The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-26
WILL BE NO BOMBARDMENI
  McRea FOrbidS Firing on
 Colon. MARINES OPEN RAILROAD Transit Across the ISthmuS is Again Possible.
MARINES OPEN RAILROAD
Heavy Fighting Between the Con servative and Liberal Troops at Culebra and Empire-oeneral
 Alban Gaining Ground.

colon, Colompld, NOV. 1o'-Sapeoia Ignacio Foriaco of the Colombian gun boat arrived here today and announced that the city of Colon would be bom- barded this afternoon at o'clock, New York time. Captain McRea, in command of the United States gunboat Machias, informed the Colombian captain that the bombardment could not take place. The appointed hour rolled round, and no att tempt was made by Foriaco to carry out his threat For a time excitement was intense, and many persons fled to United States ships in the harbor for protection
 Captain McRea is acting In the interest of non-combatants, and will not permit the useless destruction of property by either faction.
 Transit Not Interrupted.
 For time today transit across the isthmus was interrupted, but an armed guard of marines from the United States battleship Iowa has re-opened the line, and details from the Iowa's marines are now protecting each passenger train. .
 There has beer fierce fighting at Elm pire station, on the railroad line between Panama and Colon, between the insur- gents and the troops of the Colombian Government, with very heavy losses on both sides.
 Yesterday morning at 10 O'CLOCK the schooner Clapet and railroad barge re- turned to Panama, bringing $50 men from Chorrera, being the remainder Of Gen eral Alban's expedition. Great cro"os gathered at the wharf to witness the landing of the soldiers. They were re- ceiyed with bands of music, but the music . WAS mournful and the airs sounded more like a funeral march than the joy ful strains of a victorious army. General Alban locked his usual es1l self.
 At sso yesterday Sgodrss n5se fro asnern at ani Alban left Panama by train for Empire station, where the Liberals were reported to be in fairly strong numbers. His pur- pose was to surprise and rout them. The train bearing these troops was held up just before it arrived at Culebra station. owing to the Liberals opening fire on Alban's advance guard. Aloan dlsem- parked his men from the train. which returned to Panama.
 The fighting at Culebra lasted from 4:4O until g D. m. The Revs. Loderidge and
  respectively, narrowly escaped being shot. Their house in Culebra was riddled with bullets. The government troops ad- vanced and the fighting was stubborn all along the railroad line until Empire sta ton, mile and a half distant, was reacn- ed The Liberals retreated slowly. Albans men following them until the latter eventually reached Mataching sta tiOn.
 Alban Meets Perry.
 Here General Alban met and conferred with Captai nPerry of the Iowa, who was returning from Colon on an armored train. It is understood that Captain Per " will not allow the railroad to trans port troops, consequently General Alban and his men were forced to push ahead on foot. It is said here that they thus reached San Pablo, where the Liberals are in force, and that fighting Is taking place there. The Liberals are under the command of General Lugo.
 Between the tatons Of Culebra and Empire over 15O killed and wounded men could be seen along the track. The sight was grewsome. There is no proper Red Crcss organization and wounded lacked care. The Liberals at Colon declare the majority of the men killed on the line to be Conservative troops, and that the rebels are still in force along the rail- road
 Three hundred of the Iowas marines were landed at 4:30 yesterday afternoon at Panama to protect the property of the railroad and to ensure the continuance of transit across the isthmus.
 In government circles in Panama, there is still confidence in General Alban, and it is believed there that this Conservative General is able to cope with the present situation and successfully overcome and apparently unsurmountable difficulties be- fore him. It is estimated the Conserva- tive government has 400 men at Panama,
 The breastworks on the railroad bridge that leads into Panama as we'll as those erected inside the city, have been de- molished by the goVernm mt.