'clock.
 The Vineta and the Fake were close together and nearer the fort than the Panther. The first two vessels at a range of four and a half miles poured in a continuous rain of shells upon the foTt and only stopped firing with the advent of dusk at 6 o'clock. At this hour the German vessels retired sea ward. after having made d second in Cffcctual attempt to land troops in the village of San Carlos. situated at the base of the fort. At z o'clock Wednes- day after the correspondent who was accompanied by a government tele- graph operator bearing a telegram from President Castro to the conmandant of San Carlos. landed on the islanI and entered the fort. The walls of the fort are terribly hammered and there were many evidences of the firing. Twelve dead Venezuelan soldiers were counted behind the walls and fifteen other men seriously wounded were ly- ing on 9 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 a very narrow escape. two shells hay ing come within an ace of penetrating it. The walls of the fort which face toward the entrance of the lake sui fercd particularly and were greatly damag ged. It is estimated by the com mandant. General Bello. that the Ger man ships fired more than 1000 shots at Fort San Carlos.
 Although the damage inflicted upon the fort was very great. ic is not all that could be expected from a con- tinuous fire from modern high power guns. The village of San Carlos suf- fercd greatly. The aim of the gunners appears to have been inaccurate. 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 range of the Venezuelan artillery. The Vineta and Fake are uf too great draught to cross the bar 1 The Panther alone can do this, and ! this fact explains why the last men i toned cruiser was the only one to come in close to the fort.
 Some of the artillery on the fort has | been destroyed by the German fire, but | there are still five guns that can be | fired. General Bello is a soldier of re- l markable courage and daring. He has ! shown great bravery. and is in no way intimidated. He will not abandon this | fort but will resist as long as it is pos | sible for him to do so.
 He swears that on January 17th, tho | occasion of the first bOmbardment. the | Panther fired upon him first without | reason and without provocation.
 The report that the biggest of the | three attacking vessels was either an English or Italian ship is untrue It | is known that all three of the vessels | are German. The Venezuelan gunboat Mirandi is in Lake Maracaibo. It was ] doubtless the intention of the Panther in trying to pass the fort to get into the lake to capture this vessel. The | passage over the bar that leads into | the lake is narrow and the fort com mands it.
 General Bello is confident that he can | sink the Panther if she attempts to get i by with the fire of the five guns that remain to him.
 Wednesday night passed without in- cident and the garrison of Fort San Carlos rested from the fight of the day and made preparations for what the morrow might bring.