New-York tribune., 1901-09-03
THE SIEGE NEAR COLON.
BOTH SIDES AFRAID ATBOCAS
DEL TORO.
REASON FOR DELAY IN ATTACKING

TOWN-COMMERCE INTERRUPTED.
Colon, Aug. 81 delayed three days by the
censor).-Bocas del Toro 40 miles west OF
Colon, is virtually besieged by the Liberals or
insurgents. They number at least two hundred.
and. as already said in dispatches. occupy Pro-
vision Island. which is opposite to the town and
commands the entrance to the harbor. They are
fairly we'll armed, possessing two small modern
cannon we'll as plenty of ammunition. and
are commanded by Nicaraguan. Among them
are many Nicaraguan and Costa Rican Liberals.
For more than month the Liberals have been
threatening the town. About a fortnight ago
they improved their position on Provision ISL
and about a mile and a half from Bocas del
Toro, which also is on an island. and the op-
posing forces have occasionally exchanged
shots. although, with the exception of one ia
maican wounded. there have been no casualties.
NOT TO MOLEsT FOREIGNERS.
Among the Liberals are several who own prop
erty in Bocas del Toro. The Liberals express no
desire or intention to damage the town or TO
modest foreigners or foreign vessels There is
easy communication by mail with the land east
and west of Bocas del TOrO. Cannon arms and
ammunition are obtained from coast towns In
Costa Rica and Nicarsg qua. Bocas del Toro being
about forty miles from the Costa Rican frontier
The Liberal position is strong. and the situa-
tion is likely 10 remain as it is until side or
the other makes an attack. Such an action
would subject the attacking party to the severe
fire of it's opponents. as it would be necessary
to pass from Bocas del Toro 70 Provision Island
or vice versa. in small open boats Neither side is
inclined to take this risk The Liberals profess
to believe that prolongation of the present
situation would result in a withdrawal of the
government force from Bocas del TOro. Count
ing reinforcements. the government has about
40 men there. and the town only be reached
by light draught steamers through devious
channels.
Martial law prevails in Bocas del TOro. The
authorities have stopped communicate with
other ports. except Colon. They have stopped
local fishing and forbidden passage along the
streets after O'Clock at night. Foreigners say
that the measures adopted for harbor super
vision materially injure commerce Two Ger
mans were sent to jail for expressing their views
too freely in a cafe. and it needed the interven-
ton Of the German Consul to effect their
lease.
PLEA TO PROTECT COMMERCE
The United States. French. British and Ger
man consular agents in Bocas del Toro told the
/ Colombian commander there that. II the severe
harbor restrictions interrupting commerce were
not abated. they would call for gunboats- These
| ment only in harbor conditions
The local trade. which has been chiefly in
| bananas sent TO the United States Is virtually
| dead. Fruit steamers from Mobile and New.
Orleans getting only partial cargoes. the dis
turbei conditions preventing work on the plan
tations. The foreign element predOminates in
the town-Americans. Germans. British and
Chinese in the order named The United Fruit
Company. OF Boston. owns many banana planta-
in he roir
APPEAL FOR A GUNBOAT.
The United States consular agent in Bocas del
Toro has made an urgent appeal TO the United
States consul in Colon 10 send gunboat- Com
rnander Sargent OF the United States gunboat
Machias is fully informed of the situation, and
II this does not improve shortly the Machias
will probably proceed 10 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 interfered with or injured
/ foreigners and the government alone is respOn-
| sible for the restrictions laid upon commerce.
Many houses in BoCas del Toro continually
i ny American. German. British or French flags
/ TO denote the neutrality Of their occupanea
| The Colombian Government considers that ths
measures taken there have been made necessary
| by the exigencies Of the case.