Evening star., 1901-11-26
CAPT.PERRYS COURSE
Denied Colombian Troops Use of the
Railway.
RIGHT CLAIMED BY THE GOVERNMENT
Consul Gudger Reports lsthmian
Traffic Unmolested.
SITUATION ON ISTHMUS

The reported action Of Capt. Perry, the
naval officer in command of the United
States forces on the isthmus, in declining
to permit any of the Colombian or rebel
troops to make use of the railway, may
raise an interesting question Capt. Perry's
course. it is claimed, is clearly dictated by
the necessities of the case, for if Colombian
troops use the trains they will be fired
upon by the rebels, and thus traffic will be
further menaced and a continuous state of
warfare maintained along the route. 1t is
understood, however, that the Colombian
government feels that it has the decided
right to use this railway to forward gov
ernment troops. This right is based on the
fact that the road is on land over which
Colombia has sovereignty, and is operated
under a government concession, Colombia
retaining an interest in the road to the eX-
tent Of s25O.O 600 per year
The Colombian authorities also say that
the rebels have not had their belligerent
rights recognized by this or any other gov
ernment, so that they have no status as
carrying on warfare.
Under these circumstances 1t is admitted
tnat there Is some question as to Capt.
Perry's authority in forbidding the use of
the road to the Colombian government
troops.
Traffic Moving UnmOlested.
telegram from United States Consul
Gudger at Panama informs the Department
of State that traffic is moving unmolested-
Dispatch From Commander McCrea.
Early this morning Secretary Long re-
ceived a cabiegram from Lieut. Commander
McCrea, commanding the gunboat Machias
at Colon, acknowledging the receipt of the
departments instructions sent yesterday
advising him of the course he is to pursue
in the present situation on the isthmus
Lieut.. Commander McCrea's dispatch was
SO mangled in transmission that the Navy
Department officials were unable to de-
cipher its contents. and it returned to
him>for repetition. The only statement that
could be made out was that the Colombian
government gunboat General Pinzon had
disappeared from sight to the eastward.
1t is the impression among Navy Depart
ment officials that the Pinzon has gene to
Cartagena for troops 20 reinforce the pres
ent military contingent of the government
on the isthmus.
No ROmbar ardment of Colon.
1t is pretty well understood here that
there is to be no bombardment of Colon by
either side. While Commander McCrea was
given wide discretionary power and moth
ing was said to him about stopping the
bOmbardment directly, nevertheless the
State Department established a precedent
in these matters last year when it instruct
ed Mr.. Gudger to warn some insurgents at
Panama that they would not be allowed to
lombard that port. If the government
forces on the PinzOn should persist in their
purpose, it is said that the commanders of
the various warships at Colon would re-
quire that ample time be allowed for the
withdrawal from the town of all foreigners,
and the attacking force. to escape restraint
would be obliged to direct their lombard
ment with such rare precision as to destroy
niny fha
railroad property, and even without endan-
gering the passage of trains, conditions
probably not TO be met.
Capt. Perry in Command.
The Secretary of the Navy has cabied
Captain Perry of the Iowa to assume full
command of all the United States naval
forces both sides of the isthmus in or
der to assure harmonious operations
Advices from the isthmus, while showing
the situation to be still unsettled, contain
the information that free transit by way of
the railroad has been re-established.
These advices came in dispatch received
last night by Secretary Long from Captain
Perry of the Iowa, who had made a trip
across the isthmus from Panama to Colon
from which place he sent a telegram a
statement regarding which the Secretary
made follows: Captain Perry reports
that free transit across the isthmus is re-
stored and that he returns to Panama this
afternoon. The captain will leave guard
on each passenger train for the present"
The purpose of the guard presumably is
TO prevent interruption to the free passage
OF trains by insurgents congregated along
the line of the road.
Report of Rebel Defeat.
Mr.. Herran. the charge of the Colombian
legation. is well satisfied with the tenor of
the advices which have come to hand from
Acting Governor Arizona of Panama, who
reported that the rebel army having been
defeated at Culebra and Emperador General
Alban had now marched on Colon His
theory is that General Alban completely
dislodged the rebel force which had rendez-
Noused at Chorrera, from which place Mr.
Herran believes they retreated to Culebra
and Emperador. where they again took a
stand Their defeat at these places Mr.
Herran says, leaves General Alban free to
march on Colon Mr.. Hefran thinks that
General Alban now has at least LOCO we'll
equipped and thoroughly armed men. be-
sides which coo men are on board the Co.
lCmbian boat Pinzon. Mr.. Herran asserts
that the rebels have not at the outside
more than 800 men.