The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-11-29
flGHT ING ALONG THE lSTHMIAN RAIL
ROAD CONTINUES.
AN INTERNATIONAL QUESTION
May Arise Over Refusal of CAPTAIN
Perry, of h Iowa, to Allow Colom-
bian Government to Transport
Troops Over the acknowledgements
ed Transportation Reopened-Trafns
Guarded by American Marines-In-
Repuised.
Repuised.

Colon, November eS.-The Colombian
gunboat General Pinzon reappeared in
Colon harbor this morning. Her COM
mander said there were only 100 men.
out of the original 900 troops carried by
the vessel, now on board the gunboat.
The others had been landed at Porto
Bello, about ten miles distant from
Colon. The presumption is that the 500
men are marching to join the govern
ment forces under General Alban, now
at Mamei. The ground they have to
cover is difficult and the troops will
doubtless occupy a few days in reach
ing their destination.
The Panama railroad steamer Oriza-
ba, from New York November 18th ar
rived at Colon this morning, having on
board about 100 marines. who are to
relieve the time expired men. of the
United States battleship Iowa, now at
Panama.
The liberal forces control San Pablo
station and BarDacoa, where there is a
long iron bridge over the Chagres river.
This is a critical point, offering the lib
erals a splendid point of attack should
the government forces attempt to cross
the bridge. 1t is generally admitted
that if General Alban succeeds in cross
ing the river at Barbacoa his march to-
ward Colon will be an easy task. Gen.
eral hugo. the liberal commander, is at
Barbacoa.
The liberals retreated from Empera-
dor, owing to lack of ammunition. They
admit having lost sixty men in killed
and wounded there and hat among the
number was Colonel Oyas, but they
claim that the government loss was
over $50 men in killed and wounded.
The armored train which went over
the railroad yesterday having on board
Captain Perry, of the Iowa, and ma
chine guns and flying the American
flag was sent as a demonstrative force
and will not be continued daily. Pas
senger trains however, will still carry a
guard. Transit across the isthmus is
open.
$3.50 p. n2.-The morning passenger
train from Panama due to arrive here
at II o'clock, has not arrived up to the
of the filing of this message. Tel
egraphic communication between here
and Panama is interrupted. This is
conclusive proof that fighting is going
on in the vicinity Of Barbacoa. The re-
suit is as yet unknown. The afternoon
passenger trains from here for Panama
carried the 100 marines for the Iowa
and the passengers who arrived by h
steamer Orizaba.
4:30 p. m.-The overdue passenger
with a marine guard on board just
arrived here. The train brings news
to the effect that General Alban, with
about 300 government troops, has cross
ed Barbacoa bridge and is continuing
his march to Colon. He is now at Ia
vernilla, where he is resting.
The liberal forces continue to retreat
before him. They explain their retreat
by saying they have no ammunition.
All of the fighting today occurred at
Barbacoa bridge. Passengers by the
s%ervatives were killed and wounded
during the fighting and that the liberal
losses were insignificant.
The liberals are now approaching Ga
tun station, about five miles from
Colon, and it is believed a, decisive en-
gagement will probably be fought to-
night or tomorrow morning at Monkey
Hill cemetery, distant one mile from
the limits of Colon.
The trains which left here this after
for Panama with the Iowa ma
rines and the passengers from the
steamer Orizaba We're delayed in tram
sit, but reached Panama safely.
Reports. current here this afternoon,
that General Pinzon had bombarded
6OTlO B6llO nave D60H lOuliu, upOu III
vestigation, to be unreliable and not
authentic.
Washington, November 26.-The re-
ported action Of Captain Perry, the
naval officer in command of the United
States forces on the isthmus, in de-
to permit any of the Colombian
or rebel troops to make use of the rail-
way, may raise an interesting question.
1t is understood that the Colombian
government feels that it has the decided
right to use this railway to forward
government troops. This right Is
based IN the fact that the o a is on
land over which Colombia has sover-
eighty, and is operated under a govern
ment concession, Colombia retaining
an interest in the road to the extent
Of $250,000 per year. Moreover, the
Colombian authorities say the rebels
ave not had the b%elligerent rights rec
ognized by this or any other govern
ment, so that they have no status to
carry on warfare.
To accommodate those who are par