Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-23
German Minister Says Failure
to Respect Blockade Started
the Bombardment
FORT SAN CARLOS DESTROYED
German War Ships Renewed the Attack
and Ultimately Destroyed It-Report
Received by the Berlin Government
Today But Has Not Vet Been Made
PubIic-Bloekadins Causing Distress

Berlin, Jan. 23.-The first official
report of the bombardment of Fort
San Carlos was received in the shape
of dispatch from Commander Fake,
dated Willemstad, Isle Curacao, Jan.
%, saying he had received information
from Maracaibo that Fort San Carlos
had been shelled and set on fire by the
vineta and Panther and had ultimately
been destroyed.
Berlin, Jan. 2s.-The Lokal Anzieger
says it has received information to the
effect that Commodore Scheder's report
says Fort San Carlos fired on. the
Panther first, as the cruiser was feeling
its way into the inner harbor OF the
channel.
Berlin, Jan. 23.-The report OF the
bombardment of Fort San Carlos, yen-
ezuela, was received at the navy de-
partment today, but 1t is being COM
to the imperial chancellor
before being published.
Berlin, Jan. 23.-In the reichstag to-
day Foreign Secretary Won Richtoff
expressed the hope that the Venezuelan
difficulties will soon be settled. He said:
"The negotiations at Washington, 1t is
hoped, will show early result, rendering
1t possible to raise the blockade. AS
long as the blockade exists, however,
for it must be enforced. The
action against Maracaibo was taken for
this purpose.
Caracas. Jan. 2S.-The report that
the German warship Panther entered
Lake Maracaibo and that the venezu-
elan cruiser Miradna surrendered to
her. Is believed to be without founda-
ton.
Maracaibo, jan, 23.-Presldent Aran-
queen, of the state of Maracaibo. has
by decree called together all
from sixteen to sixty years OF age, be-
longing to the militia. in order to re-
sist possible landing of the German
forces at Lake Maracaibo. About 500
men Immediately answered the call.
Caracas, Jan. 23.-It developed today
that the Dutch cruiser Deruyter, which
arrived in Laguaira Wednesday from
Island Losroques. which is mostly in
hahited by charcoal burners trading
with Laguaira, found that twelve men
and five women had died of hunger
and thirst there as the result OF the
blockade measures of the allied powers.
which prohibited schooners from carr
rying provisions and water to the is
land
Caracas, Jan. 23.-The Venezuelans
are deeply enraged by the action of the
Germans in bombarding Fort San Car
los in face of the negotiations that are
now under way for a peaceable solution
Of the dispute with the allies. 1t is
claimed here that there is absolutely no
justification for the bombardment.
Senor Torres Cardenas. President
Castro's secretary, said today.
II cannot imagine what the Germans
desire. We have accepted in principle
all their conditions and have sent a
who is not a nobody, to
treat with them. Nevertheless. know.
ing this, they act in this outrageous
way. Believe me, at bottom there Is
something else
The bonlbardment of the fort, which
was recommended yesterday morning
by the German cruisers Gazelle and
Vineta and the gunboat Panther, con-
tinued with scarcely any intermission
until night set in and it was impossible
for the gunners afioat or ashore to locate
their adversaries. For this reason and
also owing to the dangers Of navigation
the warships hauled off when it became
dark and stood well off shore during the
night. AS soon as it was light enough
= \, ,;v,rr ~ hi
sumed their positions and reopened fire.
The report that the fort was de-
molished in yesterdays engagement is
wholly false. This was evidenced by
the fact that as soon as the warships
opened fire this morning the garrison
ashore replied vigorously
AT 2 o'clock this afternoon the bonn
bardment was proceeding as furiously
as ever, and the fort was responding
valiantly.
1t may appear strange to Americans
that the fort was able to withstand
the terrible pounding to which it ap-
parently has been subjected, but this
lis accounted for by the fact that the
Gazelle and Vineta draw too much
water to cross the bar at the entrance
able to get within the most effective
range of their guns. They are COM
PEELED to deliver their fire at distance
of five miles, with consequent deterior-
alton in their craftsmanship. Many of
their shells have missed the fort entire-
ly and have landed in the village ad-
jacent to the fort.
The gunboat Panther. which is of
much shallower draft than the cruisers.
was able to get over the bar. 1t en-
tered the lake and delivered its fire
from much closer quarters than the big
ships.
United States May Interfere.
London, Jan. 2S.-There is the high-
est authority for stating that the mat
ter of the bombardment of Ft. San Car
los was brought to the notice of the
foreign office this afternoon by the re-
preventative of the United States.
The continuance of the warlike oper-
ations in Venezuela by Englands un-
manageable ally causes much searching
of heart here. It cannot be. dismissed
as an exclusively German method Of