The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-23
Many Of tho Shells Fired at
Fort San Carlos Missed Il.
EXPLODED IN THE VILLAGE,
Range Of the Guns In the Fort Not Suf-
tIclent TO Reach the Ships Report
That Fort Is SIlenCed.

Maracaibo. Jan. 2s.-The bombsrdment
OF Fort San Carlos by the German
cruisers Ninets. Panther and Fake was
resumed yesterday morning at dayoieak.
The first shells were hurled at the fort at
o'clock at long range AT o'clock the
Panther. being OF light draught, closed in
AMI again became actively engaged The
fort replied
At o'clock the engagement was pro-
seedigly as fierccly as on Wednesday.
Twelve dead and Is badly wounded
Venezuelan soldiers were counted I'm the
fort at o'clock last night by the cor
r<spcndent OF the Associated Pr ass.
At o'clock Wednesday afternoon the
Associated Press correspondent. who was
accompanied by government telc-
grapher bearing a telegram from Presi-
dent Castro To the comman1ant OF San
Carlos. landed on the island and entered
the icrt The walls of the fort are ter
ribly battered and there were many evil
dences of the fierce engagement.
Tweive dead Venezuelan soldiers were
counted behind the ramparts and Il other
mea. seriously wounded. were lying on a
low platform. The fort H. literally
covered with pieces OF broken shells.
II was seen that great many OF the
German shells had not exploded. The
magazine had a very narrow escape. two
Shelis having come within an ace ot pene-
trating ~. The walls OF the fort which
face toward the entrance OF the lake. suf-
fered particularly. 1t is estimated by
the commandant. General Bello. that ,he
German ships fred more than 1900 shells
at Fort San Carlos.
Although the damage inflicted upon tho
fcrt by the s-afained fire OF the German
cruisers is very great. IL is not all that
could be expected from such r. continuous
five from modern hlgh-power guns. The
village of San Carlos suffered greatly.
The aim OF the German gunners. appears
80 have been inaccurate, for more than
e0 Ter cent Of their shells exploded in the
village before reaching the fort.
The cannon mounted at San Carlos
have not sufficient range 10 reach the
Fake and Nincta, so the fire from these
ves.eis was not returned. as they kept
out Of reach of the Venezuelan artillery
The Nhncta AMI Fake are OF too great
draught 10 cross the bar. Tho Panther
alone, can do this and this explains why
the lost mentioned cruiser was ths only
one 10 come I'm close to the fort.
Some os the artillery on tie fort has
hecn destroyed. but there are stlll fve
guns that can be used.
General Belo is a soldier OF remarkable
courage and daring. He has shown great
bravery and is in no way intimidatcd He
will not abandon the fort, but win resist
as long as IL is possible for him 10 do so.
lie swears that on Jan IL. the occasion OF
the first bombardment. the Panther fired
upon him first. without reason and with
out provocation.
The report that the largest Of the three
attacking vessels was either an English
or an Italian ship is untrue II is known
that all three vessels are German.
ha IN a., L.. L..
Lake Maracaibo. II was doubtless the
intention OF the Panther. in trying to pass
the fort and 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 con-
fident that he can sink the Panther II she
attempts to get by with the fire OF the
five guns that remain to him.
Wednesday night passed without incl
dent and the garrison of Fort San Carlos
rested from the tight of the day and made
preparations for what the morrow might
bring them.
FORT TOTALLY DESTROYED.
Paris. Ian. 2s-From Caracas the cor
respondent OF the Matin says upon the
bombardment Of Fort San Carlos that the
fort has been totally destroyed and that
the limited range OF the forts guns pre.
vented them from being effective against
the German cruisers. The Panther has
entered Lake Maracaibo, according to
the Matin. but other vessels were pre-
vented from following by their greater
draught
The British cruiser Tribune and the
italian cruiser Carlo Alberto are an
chored before La Guayra. The latter Is
in communication with the Vineta and
the Gazelle by wireless telegraphy.