The Washington times., 1902-04-13
Colombian Revolutionary
Forces Expected to At
tack the Town.
LED BY COLONEL ROMERO
His Unofficial Forces Now Dominate the
Entire District and He Has Given
Notice of His Intention to Attack I'm
less Peaceable Surrender Be Made.

4 Special Cabegram TO The Washington Times.
/ BOCAS DEL TORO. Isthmus of Panama
/ (yia Port Limon, Costa Rical, April 12.-
Great excitement exists here, owing tC
/ the threatened attack upon the town by
/ Colombian revolutionary forces, led By
| Col. Roman Romero, of Santiago de
| Neragua.
| Romero. who, at the head of detach-
ment of General Herreros Liberal army
opposing the regular Government troops
upon the isthmus. after forced march
overland from the rebel commander-in in
chiefs headquarters upon the south coast,
from which point naval operations are
being directed against the city of Panama,
surprised the small conservative garrisous
at Ghiriqui Grande. Ravalo, Chicamola.
and other poirts on Almirante Bay seized
a couple of steam launches belonging to
the United Fruit Company ian American
corporation controlling the banana trade
OF the district, from which they load one
to two steamers every day in the year
for New Orleans, Baltimore or Boston,
placed guns aboard these tugs and cap
tured Thompson Island after hot skrm-
ish. in which the greater portion of the
defenders of the post were either killed
or made prisoners.
Thompson Island, forty years ago, wac
an American coaling station. when ves-
sells OF the old Pacific Mail en- route from
New York TO Colon (AspinwaID occasion
ally called here TO replenish their coal
bunkers or ran in during the night to
elude some Confederate privateer. 1t is
an important strategic position, the key
to both Chiriqui Lagoon and Almirante
bay. but has recently been occupied by
a local German syndicate of fruit plant
ers, supplying cargo under contract to
the United Fruit people and by small
Colombian garrison, most of whom,
though in ,.official" uniform. were em-
ployes Of the German firm in some ca
pacity.
Dominates the Province.
Romero's unofficial forces now dominate
the entire district, with the exception of
the town of Bocas itself and the island
of Columbus. upon which the settlement
Is situated, and he has given notice of
his intention to make an armed attack on
this point shortly. unless a peaceable sur
render be made. The loading of fruit and
dispatch Of steamers for the United
States is interrupted. and the American
Consular agent. who is a clerk to the
German Consul, and an employe of the
German Fruit Syndicate, has called for
warships to protect menaced interests.
In response to his telegraphic appeal, he
has advices from Colon to the effect that
the Machias. now in Haitien waters is the
only American warshlp which can be
sent. and that she must first proceed to
Colon for coal. Colon being about 200
miles distant from here, it is feared that
the town of Bocas will have been seized
before she can arrive. German warship
is expected, however, and the Consul be-
lieyes 1t may reach here in time to be of
some service.
Romsro's Career.
Romero is a nephew of the late DR..
Rafael Nunez, who was for more than
twenty years President of Colombia. and
who died its recognized dictator. He was
educated at Lima. Peru and in Germany.
He is a noted duclist, having killed
number of men on the field of honor in
Colombia, Venezuela, Germany, Paris, and
at Lima In this latter affaire he worst
ed a prominent Chilean officer. who had
spoken slightiIgly of Peruvian women,
and the act brought him the personal
thanks OF the President of Peru and an
honorary commission in the national navy
aboard the celebrated warship Huascar
which the Chileans, some eight months
later. succeeded in capturing after she
had made most heroic defense Ro-
nero, after the Huascars commander,
Grau, had struck her flag to the victors.
opened her watercocks, and would have