New-York tribune., 1903-01-26
WHO FIRED FIRST SHOT?
Conflicting Stories as TO San Carlos
B0mbQrdmeRt.

Maracaibo. Jan. 25-The United States Lega-
ton has been conducting an investigation here
for the last six days but the point as to whether
the Panther or Fort San Carlos fired the first
shot has not yet been eIucfdated A trustworthy
witness says:
The foreign element who are in close touch
with the civil authorities. knows that Fort San
Carlos had received orders from Caracas that
IN case the Panther attempted to cross the bar
and pass before the fortress the latter to
fire on the German vessel first with powder to
caI attention When on January Il. the Pan
ther entered the narrow channel inside the bar.
four miles from the fortress, heading for ths
interior of the lake. the fortress fired round
OF plank shot Then, seeing, after the third
blank shot, that the intention of the Panther
was to pass up the channel and force a passage
past the fortress to gain Lake MaTacaibo and
capture the Venezuelan gunboat Miranda, the
fortress fired with she'll and instantly the Pan
ther at I 300 yards range answered with twelve
guns. followed by hundreds OF shots. 1t is re-
ported also that the Panther carried red flag
as a signal. but the fortress possessed no
signal code. and could not interpret the red flag
peace symbol. white being the color Of a
parliamentary flag. it regarded the action Of the
Panther as premeditated aggression.
Caracas. Jan. 25.-The Associated Press corrs-
spondent has been making inquiries with view
to ascertaining whether the German gunboat
Panther or Fort San Carlos fired the first shot
The Foreign Minister said:
The Panther on January Il attacked the fort
first, without provocaton. The gunboat ap-
preached the fort and fired on it. We can guar
antee that the attack was premeditated and
planned in Berlin The proof Of this assertion
is a letter we received on the morning OF Janu-
ary Is from Curacao, and which President Cas-
tro retains in his possession. notifying that
San Carlos would be attacked between January
16 and January IS that is to say. before the
rival of United States Minister Bowen at Wash
ington- Another proof that the attack was pre-
of-rr hat Con- al
Belio, who Is in command of the fortress 70
ceived no notification to the object of The
Panther in approaching the fortress similar To
the written ultimatum that the Germans trans
mitted through the United states Consul 70 the
Venezuelan representative at Porto Cabello
when Fort LibertadOr was shelled-
The letter referred to above has heen com
r1unicated to certain legations.
The correspondent also saw DR.. Torres Car
denas, President Castro's secretary DR.. Car
denas was at first unwilling to discuss the mat
ter but afrerward said.
The Panther attacked first. We have proof OF
it. Germany may try 70 explain her conduct
by asserting that the fort fired on them Hrst
but we deny it. 1t not the fortress, which
is immovable. that called on the Germans. NO.
il was the Panther. which was enforcing the
blockade outside the bar. six miles from the
fortress which one morning came and attacked
the fortress Why should we attack? Have we
tried since December TO trouble the Germans,
English or Italians. Notwithstanding their ag-
C,ressive policy? Our role was finished fort
night ago. Mr. Bowen. the United states Min
ister represents our interests. and we were pa
tientIy and silently awaiting the result OF his
mission when this sad event occurred Compare
the conduct of England and Italy with Ger
many's system of enforcing the blockade You
will see that the latter alone has interest IN
creating trouble.
The Venezuelan War Minister said:
The report that we fired first on the Panther Is
stupid Venezuela. being aware that the guns
of the fortress were inferior and of shorter range
than the German guns, had learned by the ex-
perience Of the sheIling Of Porto Cabello that II
anv one suffered it would be the fortress.