Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-12-19
VES ON THE WATCH
ms OF Guerrilla Warfare on the
lsthmus.
ST MADE BY NAVAL EXPEDITION.
apaoy Of Marines Dispatched TO Point
the Coast South of Panama-Reports
hat Colombian Troops Landed in That
Geinity With the Object of Marching on Pan.
aaDa-Adm:rai Cogh'an's Official Report.

Colon (By Cable "a company of ma
..fnes from the United States steamer
Prairie was landed here under the COM
11and OF Capt. Smctllcy d. Butler, and
EntTained for Panama, whence the ma
1laes will be sent to point on the coast
south OF Panama. This step was in con-
sequence of the receipt of information
ftiat Colombian troops had landed in that
uiTeeiion, with the object of marching
an Panama.
1T this IS confirmed it will mean the
Beginning of a long campaign of guerilla
warfare on the istllmus The destination
~ the marines is said TO he Yaviza, up
fale San Miguel Gnf and ruira river.
The opinion seems TO prevail that the
Few Colombian soldiers seen were prob
ably scouts, who were eidcavoring to
1earn what preventive and protective
measures were being taken by the Rcpub-
2sc OF Panama, and that it was their pres
cnce which gave rise to the exaggerated
snlnoTS Of a speedy attack by Colorlbans
On the istlmus.
It is more likely that tho movement OF
marines TO Yaviza is i'll conformity with
cae policy OF the naval authorities 10 con-
centrate forces at points which offer the
best facilities for getting Immediate i'll
formation of any movement by Colon
5ian troops towards Panama, and ut the
same time of affording the marines some
relief from their confinement to the ships.
The marines carried with them all re-
nuisites for camp life, and also a number
ut machine guns.
Department received two cablcgrams
5roIn Admiral Coghlan, both dated Co.
ron. the 18th, as follows.
'Mayflower reports Cartagcna and
Pinzon were at Turbo, with 4oo to 300
sI1en. Took i'll some supplies. Sailed 9Th
and supposed TO have landed the troops
at Candi. Atlanta. however, was at
Eandi 9th and got opposite information,
and United States consul Cartagcna re-
ports Cartagcna returned there 9th; no
sioubt the vessels and troops were 1T
Turbo the 9Th; that information reliable
Atlanta returns to Gulf for further
search"
The second dispatch reads:
ATLANTA arrived. Started San Bias
Point to Port Candi, not having seen
III heard anything of troops or vessels.
communicated Will SilOTc at TIC pIHl-
cipal points. Indians suspicious of
strangers. Found trails San Bias Point
10 Porto Bello pasablc for small parties,
ii,t none leading inland. Atlanta leaves
20 cruise TO Cape Tiburon and Gulf of
Darien.''
The news of the movement of marines
southwark from Panama, based as it was
Oh the reported landing of Colombian
troops in that part of the istllmus, was
received with keen interest in army cir
cles, where there has been exhibited for
sometime desire to participate with the
Navy i'll any military movements on the
ssttmus The General Staff gave the
subject immediate attention. There was,
however, no outcome in the shape Of Or
Gers to troops, though the arrival here
81 Brigadier General J. Franklin Bell.
superintendent of the General Staff Col
7ege at Leavcnworth, was regarded as
confirming the previous statements 10 the
etfect that the Army is making ready to
so its share at moments notice. Gen
eral Bell was in consultation with some
Of the members of the General Staff
during the afternoon.