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Showdown Over Venezuela
from the log of HMS Victory, British battleship, January 11, 1903:
In conjunction with Admiral Hereford's task force, rendezvoused off Caracas with vessels of German Imperial Navy and Italian Navy in support of enforcement of debt held against Venezuelan government.
1349: smoke spotted, bearing 015.
1413: identification of CSS Alabama, Virginia-class battleship.
1418: identification of CSS Texas, Virginia-class battleship and CSS Kentucky, new Tennessee-class battleship
1448: signal received from CSS Alabama: Return to international waters. You are in violation of Monroe Doctrine.
1505: shot fired by CSS Alabama crosses bow. Order task force to move NNE into international waters. Signal naval station at Trinidad for further instructions.
from diplomatic dispates, Confederate Department of State, Richmond:
January 12, 1903 - CSA to United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, German Reich and Italy:
Naval task force in Caribbean is violation of Monroe Doctrine. Aggression against government of Venezuela will be met with military force by CS armed forces. Suggest mediation of dispute, parties of Imperial German Kaiser, King of Italy, King of Great Britain on one side and the government of President Cipriano Castro of Venezuela, mediated by government of Confederate States of America.
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