Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-12-25
WOULD NOT LOWER FLAG
American Lieutenant Refused TO CON-
ply With Colombian Demand.
TROOPS READY TO MOVE ON PANAMA.
Cruiser Atlanta Discovers Detachment OF
Colombian Troops on the Western Shore OF
the Guf OF Darien-As Lieutenant PERIL,
Approaches the Shore general Move, Calls
Ou:: what Way Is This to Make War"

hpp'OdS tuE OHUTC OGuSiGi NSftg Nd'S
Ou;: what Way Is This to Make War"
Colon (By Cable) The United States
cruiser Atlanta, Commander William II.
Turner, returned here from the Gulf OF
Darien,
She discovered on December IS de-
tachmcnt of Colombian troops number
ing apparently about 500 men, but, &C
cording to their statements, 1900 to
1000, at Titumati, OH the western side
of tie gulf, just north of the mouth of
the Atrato river.
The commander of the Atlanta sent OH
shore ar officer who talked with the CO.
lombian's commander. The latter pro-
tested energetically against the presence
of American warships in Colombian
waters, irsomuch as war between Co.
lonIba and the United States had not
beer declared, and requested the Atlanta
to leave the gulf because it belonged to
Colombia Commander Turner ignored
the request and the Atlanta returned to
Colon to report to Rear Admiral Cogh-
Ian.
The Colombians are clearly busy with
protective and strengthening measures.
Although they treated the Americans
courteously, they decidedly resented the
presence OF the At!anta's landing party
The Colombian force was composed
partly of the men landed recently at The
Atrato river by the Colombian cruiser
Cartagena and Gene-2, Pmzon
Early in tic morning Of Decetnbc-
the Atlanta sighted a small SRI ~
the center Of the Cuff Of n emu a.
lowed her q, Inc we 4erFilL OF the
the scho,~ " "a 10 board her. and
i,Ie,,on a vnarcbJ9t was lowered and
ned tow. .he s-hooner. 1t was
ound thar The schooner had on board
hundred armed Colombian soldiers,
Commanded by Gen. Rafael Novo, who
aid Cen. Daniel Ortiz, commandment
hicf of the Colombian forces OF the At
antic and Pacific, had large camp
nile away on the mainland.
General Noyo requested Lieutenan.
oerril to land and confer with General
Ortiz. After temporarily returning TO
O the Atlanta Lieutenant PERIL went
Jack to the schooner, which i'll the meal
inc rad taken up position off beach
within small bay. Great excitement
prevailed among the Colombians on the
yhaleboat's approach. There were re-
,eated cries Of Viva Colombia.
There was sudden concentration OF
,boM $50 Colombian soldiers on the
reach. For some moments the situation
,ppesred dangerous and had the appear
,nce OF en- ambuscadc. General Ortiz
,ppeared OIL the beach when Lieutenant
Perrill went ashore, the w1aleboat IN the
meantime lying close 20 the beach.
General Ortiz insisted ti!at Lieutenant
Perrill should fly the Colombian flag at
The bow of the whaleboat or lower the
American flag at her stern. because she
was in Colombian waters. Lieutenant
Perril replied that he did not have a
Colombian flag and refused to lower the
Stars and Stripes. General Ortiz did
not insist upon his so doing, but he pro.
tested in writing against the presence OF
The Americans in Colombian waters.
Lieutenant Perrill accepted the protest +
and conveyed it to Commander IurnerI
who handed It 20 Rear Admiral Cogh%
on his arrival here ~
.1t geutyhant PERTH. boats crc%\
- OF u men On the 'frsttr
we're unarmed. excepting four reVolvers
When the whaleboat approached the
schooner "a soldiers were seen seated on
the side nearest to the direction from
which the Americans came with rifle;
living handily across their knees and
pointing toward the whaleboat. General
Novo. who is Venezuelan by birth,
and second ir command Of the Colon
bian forces, stood OH the deck of the
schooner and instantly called out III
broken English q,
"What way is this to make war: =.
Lieutenant Perrill explained that It
was not war, but a friendly visit.
General Novo, however, refused 10
furnish him with any information.
An interpreter who boarded the
schooner discovered that she had 10 to
80 armed men, packed sardine-likc in her
hold.