The age-herald., 1901-09-03
They Number at Least 2OOO and Already Occupy PTo-
 vision Island POSITION IS A STRONG ONE
Trade, Which Consists Chiefly in 5a- nanas, is Practically Dead, and Big Fruit -eamers Got Only Par
 tial cargoes.

Colon, Colombia, August 31.-CDelayed three days by censor )-Bocas del Toro, 14 miles west of Colon, is virtually be- sieged by the Liberals or insurgents. They number at least 2o0O, and as already cabled. occupy Provision Island, which is opposite the town, and commands the entrance to the harbor. They are fairly well armed, possessing two small modern cannon, as well as plenty of ammunition and are commanded by a Nicaraguan. Among them are many Nicaraguan and Costa Rican Liberals.
 For more than a month the Liberals have been threatening the town. About a fortnight ago they improved their posi- tion on Provision Island, about mile and a 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- ualties.
 Among the Liberals are several who own property in Bocas del Toro. The Lfb- erals express no desire or intention to damage the town or to mo1est foreigners or foreign vessels. There Is easy comInun- ication by mall with the land east and west of Bocas del Toro. vt
 Cannon arms and ammunition are ob- tained from coast towns in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, Bocas del Toro being about 40 miles from the Costa Rican from tier.
 Liberal Position Is Strong.
 The liberal position is strong, and the 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 fire of their op- ponents, as 1t would be necessary to pass from Bocas del Toro to Provision Is- land. or vice versa, in small open boats. Neither side Is inclined to take this risk. The liberals profess to believe that a proclamation of the present situation would result in withdrawal of the gov ernment forces from Bocas del Toro. Counting endorsements the government has about ITO men there, and the town can only be reached by very light draught steamers through roundabout channels. atsr
 Martial law prevails in Bocas del Toro. The authorities have stopped communica- ton with other ports except Colon. They have stopped local fishing and forbidden passage along the streets after o'clock at night. Foreigners claim that the measures adopted for harbor supervision materially injure commerce. Two Ger mans were sent to Jail for expressing
  needed the intervention of the German consul to effect their release
 The United States, French, British and German consular agents in Bocas del Toro told the Colombian commander there that If the seven harbor restrictions in> terrupting commerce were not abated, they would call for gunboats. These rep resentahons resulted in limited i'm provement only in harbor conditions.
 
 Local Trade Is Dead.
 The local trade, which has been chiefly in bananas sent to the United States Is virtually dead. Fruit steamers from Mo- bile and New Orleans are getting only partial cargoes, the disturbed conditions preventing work on the plantations. The foreign element predominates in the town Americans, Germans British and Chr nese in the order named. The United Fruit Company of Boston owns many banana plantations in the neighborhood.
 The United States consular agent in Bo> cas del Toro has made an urgent appeal to the United States consul in Colon to send a gunboat. Commander Sargent of the United States gunboat Machias is fully informed of the situation, and if this does not improve shortly, the Ma chias probably will proceed to Bocas del Toro. The Liberals on Provision Island say the presence of the Machias will not alter the situation, as they have in no way interferred with or injured foreigners and the government alone is responsible for the restrictions laid upon commerce.
 Many houses in Bocas del Toro contin> ually fly American, German, British or French flags to denote the neutrality Of their occupants. The Colombian govern ment considers that the measures taken have been made necessary by the exigen- cies of the case.