The Savannah morning news., 1903-11-05
ONE CHlNAMAN KILLED.
That Was the Limit of the Destruc-
ton of the BOgOta's Guns.

Washington, Nov. 4.-Vice United
States Consul Ehrman at Panama ca
bles the State Department under to-
days date that the Colombian gov
ernment's warship Bogota is Smelling
the city. One Chinaman has been kill
ed.
Mr. Ehrman has been instructed to
protest against the bombardment. If
the consul's protest is not sufficient
then the commander of the U. S. S.
Boston, which is by this time on her
way to Panama from San Juan Del
Sur, 900 miles distant, will promptly
seize the Colombian gunboat, if neces-
sary to stop the bombardment.
This bombardment is in violation of
all the rules of war, beginning, as it
did without the required notice. More
over, the United States government
takes the ground that it certainly in
terferes with the freedom of transit
across the isthmus, which this gov
eminent is treaty bound to maintain,
The greatest activity was exhibited
in the State and Navy Departments
this morning, and there were frequent
communications among the officials,
the navy OIlCGIS DCiAi6
tent on working out the details for
the plan for the protection of isthmian
traits outlined by the State Depart
ment.
1t is quite evident that the navy
is making preparations for larger
demonstration in isthmian waters than
it has made for many years, and the
fact is not disguised that all of the
information that has come from the
agents of the government point to the
ultimate success of the revolution.
you will protect American inter-
ests at all points and do everything
possible to avoid bloodshed," is the
substance of the instructions cabled
by the Navy Department, at the in
stance of the State Department, to
the naval commanders now at the 18TH
mus or on their way. The last part
of the instructions is particularly sig
nificant, for it forecasts a more active
interposition by the United States gov
eminent in the troubles on the 18TH
mus than has perhaps ever before been
displayed.
With the Atlanta, Dixie and Nash
vile, there will be a naval force on the
Gulf side of the isthmus sufficient to
meet any probable emergency. The
presence of the 400 Colombian govern
ment troops at Colon makes the sit
uation there at present more difficult
than on the Panama side. 1t will prob
ably oblige the United States to take
temporary possession of the railway,
as traffic cannot be maintained with
one end of the line in possession of the
government forces and the other in the
hands of the reyolutionists. The effect
of such seizure of the road would be
to prevent the movement of any body
of troops carrying arms from one side
of the iSthmus to the other.
Some cabled inquiries have come to
the State Department from men who
stand very high in the business world
of Panama, asking If the United States
government would extend recognition
to the new state If the present move
ment was successful. The inquiries did
not come in such form as to justify an
official answer, and it is said that it is
not the policy of this government to
commit itself in such cases. The in
variable rule as to recognition in cases
Of revolutions is to recognize de facto
conditions, and If the United States
consular officers at Panama and Colon
report that there is an actual working
government in possession of the 18TH
mus, they will be allowed to do BUSH
ness with it.
AS soon as the Pacific squadron, con-
sisting of the Marbehead, Wyoming
and Concord, now at Acapulco, finishes
coaling 1t will proceed to Panama to
Join the Boston.
Tonight Acting Secretary Darling
received a dispatch from the captain of
the cruiser Atlanta, at Kingston ia
maica, saying he would sail with his
vessel tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock
for Colon. The Atlanta has been
taking on a supply of coal at Kings
ton.
During the day telegram
was received at the State
Department from the New York
management of the Panama Railway
Company, stating that the property of
that company was in danger and ask
ing for protection. In addition, word
came from the cable company in effect
that there was no telegraphich COM
munication with points in Colombia
outside of Panama and Colon by way
of the isthmus.
There are at the stations named on
the Atlantic coast approximately the
following number of marines:
Norfolk, 200; League Island, 300; New
York. 300; Washington, 800; Boston,
200: Portsmouth, ~ H., 100; Annapolis,
$50 In a case of emergency 800 or
more of these could be spared for serv-
Ice on the isthfnus. At Port Royal and
Charleston only small attachments are
stationed, just sufficient to meet the
needs Of those two stations.
The Colombian warship Bogota Is
vessel Of 1400 tons displacement, car
ries fairly heavy sheathing of arnor
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