The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-24
GERMANY IS
INDIGNANT.
Doesn't Like Comment Of Amer
ican Newspapers.
Foreign Office Makes Defense of
Acts in Venezuela.
BOMBARDMENT GOES ON
The Latest Report from the
Seat of War
BOMBARDMENT GOES ON
Says the Government Forces
Are Holding the Fort.

Berlin Jan. 24-The foreign Office
representatives today in conversation
with the correspondent of the Assoc
ated Press referred in aggrieved tones
to the American press comments upon
the bombardment of Fort San Carlos
One official said:
In view of Commodore Scheder's re
port. Germany has a Just right to feel
ing indignant at the fact that a portion
of tie American press is aroused over
the false statements of what occurred
| at San Carlos without awaiting the
facts in the case and thereupon attack
ing a friendly power The Panther
action. the official report shows, was
strictly within the limits of interna-
tional law. She was proceeding past the
fort to enter the lagoon Of AIaraeaibo in
order to prevent the importation of con
( traband articles from Colombia. and IN
doing SO was fired upon. The Panther
Of course. answered the fire, as she was
entitled to DO. The attack was not
made by US, but by the Venezuelan forr.
/ We are quite unable to see why any
neutral should express disapproval be
cause the Panther replied, or because
our vessels afterward leveled the fort
since it was a hindrance to an effective
A'-Ct AAeAeAss
to prevent a settlement of the matter
at Washington and the speedy raising
Of the blockade is wholly mistaken. We
want the blockade to be raised just as
soon as the powers have adequate guar
antees in hand that their claims will be
met We don't even ask for the imme-
date payment Of money, but only for
guarantees. We can not raise the block
ade empty handed, without any form Of
4 guarantee"
a HINT TO THE RESTAURADOR.
IaGuayra, Jan z4-The former Nene-
zuelan gunboat ReEtadrador now in the
possession of the Germans arrived here
at o'clock from Puerto Cabello and an
chored near the shore. Her presence
caused great popular indignation. At 3
o'cIock several rife shots were heard in
the distance. Shortly afterward the
RestauradOr left her anchor and moved
to a position outside the harbor and un-
der the protection of the guns Of the
British cruiser Tribune
The RestauradOr had been armed
equipped and manned by the Germans
since the capture. Her anchoring close
into the shore was taken by the popu-
lace, in view of the Maracaibo occur
renee, as a direct proyOcation to retail
alton. 1t is not known where the rifle
shots were fired but it is believed the
precautiOn of the Restaurador in NOV
ing from the shore was timely as the
hungry unemployed populace of La
GuayTa, excited by recent events and
driven to desperation by their condi-
ton had applied to the local authorities
for arms and proposed making a night
attack on the gunboat. Excitement
against the Germans is running high
here.
+ GRESS.
Maracaibo. Jan 24-At 2 o'clock
yesterday afternoon Fort San Carlos
, was in the possession of the govern
/, nent forces and the bOmbardment by
, on. There has been no material
change in the situation. The Panther
, was the only vessel to come inside the
q bar.
7 Communication with the fort is very
: difficult. Great excitement prevails in
ldaracaibo.
GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT
Berlin, Jan. 24.-Conmodore Scheder
+ commander of the German fleet in Ven
I ezuela waters. officially reported the
bombardmenr of Fort San Carlos from
? Maraeaibo under date of January 21
"On the 18th instant while the Pan
. ther was passing the MaracaibO bar,
Y she was unexpectedly attacked by Fort
San Carlos. which opened a heavy fire
: on her. To this the Panther replied
= and cannOnade was exchanged for half
> an hour. Owing to the difficulties OF
navigation the Panther then deSiSted
In order to exact an immediate
> punishment for this attack. the more so
- as the Venezuelan government had
4 proclaimed it a victory I bombarded
: the fort with the Nineta on the 21st in
= slant and destroyed it"
: EFFORT TO RAISE BLOCKADE
r Washington, Jan. 24--An active ex-
g change between England and Nene-
. zuela IS going on as represented by
@ Minister Bowen respecting the latter :
r proposal to raise the blockade of the
- Venezuelan ports as a condition pre-
- cedent to further negotiations The
. British government is showing an
- aInica Bile spirit in this matter and there
= are hopes of a satisfactory conclusion
= if Germany can be induced to accept
o the agreement about to be arrived at.
. The German government, however, has
so far returned no answer to Minister
Bowers petition which fact is the
ject of unpleasant comment here. It
, / is learned that the guarantees offered
by Mr.. Bowen are regarded by the
United States government as eminent
" reasonable and sufficient They in
cIude a proposition by President Cas-
tro to turn over the entire Venezuelan
collection of their indemnities and au-
p thOrize the allies to place an official in
= each of the Venezuelan custom houses
: to make sure that they secure their
r proper proportion of the receipts
ALLIES MUST BE PAID FIRST.
; London. Jan. 24.-Tt was learned to-
/ dav by a representative of the Associ-
T ated Press that Great Britain, Ger
T. many and Italy have agreed that Min
= ister ROWen's proposal that the block
d ade of Venezuela be Immediately rails
s. ed oan not be entertained and that CO.
ercive action must continue until a
proper guarantee is forthcoming. The
T. foreign offices hold that any other
course would entail a failure of the at
., tAupts to brine about settlement by
din1omacv at Washington
Regarding the position Of the other