The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-12-22
PREP AIRING FOR WAR
Cruiser Atlanta Discovered Colon
bian Troops Near Panama Line.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

I Colombians Are Busy With Protective
Measures and Protested Against
Presence Of Our Warships In Their
Waters.
Colon. Dec. 1S.-The United States
cruiser Atlanta, Commander William
H. Turner. returned here from the gult
OF Darien She discovered a detach-
ment Of Colombian troops numbering
about 500 men. but according TO their
statements totalling 1900 or 1000. at
| Titumati. on the western side Of the
[ gulf. Just north OF the mouth Of the
I Atrato river The commander of the
/ Atlanta sent ashore an officer, who con-
/ Yersed with the Colomblans' com.
mander The latter protested energet-
ically against the presence Of Ameri-
can warships In Colombian waters. in
so much ss war between Columbia and
the United States had not been d.
olared and politely requested the At
lsnta to leave the gulf, because it pc
longed TO Colombia.
The CQlombians are busy with pro
tective and strengthening measures.
Although they treated the Americans
| courteously' they decidedly resented the
presence of the Atlanta's landins
party. The Colombian force was COM
posed partly OF the men landed Te-
Gently at the AratO river 10y the Co
lombian cruisers Cartagena and Gen
eral PinToD.
The Atlanta sighted a small schooner
In the centre of the Gulf of Darien
and followed her 10 the western shore
where the schooner attempted 10 hide
behind an islet. Lieutenant Harlan r.
Perrill, OF the Atlanta. was ordered TO
board her. and thereupon a whaleboat
was lowered and pulled towards the
schooner. Lieutenant Perrills boats
crew consisted of l. men. On the first
trip they were unarmed. excepting four
revolvers. When the whalebOat ap-
preached the schooner p soldiers We're
seated on the side. nearest 20 the direc
ton from which the Americans came
with rifles lying handily across their
knees and pointing towards the whale
boat. General Novo. second in conf
mand OF Of the Columbian forces.
stood on the deck Of the schooner and
insoIently called ont in broken Eng
lish: What way is this TO make
war;"
Lieutenant Perrill explained that il
was not war, but "a friendly visit
General Novo. however. refused 10
furnish him with any Information.
An interpreter who boarded the
schooner discovered she had 20 men
In her hold. The Atlanta then sisnalod
TO Lieutenant Perrill TO return TO his
ship. and later the Lieutenant returned
to the shore ii visit General Ortiz. This
time he took with him a dozen rifles
concealed in the bow of whaleboat in
case Of emergency. The whaleboat was
rowed steadily towards the schooner.
the excitement increasing as she APP
preached. but when Lieutenant Perrill
went or shore General Ortiz appeared
on the beach and the excitement sub
sided.
General Ortiz insisted that Lieuten-
ant Perrin should fly the Colombian
fag a. the bow Of the whale5Oat or
lower the Americn flag at her stern,
because she was in Colombian waters.
Lieutenant Perrill replied that he did
not have a Colombian flag and refused
. fo--,~ 4rr afare aud ef~fna-
General Ortiz made an eloquent
verbal protest against the Americans
presence. the Colombian troops con-
tinually cheering his remarks. He
subsequently committed bis protest 10
writing. The general seemed uncertain
at the beginning whether or not war
had been declared. He left the port OF
Cartagena December 2. and some OF
the others declared they had been in
the gulf for a month past conducting
defensive and preparatory operations.
The protest reads partly as follows:
ITO the captain Of the Atlanta
Daniel Ortiz. cOmmandant general OF
q division of the Colombian army and
first adjutant TO General Reyes pro-
tests most theoretically in the name Of
the Colombian government and all
Colomb,ans against the presence Of /
American warships in our waters. You |
are citizens of a power Of the country /
immensely rich and possessing vast /
numbers Of inhabitants. On the con-
trary. we are bankrupt and our i'm |
mense territories are depOpulated. Co |
lombia has been bled by fatuous civil /
wars. but today in the Panama matter |
and regarding yourselves we believe we |
have right and justice on our side. Do |
not doubt It, The God Of nations will /
be on our side. Against him squad
rons and cannon shall not prevail. |
Every Colombian. man or woman. is
capable to rising TO heights Of heroism.
"(Signed) d. ORTIZ"
The COlombians carefully and sys- |
tematically made efforts TO avoid fur
nishing any information as to what |
purposes had brought them to the |
gulf or whether they were building
road towards the Republic of Panama.
But Il can be said reliably they are .
awaiting superior orders. in the mean |
time there is strong probability that
they are building a road towards Pan |
anna. The distance separating THU
matt and Yayiza is 60 miles.
The Colombians declared they had /
1000 men between the mouth OF the
AtratO and TiburOn well supplied with |
food, clothing and ammunition. They |
also have several pieces of artillery |
mounted advantageously at coastal
points. Their demeanor, though polite.
clearly showed hostility and deep cha
grin at having been discovered. Many
indications pointed to their intention
OF bringing further men ard supplies
TO the gulf.
To improve the appetite and
strengthen the digestion, try few
doses of Chamberlain's Stomach and
Liver Tablets. Mr.. ]. II. Seitz, of
Detroit, Mich, says: "Ehey restored
my appetite when impaired, relieved
me of bloated feeling and caused a
pleasant and satisfactory movement
of the bowels" There are people in
this community who need just such
medicine. For sale by III. NJ. Lewis,
druggist. Every box warranted.
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