The San Francisco call., 1901-12-18
Receipt Of Arms May BE
Followed by Active
HOstilities.
Bogota Government Anxious
to Punish Castro for
Aiding Invaders.
Squadron of United States Battle
ships Ordered to Cruise in the
Vicinity of the Ex-
pected Warfare.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

CALL BUREAU, 14O6 G STREET, n.
w, WASHINGTON. Dec. H.-semi-of1-
cial advices received here indicate that
active hostilities are about to begin be-
tween Colombia and Venezuela. The de-
lay in proceeding to extremes has been
largely caused by the lack of suitable
stock of arms and ammunition by the
Colombian Government. This is about to
be remedied.
News that comes to-day is to the effect
that the British steamship Bamreagh
which recently excited suspicion by, load
ing a large cargo of arms in European
waters, supposedly intended for the Beers
in South Africa, really was chartered by
the Colombian Government. She is now
very near Colon.
Under orders by the Navy Department
to-day the battleship Indiana will be
added to the North Atlantic squadron DUR
ing its winter cruise in the Caribbean
Sea. According to the department this
increase of the squadron has no connec-
ton whatever with the demonstration
which Germany contemplates making
against Venezuela The Indiana is in the
West Indies training her crew of lands
men. She will merely abandon the itin-
erary which she would have followed had
she remained in the training service and
followed that adopted upon the recon-
mendation of Rear Admiral Higginson.
This means that a squadron consisting of
the battleships Kearsarge, Alabama, Mas
sachusetts and Indiana will cruise in the
vicinity of Venezuela throughout the win
ter.
COLON, Dec. ia woman colonel
Sonora Ramona Mendoza, fought bravely
with the insurgent force in the conflicts
between the Colombian Government and
rebel troops at Nombre de Dios last week
Her husband and brother were killed last
Thursday. When the Government troops
drove the insurgents from the trenches
on Friday Sonora Mendoza escaped to San
Bias in small boat with the Indians.
Sonora Mendoza has been an intrepid
fighter during the last two instructions
on the isthmus. She displayed gallantry
in the recent battle at Buena Vista
According to the latest advices the
rebels are still offering resistance to the
Government near Nombre de Dios
Employees Of the Caribbean Manganese
Mining Company at Nombre de Dios have
arrived in Colon. They feared that their
lives would be endangered by remaining
at the former place.
When the Government reinforcements
arrived in two sloops at Nombre de Dios
last week a rebel force in small vessels
endeavored to get near enough to throw
| dynamite bombs on the Government
boats, but did not succeed owing to the
superiority of the latter craft in sailing.
The Government wounded are still at
Nombre de Dios About twenty soldiers
who are i'll have returned to Colon
/ Among the rebels killed during the fight
! ing was their leader. Colonel Sosa. He
was one of the revolutionists who sur
rendered when Colon was recaptured by
the Government. No revolutionists were
taken prisoners.
The Colombian warship General Pinzon
has gone to Nombre de Dios, where Col
onel Duque is in command Of the Govern
( ment forces. Colonel Duoue has been
/ praised for his leadership.
1t is reported that Rio Hacha has been
/ captured by the revolutionists The
French cruiser D'Estrees has arrived al
this port