The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-23
THREATS TO ATTACK COLON
The United States Consul Advised
Of the Insurgents Plans.
4 Prompt Notification That Interfer-
encc with Free Transit Across the
IStEmus Would Be Dealt With
lay the American Government


ISthmUs Would Be Dealt With
lay the American Government.
The United States Consul at Colon. has
advised the Stat. Department under date
of the gth instant. that on September he
received through the AlcaIde of Colon an
open letter from the insurgent command
er. giving notice of a contemplated prompt
attack on Colon The letter was on the
same night sent to tie officer command
ing the United States ship Machias The
consul was informed that identical notes
had been left at the aIcaIde-s office for the
consular officers Of Great Britain.
France. and Spain
The consul replied 90 the letter of the
insurEaut commander notifying him that
any interference on his part with the free
transit Of goods and persons across the
Isthmus Of Panama would be a violation
of the treaty rights OF the United States
and If he should attempt such Interference
the United Stltes would act accordingly
The consul added that any obstruction Of
free access 90 the Panama Railroad sta
tion at Colon from any Of The docks Of
the port OF any obstruction OF the main
street OF Colon 70 the Panama Railroad
station and any act Of insurgent forces
rendering such access dangerous would
be regarded as an interference with the
free transit referred TO.
The aicaIde and the prsfsct declined to
forward the letter and ii was mt TO the
railroad station master at Gatun with the
request to forward It at the earliest op-
Uortunity
Dur.aE the night of the 81 instant 100
Government troops arrived by special
train from Panama al Ga5un and at about
the same time the iusurgeut forces de-
camGed on the morning Of the fth In
staut. 50 men of the 100 Government
troops sent 10 Gatm arrived ut Colon SO
that the forces at Colon amounted TO
about leo soldiers and sI policemen. The
roHg. forces at Gatm are variogsly esti-
mated ut between 90 and 560. but as f-r
AS the consul can ascertain nobody has
actually. seen more shan about Ed men
Th.r. may ba some more within support
ing distance. has hardly enough 60 s=slI
their number to -.0 men or over. IT app
pears To- the consul probable that an att
tack upon Colon has temporarily been
abandoned.
From o. general order I'm the newspaper
-EI Msrcuri9." published ia Panama ou
thc 9Th instant. it seems that the iaslr-
e,ns forces I'm this department are reor-
aarfziug ana have once more a recognized
chief
Concerning the situation Of Eacas del
T.r5. the consul has received three letters
from Consular Agent Hand Their CON
tents may be- summed up as follows
The Government troops. instead Of
awaiting a rebel attack lu town. have
moved, pursuant TO orders from Panama
toward the rebel position and that an en-
Eagsucut is imminent and further that
property belonging to American residents
of tle district Of Eocas del Toro has been
impressed 10y the Insurgents
The consul states that ne viii advise
the agent that it. is necessary for Ame-i-
cans whose property is taken. either by
the rebels or hy tho Colombian Govern
m.ut. 90 prepare amdavits Iy themselves
and other credible persons. coguizaut oC
tLs facts. stating the names of the parties
taking the property. q full description OF
the property. The time and place of -lah
taking and the valee of the property at
the time in order that weIl-zrapart
claims for damages may hereafter be- pre-