Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-19
MARINES LANDED
ON ISTHMUS
VIII Search For Colombian Troops
Said to Be Near Panama
RUMORS OF SPEEDY ATTACK

rines from the United States cruiser
Prairie was landed here under the
command. of Captain Smedley d. But
Ter, of West Chester, Pa, and imme-
diately started by train for Panama
The destination of the marines is said
TO be Yaviza. up the San Miguel gulf
and Tuira river.
It is believed that the decision OF
the naval authorities to station ma
rines at Yaviza may possibly be owing
to the reports that Colombian troops
have been seen in that direction, but
up to the present time there Is no rea-
son to believe that any large force is
under orders to march OIL Panama
from Cauca. The opinion seems to
prevail that the few Colombian SOL
diers seen were probably scouts who
were endeavoring to learn what pre-
ventive and protective measures were
being taken by the Republic of Pana-
ma. and that 1t was their presence
which gave rise to the exaggerated
on the Isthmus.
1t is more likely that the movement
of marines to Yaviza Is in conformity
with the policy of the naval authorities
to concentrate forces at points which
offer the best facilities for getting i'm
mediate information Of any movement
by Colombian troops towards Panama
and at the same time aSording the ma
rines some relief from their confine-
ment to the ships. The marines car
ried with them all requisites for camp
life and also a number OF machine
guns.
Want Panama to Assume $4,000, 900.
London, Dec. 15.-The correspondent
OF the Morning Leader at The Hague
says 1t is reported there that both Hol-
land and Great Britain insist that the
Republic of Panama shall assume liza
bility for $4,000, 900 of the Colombian
debt.
Army Officers Anxious to Assist.
Washington. Dec. 15.-The news OF
the movement of marines southwark
from Panama, based as it was on the
reported landing of Colombian troops
IN that part of the isthmus, was re-
ceivsd with keen interest in army cir
cles. where there has been exhibited
AOA SOluS NlLuC a OCSllS
with the navy in any military move
ments on the Isthmus. The general
staff gave the subject immediate at
tention. There was, however, no out
come in the shape OF orders to troops,
though the arrival here of Brigadier
General j. Franklin Bell, superinten-
dent of the general staff college at
Leavenworth, was regarded as con-
flrming the previous statements to the
effect that the army is making ready
to do its share at a moments notice.
General Bell was In consultation with
some OF the members of the general
staff
There are strong reasons to doubt
the truth OF the report that Colon
bian troops have landed on Isthmus
| territory. All previous reports to gov
| eminent officials have indicated that
no Colombian troops either have been
landed or will be landed until after
the result of General Reyes mission
TO Washington is known. General
Reyes stated that he had given his
| pledge to that effect to the state de-
partment. His counsel to the Colon
bans to abstain from hostile acts until
he has ended his work in Washington
| Is well known.
Rear Admiral Coghlan cables that
the Mayflower has learned that two
Colombian gunboats, with troops
aboard, are lodging along the Colon
bian coast near the Panama line. but
cannot learn that they landed men,
Coghlan's cruisers are still searching
for traces of the party.
Captain Butler is a son of Congress
man Butler Of West Chester. He left
school during the Spanish war and en-
listed in the marine battalion. In
| 1899 he was made a lieutenant Of
marines and took part in the expedi-
ton to China for the relief of the lega-
tions. He was wounded at Tien-Tsin.
Shot Himself Before a Mirror.
| WASHINGTON Dec. 14-Standing he