Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-29
THEY BROKE FAITH
COMMANDER McCREA ON COLON
BAN INSURGENTS.
Tells About Seizure Of Launches Be-
longing to Americans at Bocas
del Toro.

The Navy Department has received a re-
port from Commander McCrea Of the Ma
chias concerning the events preceding the
surrender Of Bocas del Toro to the insur-
gent forces and Its recapture by the CO.
lombian government troops. The report
makes no mention Of the reported killing
by the insurgents Of an American in the
capture Of one of the United Fruit Com
pany's launches. It does make 1t appear
that in using the fruit companys launches
to attack Bocas del Toro the insurgent
commander was guilty Of gross breach Of
faith, as he had expressly agreed, IL the
launches were allowed to remain with him
until he had placed his men on the main
land. that he would not use them to attack
the enemy. The report follows:
Commander McCrea's Report.
u. s. 8. Machias,
Bocas del Toro, Colombia,
April IA, 1902
Sir: In obedience to the department. ca
BILE Of the 18th instant, which reached me
two hours after my arrival in Colon, ar
ranged to start for this port at once.
l ascertained that two of the United Fruit
Company's launches had been returned by
the insurgent chief, he keeping one and the
government forces retaining another for
harbor work, both without permission. then
sent for the alcalde and the commandant Of
the government forces, to whom explained
that they must Immediately return to the
fruit company it's launch, which they
agreed to do. This morning at o'clock
took one of Mr.. Leer's launches and with
him and the acting consular agent pro-
ceeded to the insurgent camp, tWenty-four
miles away, near Chiriqui Grande. Arriving
there l found very small force of insur
gents under the command of a lieutenant,
but was Informed that the colonel COM
mandant, BuendiaS, had left during the
night with 400 men in three launches. two
recently seized, and five lighters, for an at
tack on Bocas del Toro.
AS soon as possible returned to the ship,
arriving at $50. The first lieutenant, Mr..
Mclean, reported to me that the liberals
had sent an emisSary, stating strength of
their force and demanding surrender or re-
tirement OF the government troops on the
grounds Of humanity; that Is, to avoid
bloodshed that would result from his in
tended attack on Bocas del Toro. The gov
eminent commanding officer in Bocas del
Toro reported this action to Mr.. Mclean,
who told this officer that he would send
over and request the liberal commander to
postpone the attack for twentyfour hours
tc permit non-combatants to take refuge.
The liberal commander returned a reply
about 6:15 pm, saying, on condition that
the tug seen outside with government
troops did not land. he would delay the at
tack for twenty-four hours. Before this
communication from the liberal comman-
der could reach me the government tug
had landed her men near Bocas del Toro,
and being informed Of this. the liberal COM
mander would set no time for the attack.
I sent word to him that under no circum-
stances would I permit artillery fire.
then sent ashore to have all foreign wo-
men brought either to this ship or to the
fruit steamer. The latter, to avoid Quaran-
tine. asked as favor that we receive the
women and children, If possible, which we
did.
On the afternoon Of the 18th instant I
made a call on the government forces and
demanded Of them the return Of the launch
which they had seized from the United
Fruit Company; this they agreed to do, and
invited my attention to three launches held
by the liberal forces and being used against
them in the way Of transportation.
I told them my letter demanding the re-
turn Of these launches had been sent to
them from Chiriqui Grande, but would
probably not be received before this morn
ing. / then sent an officer In the steam
launch. with orders to demand instant res
toration of the American property seized
by the liberal forces, consisting Of three
launches. stating to him that had made