New-York tribune., 1902-03-15
REBELS WIN ON LSTHMUS.
GENERAL CASTROS DISASTROUS RE-
TREAT TO BOCAS DEL TORO.

Colon. Colombia, March IA decree issued
| at Cartagena on March permits the Liberals
resident in that city and its suburbs to walk in
the streets from a m. 10 ?. m. daily. If
seen on the streets after 8 p. m. they liable
to be imprisoned until public order is restored.
The Minister of War. General Fernandez, has
issued a circular letter 10 the civil and military
chiefs. in which he declares that the recent en-
gagements between the government troops and
the insurgents were altogether favorable to the
government reminds them Of the value of in
dividual good example, and says that morality
and discipline in the army are the keynote OF
victory. while Generalization results in laxlty
and annihilation." The minister also informs
the departmental officials that one fnal effort
is necessary in order to end the revolution.
The Norwegian steamer Simon Dumois. which
arrived here yesterday. bringing Generals Castro
and Ortiz, three hundred men and sixty Off
GERS, also had board about forty government
officials from Aqua Dulce These officials had
all made their way through the woods TO BoCas
del Toro where they chartered the Simon Du-
mos. Castro and Ortiz We're engaged with Gen
eral Herrera, the insurgert commander. on Feb-
ruary y. y and % Herrera is reported to have
attacked Castro and Ortiz with three thousand
troops. while the government commander only
had a thousand men
Upon finding the revolutionary attack upon
Aqua Dulce on February % 70 BE- irresistible
owing 10 the enemy's superior numbers. their
artillery and GER supplies of ammunition Cen
eral Castro decided to retreat 10 David and
Chriqui, which towns We're known TO be hard
pressed by the revolutonists under Quintero
and Perez. This is long and tiresome march
of over two hundred miles by way Of Santiago
Las Paimas Remedies and Horconcitos.
Shortly after leaving Horconcitos a small body
of government troops was met. These men re-
ported that Colonel Luqua had been killed in
battle on February >, and thar the revolutionists
were in possession of David. General Castro
therefore decided to try and effect the difficult
march across the mountains 10 Bocas del Toro
Considering the hardshps Of the march. Cen
eral Castro's troops arrived there IN fairly
healthy condition, and enthusiastic 10 con
tinue the struggle. The march from Aqua Dulce
TO Bocas del Toro occupied seventeen days. dur
ing the last five of which bananas We're the only
obtainabe food Drinking water was plentiful
General Castro's soldiers report that eight
hundred men on both sides We're killed during
the fighting at Aqua Dulca The revolutionists
lost $50 and the government forces $50 men
II is also said that the Indian Chief Lorenzo
and his half caste Indians participated in the
attacks and killed many Of the government
soldiers with machetes The rife fire during the
Aqua Dulce battle deadly and persistent
The din Of the rifles so great that the can
non fire could not be heard. The slaughter and
massacre at this battle are described as some
thing awful The remainder of General Castro's
command which originally numbered one thou
sand men. has been killed, wounded. taken pris-
have escaped.
Among the officers who arrived here yes
terday is Colonel Alban, nephew Of the late
General Alban
The government is confident that the revolu-
tionists are still unable TO take either Colon or
Panama. ReinforCements will doubtless soon
arrive here from the interior Generals Castro
and Ortiz and the troops of their commands left
here for Panama this morning.
Colonel Tribe. cousin of General Urbe-U
was killed in the battle Of Aqua DulCe.
Panama March 1.-THE government Generals
Castro and Ortiz arrived here at IL o'clock
this morning and were received with enthusi-
asm. The crowds in the streets leading to the
railroad station made traffic almost impossible.
The cheers for the generals were deafenng.
Referring TO the engagement of Aqua Dulce
on February 20, General Castro told the repre-
sentative of The Associated Press that the
government troops. numbering eight hundred
men, were attacked by three thousand revolu-
ticnists. On the third day Of the fighting both
drinking water and ammunition In Aqua Dulce
became scarce, and General Castro ordered his
troops to retreat. To do this the government
forces had to break through the rebel lines Cen
eral Castro says he knows positively that of the
forces under the revolutionary General Herrera
He characterize the bravery of the revolution
lists as something extraordinary. and said that
many of them killed within three feet of
ha intrenchmentS.