Evening star., 1901-11-25
This Country Takes Charge of the
Isthmian Railway.
DETACHMENT FROMFHE iowa LANDS
The Marietta Joins the Machias
at Colon.
THE R EBELS TED

The United States government has taken
possession OF the isthmian transit This
| news is contained in a dispatch received at
| the Navy Department this morning from
| capt Perry of the battle ship Iowa at
| Panama. He says:
| Gen. Alban, with GOO men. is fighting
liberals on the line near Empire Transit
| In danger Of interruption. Capt. Perry has
| landed detachment OF men from the Iowa
and gone to take a train through and make
the transit clear and establish detachments
| OF men TO keep 1t so.'
FROM Colon, on the gulf side of the isth-
| mus, Commander McCrea of the Machias
has notified the Navy Department of the
intention Of the Colombian government to
lombard that town and asking for instruc-
tons He has been instructed that he is to
protect American interests and property at
Colon While no details of the instructions
are given, it is understood that they clothe
Commander McCrea with discretionary
| power to prevent the bombardment
The Navy Department has been notified
OF the arrival of the gunboat Marietta at
Colon, where she has Joined the gunboat
| Machias The Marietta was sent down 20
| reileve the Machias, but both vessels Will,
unoer present circumstances, remain at
| Colon, probably for some time The Mar
ietta is commanded by Commander Francis
ID. Delano, and carries a marine guard OF a
dozen men.
The Insurgents Defeated.
The State Department has received COM
hrmation of the reported defeat of the lib
eral troops by the Colombian government
troops This came in a cablegram from
Consul General Gudger this afternoon. in
which he says that the railroad is now run
ming without obstruction and that the gov
ernment forces have been victorious over
the revolutionists. He further reports that
the bluejackets from the Machias have gone
lnland ana now occupy point midway Of
the isthmus.
Adyfces at Colombia Legation.
The Colombian charge Mr. Herran. has
received a dispatch from the acting COVER
nor OF Panama, stating that the governor,
Gen. Alban, has started with a considerable
government force to operate against Colon
and 1lnea. 1t is the expectation of the
Colombian authorities to combine this land
movement with that Of the force on board
the gunboat Plnzon. and thus be able to
recapture the town of Colon. The Colom-
blan authorities here have not been advised
OF the purpose to lombard Colon, and Mr..
Herran doubts whether this extreme meas
ure VIII be adopted, as IT would probably
result In the destruction of the city, which
is built of light wooden buildings put to-
gether in sections, sent from this country.
In Line With Colombian Wishes.
The action taken by the United States in
landing marines and protecting the line
across the isthmus is in conformity with
the wishes OF the Colombian government,
and follows specific request recently made
by Mr.. Herran. He was advised by the
tsthmus authorities that they were expe-
riencing difficulties in keeping open the line
of communication and that these facts
should be laid before the American govern
ment, with view to having it exercise Its
treaty rights in keeping open the traffic.
This was duly communicated to the author
tiles here, and a general understanding was
arrived at that such American force as is
requisite shall operate in protecting the
railroad stations, rolling stock and line of
the railroad but that there shall be no ac-
tion whatever beyond this protection and
maintenance of traffic. The Colombian
authorities fully aware that IL they re-
take Colon 1t must be through their own ef-
forts and without the hope of any assist
ance from the American forces on the
ground, as this government is scrupulously
holding aloof from the political contest be-
tween the government and the liberals.
Result of Fighting Unknown.
COLON, Columbia, November 23 8 am
No evening train left Panama yesterday
The government troops are attacking the
liberals at Culebra. The result so far, is
not known.
The government gunboat General Pinzon
leIt ner anchorage, close to the other
ships, last night, and is now reported to be
landing troops on the north end of Colon
There is much commotion in the streets
People are seeking refuge on board the
United States gunboats Marietta and Ma
chias, along the railroad and on the piers.
The News i'm New York.
NEW YORK, November 25-Messaees
from an agent Of the Panama Railroad and
Steamship Company at Colon were received
here today at the offices of the company.
The cablegrams said that serious fighting
was expected at Empire, a small place on
the line of the Panama railroad They
also stated that the Machias. Captain Nc
Crea, had landed more men at Colon. ana
that the Iowa had for the first time landed
marines at Panama
Ihey also contained the information that
the Colombian gunboat General Pinzon had
arrived at Colon under the command of
Captain Ignacio Foriaco. with troops aboard
from Cartagena, and that the threatened
commandment of the city of Colon was 10
take pace today at o'clock New York
time They said the city was in the nos.
session OF the rebels, and that Captain Me-
Crea had forbidden the Smelling of the
town. " ING
Mr.. De Brigard, consul general ~ a.
iombia, said that he expected adyices To-
day regarding the situation