The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-22
SHELL A FORT.
German BlOckading Squadron
Again Open Fire
On Fort San Carlos at Entrance
to Lake MaracaibO.
FIRE rs RETURNED.
Venezuelan Soldiers Answer
SpIendidly and Rapidly.
England Is Worried Over Ger
many's Latest Action.

Ing the port or san carlos dt HdiA past
10 o'clock yesterday morning. The fort
returned the fire. The engagement was
stin in progress at o'clock in the after
noon.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press in a row boat approached to with
in three miles of the fort at noon. The
roar Of the guns was terrific. The
Panther appeared to be not more than
800 yards from the fort The guns were
being fired every minute. The fort could
not be seen for the clouds of smoke, but
1t was plain that the Venezuela. gun
ners were answering the German fire
splendidly and with great rapidity-
At o'clock in afternoon an explosion
occurred apparently in the fort and a
cloud of smoke covered part OF the ram
parts A number of Indian fishermen
were Intercepted fleeing from the dlrec-
ton of the fort in their dugout canoes
They reported the smoke seen was from
the burning village of San Carlos, which
had been shelled by the German SHIPS
and was in flames
The Smelling Of san Carlos has Great
ed great excitement among the German
residents of this port who nave pro-
tested against the action Of the war
ENGLAND Is WORRIED
London. Jan. 22.-The news of the sec<
ond bombardment of Fort san carlos
reached London too late to be printed in
the papers of this morning which nearly
all comment upon the olive branch
which the German chancellor count Won
BuelOw, is holding out to Great Britain
An his speech and in the relchstag, ana
upon difficulties in which the chancellor,
by being obliged to defend his imperial
masters acts without being responsible
for them, becomes involved
President Castro's demand that the
blockade be raised before negotiations
are opened is regarded here as certain
to create further delays. and the belief
has been expressed that the second
bombardment of the MaFacaibo fort viii
greatly increase the difficulties of the
situation.
The STANDARD. referring to the previ-
Gus commandment Of Fort San Carlos,
said: 1T is difficult to maintain pa
cihc blockade. and in the long run Wene-
zuela must be the chief sufferer from
such a contretemps. 1t may be hoped
that President Castro viii see this and
promptly authorize Minister Bowen to
agree to the very reasonable prelnlE-
arv condition laid down by the aggriev-
ed powers "
The British government is entirely in
the dark regarding tue reasons fer the
aggressive action of the German naval
authorities in again boulbarding TT. San
Carlos. The foreign office is apprehen-
sive of the result OF the Commandment.
Thay saw no decision has yet been
reached on the question of the suspen-
matters would have progressed further
before now but this was largely based
on the belief that Minister Bowen
would reach Washington earlier than he
did.
The only press comment on the second
bombardment aSpears in the st James
Gazette which reoudiates the agrees
fveness Of the q ernans and says it
trusts the Ans. leans viii understand
that the German proceedings are as lit
tie approved by the British as by them
selves"
REBELS DEFEATED
Caracas. Jan. 22.-The revolutionary
forces under General Riera which at
tackled COrO Monday was obliged to re-
treat leaving so men killed and lis
wounded behind. as well as many pris-
oners and a considerable amount OF
arms and baggage in the hands of the
government forces
AT o'clock Monday morning the rev
olutiouists under Riera unexpectedly as
sumed the offensive. The government
suppOsed Riera was at Sabaneta. but
instead he appeared outside Coro with
600 men, his entire command. and at
tackled the town from two different di-
rections at the same time. One rebel
column succeeded in pushing nearly to
the center of the town. At first the gov
eminent soldiers were thrown into con-
fusion but as soon as they recovered
from the surprise they stood UP against
the rebel forces. The government troops
10 and Teueria. After an engagement
which lasted for ten hours. the fighting
going on in the streets and houses OF
Coro the revolutionists We're obliged tC
General Riera. who showed great per
eoual bravery during the fight is re
ported to have been wounded in the leg
He is now fleeing in the direction O
Paraguana, and he viii probably EN-
bark for Curacao.
THE government lost ten men killed
The houses in COrO are riddled witt
bullets
The victory Of the government a
Coro IS held uD here as proof that tn
revolution is far from being success al
SIS reported at Wnlemstad, where tn
revolutionary headquarters are. Gen
eral Nelutini. who has arrived at Ma
cutO, near Laguayra, from Barcelona
after having eluded the vessels of tn
blockading powers. reports that the gov
eminent has 5000 men with which e
OupOse the revOlutiOuists in the BarCelOn
district 1t is known here that tw
schooners succeeded January 16 in land
ing arms and ammunition for the use o
the revOlutionists under General Rieri
at a point on the coast near Coro. TIL
fact that these schooners were over
hauled by an Italian cruiser before the.
had the munitions Of war on board, am
that they succeeded in passing tn
blockade when loaded with arms an
ammunition for the revolutionists
quoted in Caracas as proof of the trub
Of the frequent statement to the effec
the blockading powers are interested il
aiding the revolution
RESPONSIBILITY DENIED.
Berlin. Jan. 22-Neither the foreig
office nor the navy department have re
ceived reports of the bombardment G
Fort San Carlos. AT both places it wa
declared that no orders were given
lombard the fort. The naval authori
ties admit they knew the Vineta wa
proceeding to Maracaibo but they di
not anticipate bombardment. The for
eign Office regrets extremely that it
unable to publish a report on the sub
ject due to the fact that it is who'll
without Information, through defectiy
means Of communication by way {
Curacao and owing to the German cor
sui at Maracaibo being cut off from re
porting by cable to the authorities