Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-02
MoCREA RAN THINGS
THE COMMANDER DESCRIBES RE-
VOLT IN COLOMBIA.
Surrender of Bocas del Toro to Insur.
gents-Subsequent Capitulation to
Government Troops.

The first detailed statement Of the sur
render Of Bocas del Toroe Colombia to the
insurgent army and the subsequent capitu-
| lation of the insurgents that has come to
this country is contained III an official re-
port. dated April 20, from Commander Hen
ry McCrea of the United States gunboat
Machias. 1t was through the mediation Of
| Commander McCrea that the withdrawal
| Of the government forces from Bocas del
Toro was arranged, the conferences be-
tween the belligerents taking place on
board the Machias, and he also played a
| prominent part in arranging for the evacu-
| alton of the town by the liberal or insur-
| gent forces.
On April H. while the government troops
were holding Bocas del Toro, fighting began
and, according to a previous arrangement,
| foreign residents in the town were imme-
| diately sent to the Machias, which with
| drew to a position regarded as safe, al
| though number Of spent balls fell nearby,
| two striking the ship. In the afternoon
| the liberal leaders came on board the Ma
| chias to ask Commander McCrea to send
| an officer to the government forces with a
proposition for equalization, and the COM
| mander himself went ashore with the act
| ing consular agent Of the United States to
carry out the request. Commander Nc
Crea arranged for a conference on board
| his vessel and also, upon insistence, OBJ
| tanned an armistice for four hours
Government Forces Surrender.
OF the meeting on the Machias, which
was carried on amicably, Commander Nc
| Crea says: I'm short time the govern
| ment officers were convinced Of the futility
| of further resistance, being opposed by dou-
BILE their number and having but 5000
| rounds Of ammunition. By the terms Of capt.
uldtiOn the government trOonq to Low
down their arms and turn over all their
ammunition and accouterments to the lib
eral forces They were to be given pass
ports to leave the city, the officers to be
| paroled and retain their side arms"
On the following morning, the 18th in
slant, the city was surrendered to Com
| mander McCrea, the representative officers
and body Of troops Of each party and a
company Of blue jackets from the Machias
being present. Commander McCrea then
turned the city over to the senior officer of
the liberal forces. A marine guard from the
Machias was sent ashore to protect prop
erty heretofore guarded by a company Of
blue1ackets, until the new city government
could guarantee protection. Before closing
the negotiations with the new administra-
ton, Commander McCrea obtained prom
ises that under no circumstances would any
further interference or interruption Of the
business of American companies be allowed
the launches and barges from the United
Fruit Company, an American concern, were
returned in good condition by the liberal
commander, VINO OHered to pay rental and
damages.
Peace. however, between the contending
forces lasted for only tweaty- four hours
On the afternoon Of April Is the Colombian
government vessels Pinzon and Marcellus APP
peared off Bocasdel Toro. loaded with troops.
Commander McCrea sent word to the liberal
forces ashore that these vessels had arrived
and that If the liberals fred on the Pinzon
he could not object to response. To the
PinZon Commander McCrea sent a message
that he denied that ship the right to bonn
bard an unfortified city without the custom
airy warning and delay necessary to clear
the place of -combatants and secure the
! property of Americans and other foreign
ers. He offered the Machias as place for
a conference, and the government COM
mander, Gen. Gomez, came on board with
! a request for his ships to enter the harbor
and land 600 men on Provision Island.
Insurgents Yield This Time.
The request was granted and it was then
arranged that a conference between the
| belligerants should be held on the Machias.
| At this meeting no conclusion WAS req ched