Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-27


Persons i'll close touch with the block,
aiding forces say that Fort San Carlos
has been captured by the Germans
and blown, up. They also report that
the German aunooat Panther has been
disabled and is being towed by the
cruiser Fake to Willemstad.
Begun by Panther.
Caracas, Jam 26.-The associated
press correspondent has been making
inquiries with a view to ascertaining
whether the German gunboat Panther
or5Fort San Carlos fired the first shot.
The foreign minister said: The
Panther on January II attacked the
fort first without proWocation. The
gunboat approached the fort and fired
on it. We can guarantee that the at
tack was premeditated and planned in
Berlin. The proof of this assertion is
!, a letter we received on the morning of
N January l6 from Curacao, and which
1 President Castro retains in his pos
S8session, notifying us that San Carlos
Y would be attacked between January 16
: and January Is, that is to say before
I the arrival of United States Minister
Bowen at Washington"
Dr.. Torres Cardenas, President Cas-
I tros secretary, also declares that the
| Panther attacked first.
ne Venezuelan war minister said:
The report that we fired first on
the Panther is stupid. Venezuela, be.
ing aware that the guns of the fortress
Z were inferior and of shorter range
than the German guns, had learned
hu hn nf tbn n
:. Puerto Cabello that if anyone suffered
! it would be the fortress"
Maracaibo, Jan. 26.-The United
] States legation has been investigating
7 to learn whether the Panther or Fort
! San Carlos fired the first shot A re
I, liable person says:
The foreign element, who are in
close touch with the civil authorities
know that Fort San Carlos had re
ceived orders from Caracas that il
case the Panther attempted to cross
:, the bay and pass before the fortress
the latter was to fire on the German
vessel. first with powder to call atten
ton. When on January Is the Panthe
entered the narrow channel inside The
bar the fortress fired round of blanl
shot Then seeing that the intention
of the Panther was to gain Lake Mar
acaibo and capture the Venezuelan
gunboat Miranda, the fortress fire.
with shell, ard instantly the Panthe
at 1900 yards range answered witt
twelve guns, followed by hundreds o
shots. 1t is reported also that tn
Panther carried a red flag as the sig
/, nal, but as the fortress possessed n
signal code and could not interpre
the red flag as a peace symbol it re
garded the action of the Panther as
premeditated aggression"
Castro Defeated.
Puerto Cabello, Jan. 26.--It is re
ported that Castro's troops have bee
defeated by the .revolutionists in a
important battle forty miles west c
here. Their commanding general wa
captured by the revolutionists.
To Raise Blockade.
Berlin, Jan. 26.-Written declari
blockade of the Venezuelan port
have been exchanged between Mini
ter Bowen and the representatives {
Great Britain, Germany and Italy.
their declarations the representative
promised to consent to an immedia1
\ agreement was concluded betwee
them and Bowen embodying the CO.
ditions laid down by the power
These conditions chiefly relate
guarantees to be furnished by Ven
zuela, which has offered a portion
the customs revenue at La Guayl
and Porto Cabello.
Negotiations to Proceed.
London, Jan. 26..-It is learned t
day that Great Britain and German
have informed their representatives
. Washington that they consider Bo'
ems proposals regarding Venezuela
guarantees to form "a satisfactory b
sis for further negott tations.