Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-10
FALL OF Aqua DULCE
GEN. BERTI SURREMDERS TO THE
INSURGENTS.
Gen. Herrera Says He Will Treat His
Prisoners With the Usual
Courtesy.

Mr.. Ehrman. vice consul general at Pana-
ma. advises the State Department by cable
that Aqua Dulce has been surrendered by
the government forces. Four revolutionary
war vessels are now in the Bay of Panama
and the revolutiOnists are reported to be
moving toward the railroad.
Mr. Ehrman considers the situation at
Colon and at Panama serious.
The officials of the Colombian legation
profess not to be seriously alarmed over the
surrender of the government forces at
Aqua Dulce. The number of government
soldiers there is estimated to have been
somewhat less than 1900 men, and while
their loss is admittedly a setback, Colom-
bias repres entatives declare the effect will
be to stimulate to greater activity to crush
out the rebellion. The general understand
ing here has been that the government had
about 1000 men under arms the SthmuS.
While this may be an overestimate, lega-
ton officials say there are sufficient men
left to offer strong resistance to any eff
forts the revolutionists may make to take
the interOceanic railroad or the cities of
Colon or Panama. The revolutionists are
thought to be in the vicinity OF those places.
Since the capture by the insurgents of the
gunboat Boyaca the government is with
out naval representation the Pacific
coast. though the Bogata, recently purchased
in the United States, is now on her way
down from Seattle. This vessel, the Of
fcials say, will be more than a match
for the whole rebel fleet.
dispatch from Panama. Colombia, yes
terday says: In the act of surrender at
Aqua Dulce Gen. Benjamin Herrera de-
clares he recognizes the heroism of Gen.
Berti and his men, whom he succeeded in
dominating because of the superiority of
his forces and the quantity of munitions
of war at his disposition.
He promises to hold inviolaie the lives
a ~ a nd n
Berti to retain his sword as a mark Of
honor in recognition of the heroic defense.
The surrendered generals and officers have
been parOled at Penonome and Santiago dc
Neraguas. The act OF surrender also sets
forth that in consideration of General Her
reras respect for the bravery of the men
who withstood his siege they will not be
conpelled personally to surrender their
arms. The insurgent general deplores the
fact that he is unable to accord. more gen
erOus terms to Gen. Berti and his men,
who well merit better trca mem.
1t is believed in government circles that
the surrender of General BERT simplifes
the situation for Gen. Salazar, governor of
Panama. who can now devote the forces of
his command TO the defense of Panama
and Colon. There is great un@astness here.
Strong entertainments which have been
erected ir and around Panama are defend
ed by 2J0O men, and there are over 900
government soldiers at Color. a dispatch
was received from he minisle' of war at
BOgota saying that a large number of re-
Inducements had left RoHda on the Mag
daIena river for the sthrnus. and 5000 more
men are expected to come this week.
Gen. Herrera is expected TO change his
field of operation to the isthmuS, and he
will probably establish his camp somewhere
on the railroad line between Panama and
Colon 1t is believed that a Dig battle will
take pace somewhere between these two
ports.
The conservatives of Panama are much
disappointed at the delay in the departure
from Seattle. Wash. of the new Colombian
war vessel the Bogota. recently bought by
Senor Concha. Colombian minister at
Washington. 1t is believed that if the Bo-
gotta had reached here in due season the
government would have been able to de-
feat Gen. Herrera by taking the offensive
at sea.