The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-24

scene of the more or less desultory
fighting that has claimed some public
attention. 1t would not, however, have
excited the present interest If the con-
flict had not recently threatened to
involve two or more other republics
and to compel the arbitration or the
Intervention of the United States,
either to protect the commercial inter-
ests of the world, on the isthmus of
Panama, or to prevent the whole of
northern South America and perhaps
a part of Central America from en-
gaging in a ruinous struggle. Imperial
ambitions of Castro, Venezuela's presi-
dent, began to be discussed, and the
possibility of a United States of South
America has interested not only our
own country, but Europe as well.
1t is a curious fact. worth mention
ing, that the Isthmus Of Panama, since
the beginning of the Nunez regime. has
been worth nothing to Colombia ex-
cept for purposes Of taxation. Its
railroad, owned by foreigners, is mere
ly a means of transport for the COM
nerce duty free) of other nations.
The government having neglected to
connect the isthmus by transportation
routes with the other parts of the
country, Colon and Panama are moth
ing but way stations for the foreign
traffic across the isthmus.
The present instruction, which
promises to involve several govern
ments, began among the hills of San
lander, the inland. eastern department,
which raises a large part of the super
ior coffee of Colombia. AS Santander
has no convenient outlet for it's cof-
fee through the ports of its own coun-
try, it sends the product by mule
trains to Maracaibo, Venezuela, for
shipment to Europe. Thus it happens
that the people of Santander and
western Venezuela are particularly well
acquainted; this fact probably had
something to do with the little plot
Matched by the Clerical party on both
sides OF the border in July for the in
vasion of Venezula which so greatly
excited President Castro.
But the instruction has now spread
far beyond the limits of Santander. It
has extended over the northern plains
where cattle raising is the chief in
dustry; parts of the insurgent army
command the lower Magdalena and
have closed the river route to Bogota;
other forces hold points along the
coast, but have not yet succeeded in
capturing the little port of Riohacha;
they have overrun the department of
Bolivar, most of which is in their
hands, excepting the seaports of Car
tagena and Sabanilla and the river
port of Barranquilla; they have de-
stroyed the railroad from Cartagena to
the Magdalena, cutting off that port
from the interior; they have reached
the Pacific coast in the department of
Cauca, have invaded the isthmus and
many Of the merchants there are said
to have given their allegiance to the
revolution. The largest force in any
one district is supposed to be with Gen.
eral Tribe Tribe, who Is said to COM
mand 5000 men in Santander. No data
yet received give any clear idea as
TO the number OF the revoIutionists.
The fact that they are scattered in
small detachments over a vast terri
tory and that the government troops.
numbering about 10000. are also wide
ly dispersed probably accounts for the
desultory nature OF the fighting. The
fragmentary information received, COM
ing mostly from government sources,
shows AZ least that no engagements
between large forces have occurred.
The struggle is thus confined 10 the
north. Bogota, the capital, high on the
mountain plateau I'm the south, seems
20 be safely out OF reach. The insur-
gents could not muster sufficient river
beats 20 transport an army and sup
plies up the MaEdaleBa; and 20 az
tempt 20 carry the war south along the
mountain mule paths would be az ef-
fort 10 emulate Hannibsps crossing Of
the Alps. ON the whole, the insurgents.
fairly well equipped With munitions.
have nsyeT been more confident u anal
success than they are to-day n they
win, does the power inhee ID them
20 giYe Colombia q stable government
based upon liberal democratic princl-
pieei The eyes " Tue world sill b upr