The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-12-21
UNITED STATES AND COLOMBIA
MAY FIGHT OVER TIE ISTHMUS
By j 1S: Oil.

washington. December l7--(Specfa1.) -
While General Reyes is here talking
peace and assisting Wayne McVeagh in
the preparation of the Colombian memo
rial to be presented to this government.
the republic of Colombia Is taking &C.
tive steps for an attack upon Panama.
This has been known to the general STAFF
Of the army before today. for the gen
eral staff has taken every possible pre-
caution to keep itself fully advised Of
ali that is going on at Bogota and
throughout the Colombian territory. but
not until reports were received today
from Captain Turner. commanding the
Atlanta. was it officially acknowledged
that however peaceful the talk Of the
rev Colombian president, the trend OF
events in his country is decidedly war
like
7; will be recalled that some days ago
there came 4 report from La Guayra OF
an expedition bound for the mouth OF
the Atrato river. which is close 70 inc
border between Colombia and Panama
Later Il was announced that the gov
eminent had been Informed that this ex-
uaditioD had turned hack, and the I'M
preston prevailed here hat fl had never
been started. But captain Turner's DIS
patches to the navy department todaE
reveal the fact that he has discovered
that expedition and that Ii Is eaap!ish-
Ell az what appears 10 oe permanent
camp which would be advantdsea tie az
a base Of supplies in case OF q movement
upon Panma. when II becomes apparent
&c a
which II will certainly Will be so far as
50 -tra tne Y,u.0 ri 20 NJ = tne
no,her country is concerned. While the
navy department gave out only por-
lion Of the official DISPATCHES nave Il
from high authority that these bear QUE
In all essentials the reports sent ny ne
CONSTITUTIONS commissioner
It IS this condition Of affairs that forms
the basis for the warli6e preparations
which have for some time been unoer
way The general star through its secret
service department is kept daily informed
Of tho nrogress Of events in Colomola-
The feeling throughout that country IS
Intensely b!ster toward tho United States
While The departure OF Minister Beau
nre from Bogota is officially declared 90
be due to nothing but his desire Tor d
vacation. coming at the time IL Goes II
can Oa taken as an important piece OF
,.,,.roborative evidence tending to sho"
that there is a great deal doing cow
there. - .bo
or course. Pauama's night must II the
administration programme Is not inter
fered with IN some way, be our """
President Roosevelt mas determined I"a0
ne Tinted states shalt keep the CoioIn-
mans off Panama territory. eXtenolns 10
fre Row government just the same meas
ure OF protection as is guaranteed IN ne
treaty which he has negotiated, nut Wh'eh
mas no, vet been perfected by the senate 5
ratification. Critics may mold that inns
means nothing more nor lcss IMAM me
declaration of war hy the president
which IS specially Inhibited by the con
stit,ltiop. but the president believes WIN
th, late Tim Campbell that the conStltu~
,ion should not stand between friends,
and he looks upon the republic of ran
ANA as even closer than friend. ne
win rely uDon the marines 10 preserve
IN status aud give stability 10 lhe
trembling littic nation unless Coiofn pa
should make au open movement, IN Mhica
event as The CONSTITUTION has shown,
he viii send tho army TO the isthmus.
peonle famili&r with the country south
OF The canal strip say the claim tlat d
rafl,-a army could not get through TO
Panama territory is baseless Inc pos
1lbiities of campaign. nor sncn q CaiiH~
Daign as would be n-Y de by heavily our
do0cd modern armies. hut one which the
Colombian troops could make, are Ger
tainlv there according 10 the best au-
thoritIes 1t might mean guerrilla war
fare but Il would I've no less War IT Is
possible that General Reyes, VINO is
really strong man, may be induced to see
4he fa0lhartiDpSS OF any .Sirn attempt on