The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-07
TOLD BY THE COMMODORE
MONTGOMERIE,S STORY OF ROM
BARDMENT OF PUERTO CABELLO.
Venezuelan Soldiers 'Fled Like Rats
When the Gums Opened on the Fort
ALLIES Reply to Castro.

LAGUAYRA, Venezuela, Dee. %. by Mail.
The British Commodore Montgomerie.
who directed the Anglo-German lombard
ment of the Notifications at Puerto Cabello
on Dec. IA, gives the following account Of
the operations. After declaring that not
a single person was killed or wounded in
the bombardment. the commodore says:
Considerable misapprehension exists as
to the action of the Charybdis, of the royal
navy, and the Vineta, of the imperial Ger
merchant ship the Topaze, which was
peacefully lying at anchor in the harbor,
was boarded at night by Venezuelans, and
the crew, in their nightshirts. were hurried
ashore. marched through the streets and
cast into filthy prison, where they re-
manned without food or water. Under
strong guard they were marched back to
their ship next day and compelled to lower
the colors flying at her stern.
when l arrived at Puerto Cabello 1 at
once demanded an apology and assurances
that the act would not be repeated and that
British subjects and their interests would
not be maltreated or injured. In case the
demands were not complied with, / an
nounced that / should lombard the fort.
a thick-walled structure within easy range
of our guns. and another battery mount
ing few krupp guns some distance away
In reply l was informed that mob was
matter would have to be referred to higher
authority. l replied that II dog / owned
bit another man l should certainly be
morally obligated to give satisfaction.
Through the American consul / ar
ranged to receive the reply to my COM
munication which had been telegraphed to
Caracas. II he hoisted the American en-
sign l should know that the American de-
mand had been complied with. When the
hour the ultimatum expired came 1 saw
the ensign hoistec, but it was hauled down
again. 1 waited seven minutes and then
opened fire on the fort and the battery.
Before opening fire / gave ample notice to
the military authorities to remove the
political prisoners and assured the inhabi-
tants of the town that no injury would
be done them.
There was feeble response to our fire
from the battery, but none from the fort.
the soldiers in which fled like rats. They
left behind a general. twelve other officers
and twenty soldiers and a number OF GRIM
inal prisoners After bombarding nine
teen minutes and making very good prac-
tice, we ceased firing and a guard was
landed and took possession OF the fort, re-
ceiving the surrender of the general and
his men. They were Immediately paroled.
The criminal prisoners were held and
turned over to responsible authority. The
occupation lasted but a short time, sand the
party returned to the ships. The Vineta
participated in the bombardment Instead
of number of persons being killed, only
two men were injured, and they broke their
thigh bones in attempting to escape from
the fort"
PUERTO CABELLO Jan. 6.--The asser-
| ton that German marines landed JAN 3 al
| this port and occupied the wharves for two
| hours and half is proved by photographs
which were taken of the marines while
| they were on shore.
Acting United States Consul volkmar
who has acted as intermediary between
| German naval officers and the Venezuelan
| authorities al Puerto Cabello, declares that
| Count Oriola. commander of the German
| cruiser Gazelle, has informed him as fol-
/ lows: 1.-THE artillery which was in the fort
called La Vigia, commanding the harbor OF
| Puerto Cabello, has been removed. 1t must
be replaced Immediately in said fort