The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-12-11
Army Of Col0mbians Attempts to
Cross the Darien Mountains.
CONTRARY TO REYES ORDERS
New President Of Colombia, Now In
Washington, says He Told His
Troops 10 DO Nothing Rash
while He Was Gone.

to river. on the guI OF i3al1tA, 70 opeA
way over the Darien mountains into
Panama. Other troops from the de-
partment Of Cauca, Colombia, are said
10 be conyerglng on Panama, and from
all parts Of Colombia troops are report
ed to be marching or awaiting on the
result Of General Reyes mission to
Washington.
Or. Herran, the Colombian charge
d'aGalres, authorizes the statement
that if troops from Cartagena have
landed near the mouth Of the Atrato
river, as reported, It Is directly in op-
position to the advices Of both himself
and General Reyes.
General Reyes stated that the LIS
Guayra dispatch was the first informa.
ton he had received Of the reported
movement Of Colombian troops He de.
clared, however that If it is true. aaI
stated, that such movement has taken
place it was without any orders from
him. Upon coming to Washington as
the special representative of the Co
/ AOllHANu EWAGA MlAtAAN ANthEA4 al AAEs CO
temporarily relinquished the command
OF the Colombian army, the duties fall.
ing upon General Castro, second in
command General Reyes confirmed
the statement recently made by Admi
raj Coghlan in n report to the navy de-
partment that prior to his departure
for Washington he had given instruc-
lions TO the Colombian troops to make
no hostile demonstration until he was
heard from and said that these troops
were now awaiting orders which, how
ever would not come from him direct
but from the government at Bogota
Asked ais to the probable length Of
his stay III the United States, he re,
piled that Il was indefinite. He would,
he said, hold another conference with
Secretary hay in the course Of the next
few days.
United states Won't Permit Invasion.
The general has been fully informed
hy the president himself as to the in.
tentions of the government of the Unit
ID States respecting the isthmus. He
was told by the president that, as was
set out in the presidents message to
congress, the United States had de.
termined to maintain the independence
of the new republic of Panama against
| al Corners While this guarantee is
contained in a treaty now pending be
lore the United States senate and AS
set unratitied, the administration has
for some time past been acting upon.
the theory that the understanding is in|
| full force Therefore, all necessary
| preparations have been made TO exert.
whatever physical force may be neces
1 sary to protect the isthmian transit
| and instead Of combining military and
! naval operations to the narrow strip OF
the right Of way across the isthmus II
has been decided that sound military
policy requires the extension of the
protected zone to include the entire ter
ritory of the republic Of Panama. Con.
sequently no Colombian troops viii be
allowed 10 cross the frontier into Pan
ANA, or if they cross. they win be
elected in due time
The point on the gulf of Darien
where the Colombian troops are re
| ported to have landed is believed TO be
just about on the dividing line between
the territory of Panama and Colombia
and it is probable the troops win not
cross the border without further in
H struetions from B0gota, which, in turn
will depend upon the reports made to
the Colombian government by General
Reyes and by the two commissioners
Jiminez and Banco, who left Wash
i ington two days ago ON their return t
Cartagena A current report is to the
effect that Colombian naval vessels are
| participating In the movement toward
the isthmus, but It is said at the navy
department that they are SO insignid
cant in power and size that the smallest
Of the United States warships now on
the east side of the isthmus could
speedily terminate their activities.
Inc poncy or the navy department
with respect to The entry Of Colombian
troops into Panama was said to be ia
prevent conflict before It commenced.
10 this end having ia mind previous
/ experience on the isthmus, the naval
commanders IN those waters have been
/ given instructions 10 keep the Colon.
bian troops at d greater distance from
the isthmus at points where fight
with the Panama troops Is likely To
occur M all naval operations. II may
be stated On authority, the department
il stIli guided by the treaty of 1864, M
der which the United States guaran
tees % keep transit across the isthmW
open A broader Interpretation Of Che
duties and responsibilities Of the GOV
ernment IN this respect has now been
given 10 this treaty by which l1a pro.
lection Of The United States viii moi
alone be confined to the canal strip
but TO any part Of the territory of Pan.
anna where an opportunity is afforded
Colombian troops to encounter those
Of Panama and thereby temporarily al
least endanger an unobsuucted traffic
across the isthmus In this indiree
way the United States IS carrying ON
its pledges to protect the independence
Of the new republic Of Panama pend