Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-22
SHIPS SHOTS FLY TO FORT
sernan Cruisers Wage Bate with vsns5-
uelan Gunners
ENGAGEMENT LASTS FOR THREE HOURS
Both Sides warm to work, Firing
Cannon with Great Rapidly TIL
Town Catches AIiebt from
European shells.

MARACAIBo Venezuela, Jan. 21.-Three
German warships. supposed to be Panther,
vineta and Fake. began shelling the port
Of San Carlos at 10:SO this morning The
fort returned the FIRE. The engagement
was still in progress at this afternoon.
correspondent approached to within
three miles Of the fort in a rowboat at noon.
The roar OF the guns was terrific. Panther
appeared to be not more than 500 yards
from the fort. Its guns we're being fired
every minute. The fort could not be seen
for the clouds OF smoke, but It was plain
that the Venezuelan gunners we're answer
ing the German fire splendidly and with
great rapidity.
At / o'clock in the afternoon an explo-
sion occurred apparently in the fort and a
cloud OF smoke covered a part OF the ram
parts. A number OF Indian fishermen were
intercepted fleeing from the direction of
the fort in dugout canoes. They reported
that the smoke was from the burning vii
lage Of San Carlos, which had been shelled
by the German ships and was in flames.
Rebels are Defeated.
CARACAS, Jan. 21.-The revolutionary
force under General Riera, which attacked
Coro on Monday. was Obliged to retreat,
Many prisoners and considerable amount
of arms end baggage were captured by the
government troops.
At l on Monday morning the revolu-
tionists under Riera Unexpectedly assumed
the offensive. The government supposed
General Riera was at Sabaneta. but in
stead he appeared outside Coro with 1000
men, his entire command, and attacked the
town from two different directions ut the
same time. One rebel column pushed
nearly to the center Of the town. At first
the government soldiers we're thrown into
confusion, but as soon as they recovered
from their surprise they stood against the
rebel forces.
The government troops were commanded
by Generals Hermosillo and Telleria.
After an engagement which lasted ten
hours fighting going on in the streets and
from the houses of Coro, the revolutionists
were obliged to retire.
General Riera, who showed great per-
sonal bravery, is reported wounded in the
leg. He is now fleeing in the direction OF
Paraguayaua and will probably embark for
Curacao. The government lost ten men
killed. The houses in Coro are riddled
with bullets.
the victory of the government at Coro
is held mere as PROOF that the revolution
is far less successful than reported from
Willemstad, where the revolutionary head
quarters are.
General Velutinl, who has arrived at
Macuto. near La Guayra, from Barcelona,
after having eluded the vessels OF the
blockading powers, reports that the gov
ernment has 1900 men with which to op.
pose the revolutlonists in the Barcelona
district. II is known here that two schoon>
ers succeeded, on January 16 in landing
arms and ammunition for the use of the
revolutionists near Coro.
The fact that these schooners were over
hauled by an Italian cruiser before they
had the munitions OF war on board and
that they succeeded in passing the block
ade when loaded with arms and ammuni-
tion, is quoted in Caracas as evidence of
the truth of the oft-repeated statement
that the powers are aiding the revolution.