Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-23
STILL FIGHTING.
German Cruisers Still Smelling
Fort San Carlos.
Twelve Dead and IS Wounded Vene-
zueIans Counted IN Fort.
No One Understands What Germany's
Intentions Can Be.

| Marac2iho, Jan. 22.-The lombard
ment of Fort San Carlos by the Ger
man cruisers yineta, Panther and
Fake was continued, yesterday after
noon, until 6 O'Clock. 1t was resumed.
this morning at daybreak The first
shells We're hurled at the fort at 4
o'clock at long range. At O'clock,
the Panther being of light draught,
closed in and again became actively en-
gagged. The fort replied. AT O'clock
the enga cement was proceeding as
fiercely as yesterday Twelve dead and
Is badly wounded Venezuelan soldiers
were counted in the fort at O'clock.
last night, by the correspondent of The
Associated Press.
The Panther left her position close in
to Fort San Carlos, which she took up
earlier in the day, Wednesday after
noon, at 3o'clock, and joined the Fake.
This ship was half a mile outside the
bar and about five miles from the fort
The Vineta and Fake Were close to-
gether and nearer the fort than the
Panther; the first two vessels at n
range of Az miles poured in contin-
uous rain of shell upon the fort and
only stopped firing with the advent of
dusk at G o'clock. At this hour the
German vessels retired seaward, after
having made second Intellectual at
tempt to land troops in the village OF
San Carlos, situated at the base of the
fort.
At o'clock Wednesday afternoon,
The Associated Press correspondent
who was accompanied by Il government
telegrapher bearing n telegram from
President Castros to the cemmandant
of San Carlos, landed on the island and
entered the fort. The walls of the fort
are terribly battered ad there were
many evidences of the fierce engage
merit. Twelve dead Venezuelan SOL
diers were counted behind the ram
parts and Is other men. seriously
Wounded We're lying on low platform.
The fort is literally covered with
pices of broken shells. 1t was seen that
Il great many CT the German shells had
not exploded The magazine had a
very narrow escape, two shells having
come within an ace Of penetrating 1t.
The walls of the fort which face to-
ward the entrance of the lake suffered
particularly and We're greatly damaged.
1t is estimated by the commandment
Gen. Eello, that the German ships fred
more than 1900 shells at Fort san Car
los.
Although the damage inflicted upon
the fort by the sustained fire Of the
German cruisers is very great, it is not
all that could be expected from such Il
continuous fire from modern high
power guns. The village of San Carlos
suffered greatly. The aim of the Ger
man gunners appears to have been in
RI N N IF
their shell exploded in the village be-
fore reaching the fort.
The cannon mounted at San Carlos
have not sufficient range to reach the
Fake and the Vineta, so the fire from
these vessels was not returned. as they
kept out of reach of the Venezuelan ar
tillery. The Vineta and Fake are of
too great draught to cross the bar. The
Panther alone can do this and this eX-
plains why the last mentioned cruiser
was the only one to come in close to the
fort.
Some of the artillery on the fort had
been destroyed by the German fire. but
there are still five guns that can be
used.
Gen. Bello is q soldier of remarkable
courage and daring. He will not aban-
UOff lHe lOTt Dul VIII 1eSlSl stS lOTB itS
it is possible for him to do SO. He
swears that on Jan. II, the occasion Of
the first bombardnent, the Panther
fired upon him first without reason and
without provocation.
The report that the biggest of the
three attacl ing vessels was either an
English OF an Italian ship IL untrue. II
is known that all three vessels are Ger
man.
The Venezuelan gunboat Miranda is
in Lake Maracaibo. 1t 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. Gen.
Bello is confident that he can sink the
Panther IL she attempts to get by with
the fire of the five guns that remain to
him.
Wednesday night passed without in
cident and the garrison of Fort San
Carlos rested from the fight of the day
Continued on page 81