The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-03
|BESIEGED BY THE LIBERALS BOcas del TOrO Watched
 by Insurgents. MARTIAL LAW PREVAILS Gunboat Machias May Go to
 the Scene.
 -, Strict RegulationJ Have Seriously Interfered With Commerce Com munication With Other Ports
 Than Colon Forbidden.

Colon. Aug. H.-tDelayed three days bx censor) -Bocas del Toro. 40 miles west of Colon, Is virtually besieged by the Lib- erals or insurgents, They number at least 200 and. as already cabsed. occupy Provision Island which is opposite tho town and commands the entrance to the harbor. They are fairly well armed. pos- sessing two small modern cannon, as well as plenty of a,1munitior and are com manced by a Nicaraguan. Among them are many Nicaraguan and Costa kican Liberals
 For more than a month the Liberala have been threatening the town. About 2 fortnight ago they improved their posi- tion on Provision Island about a mile and half from Bocas del Toro, which also Is on an island; and the opposing forces have occasionally exchanged shots. although. with the exception of one Ja- maican wounded. there have been no cas- ualtiess
 Among the Liberals are several who own property in Bocas del Toro The Idb- erals express no desire or intention to damage the town or to moiest foreigners or foreign vessels. There is easy cons- implication by mail with the land east
 
 Cannon, arms and ammunition are pb- tained from coast towns in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, Bocas dei Toro being about forty miles from the Costa Rican
 Liberals in strong Position.
 The Liberal position is strong; and tne situation Is likely to remain as 1t Is un- til one side or the other makes an attack Such an action would subject the attack ing party to the severe lire of their op- hsss Nsar from Bocas del Toro co Provision Island, or vice versa in small open boats. Neither side Is. inclined to take this risk. dounx- about II0 men there and the town cnr on. ly he reached by very light drnuRfk steamers through roundabout channels.
 Martial law prevails In Bocas del Toru. The auihorities have stopped eemnaunl- cation with other ports except Colon. They have xtcpped iescal fishing and for bldden pussage along the streets after 8 the measures adopted for harbor supervi~ sfof material Injured commefee. Two Germans were sent to jail for depressing aseses 1ser siss Es soe frssly in sfs sa t Consul to effect their release.
 The United States. French. British and German consular agents In Bocas del To- that if the severe harbor restrictions in- terrupting commerce were not abated. they would call for gunboats. These fep~ TGSe1lhuOnS TeHultcu M A Alt1AAEtA tkA~ provement only In harl1or conditions.
 The local trade which has been chiefly in bananas sent to the United States, le virtually dead. Fruit steamers from Mo- bile and New Orleans are getting only partial cargoes, the disturbed e0ndlt5nnS preventing work on the plantatlan@ The foreign element predominates In the town Americas, Germans, British and Chinese In the order named. The United l'KHi& Company of Boston owns many banan& plantati0ns in the neighborhocd.
 The united States Consular agent ln Bocas del Toro has made an urgent ap- peal to the United States Consul in Cp- lon to send gunboat. Commander aar- gent of the United States gunbont Mar chlas is fully informed of the sitnatiou and If this does not improve shortly the Machias probably will proceed to BocaA del Tor. The Liberals on Provision lM~ land say the presence of the Machias Mil4 not alter their situation, as they Lave In no way interfered with or injured for eigners, and the government alone is re- sponsible for the restrictions laid upon commerce.
 - Many houses in Bocas del Toro ccntia- ually fly American. German, British or French flags to denote the neutrality uk their occupants. The Colombian govern ment considers that the measures tAken there have been made necessary by the exigencies of the case.