The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-12-19
COL OMBLANS
WILL FIGHT
Cruiser Atlanta Discovers q Strong
Force Near the Frontier.
GENERAL ORTIZ IN COMMAND
Landing Party From American Nes-
sci Interviews Him : He De-
cInres That He Means
business.


business.
Colon, Dec. 1s.-The United States
cruiser Atlanta, Commander William
II. Turner, has returned here from the
gulf Of Darien. She discovered, Dec.
Is. a detachment Of Colombian troops,
numbering visibly about 500 men, but
according to their own statements, to-
falling 1900 or 1000 men, at Titumau
on the western side Of the gulf, just
north Of the mouth Of the Atrato river
and due east from Yaviza.
The commander Of the Atlanta sent
ashore an officer, who conversed with
the Colombians commander The lat
ter protested energetically against the
presence Of American warships in Co
loimbian waters, inasmuch as war be-
tween Colombia and the United States
had not been declared and politely re.
quested the Atlanta to leave the gulf,
because it belonged to Colombia. Com.
mander Turner ignored the request,
and the Atlanta returned to Colon to
report to Rear Admiral Coghlan.
The Colombians are clearly busy with
protective and strengthening measures.
Although they treated the Americans
courteously, they decidedly resented
the presence of the Atlanta's landing
party. The Colombian force was COM
posed partly of the men landed recent
ly at the Atrato river by the Colombian
cruisers Cartagena and General PIN
zon
Colombian Schooner OverhauIed.
Early in the morning of Dec. 10 the
Atlanta sighted a small schooner in the
center of the gulf Of Darien and fol-
lowed her to the western shore, where
the schooner attempted to hide behind
an islet. Lieutenant Harlan p. Per
rilI Of the Atlanta was ordered to board
her, and thereupon a whaleboat was
lowered and pulled toward the schoon-
err 1t was found that the schooner
had on board a hundred armed Colom-
bian soldiers, commanded by General
Rafael Novo, who said General Daniel
Ortiz, commander in chief of the Co
lombian forces of the Atlantic and the
Pacific, had a large camp a mile away
on the mainland. General Novo re-
| quested Lieutenant Perrill to land and
confer with General Ortiz.
After temporarily returning to the
Atlanta Lieutenant Perrill went back
to the schooner which in the meantime
had taken up position off a beach
within small bay Great excitement
prevailed among the Colombians on tbs
| whaleboat's approach. There were re
| peated cries of viva Colombian and
there was a sudden concentration Of
about $50 Colombian soldiers on the
beach. For some moments the situa
ton seemed dangerous and had the
I appearance of an ambuscade
| General Ortiz appeared on the beacl
when Lieutenant Perrill went ashore
the whaleboat in the meantime lyins
close TO the beach. General Ortiz in
sisted that Lieutenant PERIL shoult
fly the Colombian flag ut the bow o.
the whaleboat or lower the American
flag at her stern because she was il
/ Colombian waters. Lieutenant Peril
replied that he did not have a Colon
bian flag and refused to lower tn,
stars and stripes. General Ortiz dix
not insist upon his SO doing, but he pro
tested In writing against the presenc
Of the Americans in Colombian waters
Lieutenant Perrill accepted the protes
and conveyed it to Commander Turner
who handed it to Rear Admiral Cogh
Ian on his arrival here
During the conference with the Go
lombians ashore Lieutenant Perrill wa
surrounded by General Ortiz's staff
while inland few PAGES there was
semicircle of armed sentinels Tn
beach In both directions was also line
by sentinels. General Ortiz did no
permit Lieutenant Perrill to leave tn
point of the beach where he landed
While Perrill was awaiting the Colon
bian protest First Lieutenant Edwar
B. Manwaring. U. $. M. G. command
ing the marine guard of the Atlanta,
rowed up in cutter for the purpose 0
communicating with Lieutenant PEI
rill and to gain certain military infoI
nation. Lieutenant Manwaring wen
ashore, and the cutter joined the whale
boat off the beach.
Lieutenant Perrill returned to the Al
lanta at 3 o'clock in the Afternoon
Lieutenant Manwaring before return
ing pulled in the cutter along the cOas
observing the Colombians' camp. Late
in the day General Ortiz requested til
Atlanta to leave.
The Colombian camp appeared to b
permanent, was well proyisioned an
probably destined to be used as bas
Of operations.
General Ortiz and others freely e.
pressed the determination Of Colombo
to fight to the bitter end in case Ger
eral Reyes visit to Washington is nc
successful and Panama IS not returne
to Colombia.
Demetrfo Casfro's Flight.
San Francisco, Dec. 18.-The Pacif
Mail steamer Barracuda, just arrive
here from Panama, transported Ger
oral DeypefrIo Castro Of the Colon