The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-23
TWELVE SOLDIERS SLAIN
FIFTEEN WOUNDED AND ALL BUT
FIVE GUNS DISABLED.
BOmbardment Resumed Yesterday,
and Latest Reports Say the
Fort Was Demolished.

MARACAIBO, Jan. ZZ--Tne DomDarulnent
of Fort San Carlos by the German warships
vineta. Panther and Fake was continued
yesterday afternoon until o'clock. 1t was
resumed this morning at daybreak. Seven
or eight shells were hurled at the fort at
o'clock at long range. They all fell short.
AT 8 o'clock the Panther. being Of light
draught. closed in and again became ac-
lively engaged. The fort replied. At
o'clock the engagement was progressing as
fercely as on yesterday.
Twelve dead and fifteen badly wounded
Venezuelan soldiers were counted in the
fort at o'clock last night by the corre-
spondent of the Associated Press. who left
for the mainland at o'clock this morning.
Yesterdays bombardment was decidedly
warIike. AS cabIed on Wednesday the gun
boat Panther soon after the engagement
opened steamed to within about five
hundred yards OF the fort and
showered shells on the village and
fort At D. IN. the Panther left her
which was half mile outside the bar and
about five miles from the fort.
A RAIN OF SHELLS
At o'clock the correspondent, in a row.
boat, approached one side of the fort out
of range, and from this point witnessed
the long-range fire Of the German ships,
which was continued from until o'clock.
The vineta and the Fake were close to-
gether and nearer the fort than the Panth-
er. The first two vessels, at a range Of
four and half miles, poured in a con-
tinuous rain OF shell upon the fort and only
stopped firing with the advent of dusk at s
o'clock.
As darkness fell the German vessels re-
tired seaward after having made second
Intellectual attempt to land troops in the VIII
lage Of San Carlos, situated at the base Of
the fort
At o'clock Wednesday afternoon the COR
respondent, who was accompanied by
government telegrapher bearing telegram
from President Castro to the commandant
of San Carlos, landed on the island and en-
tered the fort. The walls of the fort are
terribly battered and there were many evil
dences OF the fierce engagement. Twelve
dead Venezuelan soldiers were counted be-
hind the ramparts and fifteen other men.
seriously wounded. were lying on a low
platform.
The fort Is literally covered with pieces
of broken she'll 1t was seen that a great
many OF the German shells had not ex-
ploded- The magazine had a very narrow
escape, two shells having come within
an ace OF penetrating 1t. The walls of the
fort which face towards the entrance of
the lake suffered particularly and were
greatly damaged.
OVER 1000 SHELLS FIRED.
It Is estimated by the commandant, Gen.
Bello, that the German ships fired more
than 1,6C0 shells at Fort San Carlos
Although the damage inflicted upon the
fort by the sustained fire of the German
cruisers is very great, 1t Is not all that
could be expected from such a continuous
fire from modern high power guns.
The village OF San Carlos suffered great
ly The aim of the German gunners ap-
pears to have been inaccurate. for more
than so 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, the fire from these vessels
was not returned. as they kept out Of
reach of the Venezuelan artillery.
The Vineta and Fake are OF too great
draught 10 cross the bar. The Panther
alone can do this, and this fact explains
why the last mentioned cruiser was the
only one TO come in close to the fort.
Some of the artilley in the fort has been
destroyed by the German fire, but there
are still hve guns that can be fired
General Bello is a soldier Of, remarkable
courage and daring. He has Shown great
bravery and is in way intimidated He
will not abandon the fort but will resist
as long as IL is possible for him to do so.
He swears that on Jan. IL. the 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 snip is untrue. Ii is known that all
three vessels are German.
The Venezuelan gunboat Miranda Is in
Lake Maracaibo IL was doubtless the in
tention 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
commands IT,
General Bello Is confident tina: he can sink
the Panther IL she attempts to get by with
the a-e Of the 1--WE guns that remain to
him.
wednesday night passed without incident