Evening star., 1901-09-05
Reports of Trouble at Bocas del
Toro.
REPORTED GERMAN CONSUL'S APPEAL
Arrival of the u. S. S. Ranger at
Panama.
PROTECTING OUR INTERESTS

At the Colombian legation the arrival Of
1000 Colombian troops at Barranquilla is
regarded as a move to strongly fortify the
isthmus and remedy the disorder which
has prevailed there. Up to this time the
government has directed its attention to
the disturbance in the interior, and only a
few troops were sent to the isthmus fifty
men being considered sufficient to garrison
Bocas del Toro Now, however, the reports
Of trouble around Bocas del Toro have
shown the need of strong force along the
isthmus, and troops are being sent from
the south to Barranquilla. From that point
they are within easy water communication
with the isthmus, and the Colombian war
boat General Pinzon is in that locality pre-
pared to take forward large reinforce
ments. The outbreak at Bocas del Toro
shows the wide extent of the disturbance,
that point being at the extreme west of the
tsthmus, adjoining Costa Rica and a part
of Costa Rica until the recent award of
President Loubet Of France giving Bocas del
Toro to Colombia There is no reason to
believe, however, that Costa Rica is giving
any aid or comfort to this last demonstra-
ton. Reports indicate to the Colombian
authorities here that 1t is due to Colom-
oian refugees from Nicaragua
Formal Acceptance by Colombia.
AS statements continue to appear that
Colombia has not accepted the good offices
rendered by the United States, 1t can be
stated authoritatively that the Colombian
legation here has received cable instruc-
tions from the government at Bogota to
support the proposition for the exercise OF
the good offices of the United States, ana
to use every effort to have the proposition
adopted. In pursuance Of these instruc-
tions, and of many antecedent circum-
stances showing that Colombia is not only
willing, but desirous to have the United
q friandlv N IN
half Of peace DIR. Silva, the Colombian
minister, sent to the State Department q
formal and written acceptance in behalf Of
Colombia of the American proposition to
mediate. The letter was dated August q,
three days after Secretary Hays offer OF
mediation.
Attitude of Venezuela.
A careful translation at the State De-
partment of the published utterance of the
Venezuelan government on the subject OF
the differences with Colombia discloses the
fact that 1t Is not, as was at first reported,
an identic note addressed to the powers
through their resident representatives at
Caracas. Instead it appears to be some
thing in the nature of a proclamation, ad-
dressed to the world at large, and signed
by Minister Blanco. in charge of foreign
affairs. Though apparently important, this
fact makes 1t impossible for any of the
governments of the world to make response
to the note. which may have been an object
with the Venezuelan government 1t may,
however, be noted that our own govern
ment took prompt steps to disclose the po-
Sition of the United States in the utterance
of August "a, sent both to Caracas and to
Bogota. in the shape of an instruction to
our ministers at those points, and our note
was dated nine days later than the Ven-
ezuelan proclamation.
The Appeal From Bocas.
Commander Sargent has not yet notified
the Navy Department of the reported ap-
peal to him Of the German consul at Bocas
del Toro for the aid Of the Machias at
that point. The officials here say that his
first duty Is at Colon, in connection with
the protection of the isthman transit,
which, by the way, Is not understood to be
involved at Bocas, which lies nearly fifty
miles westward from Colon, and is thus no.
where near the Panama railway or the
projected canal route.
The Ranger at Panama.
Just before noon a cablegram was re-
ceived at the Navy Department from Com
mander Fields of the United States steamer
Ranger, announcing the arrival of that
vessel at Panama today. The commander
telegraphed:
Affairs quiet on Panama side"
The arrival of the Ranger will make 1t
possible for Commander Sargent Of the
Machias to leave Colon temporarily to meet
any emergency even before the arrival OF
the Iowa at Panama But nothing less than
an emergency would move him to that
course because to safeguard Colon in the
absence Of the Machias 1t will be neces-
sary for Commander Fields of the Ranger,
lying at Panama, to send a portion of his
small force of marines and sailors across
the isthmus by rail- to Colon, thus repeat
ing Commander McCalla's famous trip in
his armored train sixteen years ago.
1t is understood that a considerable fruit
trade exists between Bocas del Toro and
the United States, and this alone may be
regarded as sufficient to warrant a visit
Of the Machias to that port. At present,
however, Commander Sargent has no in
struction to go to Bocas, save the very
general and broad one which originally
clothed him with responsibility for the pro-
lection of American interests on the gulf
side of the isthmus.
The Iowa is expected at Panama tomor-
row or Saturday.