Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-02-08
General Herrera Say, He WIN Fore. Ea.my
to 0psn Fight
lTTAcK eNFANAMA AND COLON IMMINENT
InIurgsnt Leader Gays Their Capture h
Absolutely Necessary.
BITTER CONFLICT is LOOKED FOR SOON
Report Comes from Coian that Her
rera Has Demanded the surren-
der of Castro ana that Lat
ter Firmly Refuses.

PANAMA, Colombia, Feb. 7.-Colonel Ju-
lien Del Castellio, an envoy from General
Herrera, the insurgent commander, arrived
here last night. escorted by police, and
left Panama at 10 o'clock. Governor Arizona
received Important papers from Colonel Del
Castellio for himself and the foreign con-
sus. conferences of the consuls Is in
progress,
The note from General Herrera was ad-
dressed to the French. German, British and
American consuls here. In 1t General Her
rera claimed among other things that the
government of Senior Marriquin, the presi-
dent OF Colombia. was not lawful, and
therefore the rebels, although deploring the
bloody results Of the war, would tight to
the end for the ultimate success Of the
liberal principles
General Herrera proposed that the con-
suls addressed ask their respective gov
ernments to declare the line Of the Panama.
Colon railroad to be neutral ground, within
which the government should not build en-
trenchments or the liberals attack, and that
only police force be left to guard the
line General Herrera said no proposed,
II possible, to compel the government to
attack the liberal forces. and that the lib
erals had strong feet and army. pro-
vided with cannon. etc.
Must Capture Colon and Panama.
General Herrera also declared in his note
| that the liberals considered the capture of
Panama and Colon to be absolutely neces-
sary for the development OF their military
plans: that they would act to attain such
results. and that In due time they would
notify consuIs OF such proposed action, al
lowing twentyfour hours for foreigners to
take refuge at place OF safety, 10 be
agreed upon with the consuls. and that the
point SO selected would not be fred upon.
This is the same phraseology that General
PORES used when General Alban defended
Panama in July OF 1900.
General Herrera said that, should the
consns so desire. he would meet them. as
we'll as representative OF the Colombian
! government. on board the United statss
! loruieer Philadciphis. a. Che island OF Ta@
| boga, OF Chame. the present headquarters
Of the revolutionary stan
Government Cannot Accept Terms!
In government circles here It is believed
that General Herrera wants to gain time.
for the government cannot accept the terms
he offers. When the expected reinfor0-
ments arrive on the isthmus from Puerto
Colombia the government will begin an
energetic and active campaign against the
l
risoned by 1000 men. Governor General
Castro has 1900 veterans under his COM
mand, giving a total OF $500. The most
sanguine liberals do not claim that General
Herrera has over 1900 men. Governor
Argona said at the conference OF the con-
suls which he attended that he would not
recognize even indirectly the right OF the
rebels to make the proposals they did that
the consuls could not correspond with the
liberals. that even II they were beIligerents
the consuls would have to get the permls-
sion of the Colombian government to COM
municate with them.
General Argona then demanded that the
consuls send their answers 10 General Her
rera to him. promising to forward them by
messenger. To this the consuls agreed.
Soldiers Wife Reveals story.
COLON. Colombia. Feb. 1.-The wife Of q
government soldier who was made :
prisoner by the rebels last Monday and who
managed to escape from General Herrera'l
camp, arrived at Panama last night. She
reports that the liberal forces to the mum
Der Of 1900 men are encamped from Panam,
to Chame, about seventy miles southwest
OF Panama, and that General Herrera am
his staff are at Chame According to thiI
woman, General Herrera sent word TO Gov.
ernor General Castro TO surrender. TIL,
latter answered that he had been sent ou
- to fight and was ready TO do so.
The plans Of the revolutionists indicat,
their intention to attack Panama, but the,
are undoubtedly awaiting reinforcements
The only lighting so far has been betwesi
two exploring parties In the vicinity o
Tonosi where the ravoiuttoniafa Iandad