The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-24
GEN. ALBAN'S FORCES ARE
 REFUSED BY LIBERALS
An Attempt to Land Troops in the Vicinity Of ChOrTera Proves DiSaStrOuS--TOWn [.
 of Panama Being Fortified.

Colon, Colombia. Nov. 3.-It Is reported that General Alban's expedition. which left Panama Sunday. last arrived of Pereouete. thirty miles from Panama. and ten miles beyond Chcrrarea and Gen. eral Aiban on the lgunboat Boyaca sent forward two schooners which grounded. The Liberals on land poured a terrific rife fire upon these vessels. causing much havoc on board. General Alban then ordered the Boyaca's boats to go to the assistance of the schooners. The crew of the Boyaca complied with the request but many of them were wounded ana the boats returned to the Boyaca. When ordered for the second time to go to the assistance of the schoners, the boats crew refused on the ground that it was useless to do so and that such "a step meant sure death to them.
 Hence the Boyaca returned to Panama on Thursday night taking many wounded men with her. The Liberals claims that 300 men of General Alban's force were captured in this way and that they now strengthen the Liberal ranks. It has been held all along that General Alban undertook no easy task when he attempt- ed to land troops in the vicinity of Chorrera. The Generals return to Pa mama was looked forward to with great hopes, but when he returned in the man ner in which he did many people there were discouraged and downcast. which leads to the belief that the gravity of the situation is recognized.
 Alban Goes Again.
 The Boyaca. with General Alban on board started again yesterday morning from Panama. hsr destination presuna- bly being Perequete. It is not yet safe .o consider the, overland route from Chorrcra to Empire station under com piete Liberal control. as otherwise the full Liberal force would. doubtless, have already arrived at Empire station. Yes terday's estimate that thousand men had arrived at the station proves to have been exaggerated, but it is certain that troops are coming in all the time.
 The United States gunboat Marietta has arrived from Key West. There Is no of the isthmian transit. 4 The railroad bridge. zoo or 300 yards from the Panama station and command ing the entrance to lhe city. win doubt less be the scene Of the coming struggle. The government accordingly is forufying it, placing cannon and raising enrrench- ments and barricades. Nearly all the lighting in last years battle occurred there.
 The steamer Canada, belonging to the Generale Transatlantique. from Havre, Is the first steamer that has entered the port under the new regime. She sailed for savanilla today. There Is much conjuncture as to how her papers will be received on her arrival there.
 The Liberals along the line of the rail- road nightly tie the rails here and there after the passage of the evening train, the Instructions before morn Ing. thus hindering the running of special tr aims during the night. They have not forgotten how a thousand government from Cartagena were rushed to Panama during the night last year and that there was the crowning cause of the defeat of the revolutonists.
 The British cruiser Tribune has ar- rived in Colon harbor.