Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-14
CALLED BACK.
Colombian Troops Have Not
Landed on lsthmus.
Our Warships Fail to Find Any Traces
Of Alleged Invaders.
Indians Along the Coast Not Very
Friendly with Aliens.

Colon, Dec. 3.-The United States
cruiser Atlanta which returned here,
late last night, reports that 1t stopped
at The. Panama boundary line, where
Inquiries were made concerning the re-
ported landing of Colombian troops.
The Indian interpreters aboard the
Atlantic conferred with the chiefs of
the territory who gave their positive
assurance that no Colombian troops
had been landed and who said that
even If they did land, it would be i'm
possible for them o'pass through,
owing to the total absence of noun
tain trails. The Atlanta steamed 40
miles further towards the Atrato river,
obtaining similar information every
where. A report to this effect has been
made to Admiral Coghlan.
The converted cruiser Mayflower re-
turned to Colon, this morning
Through the examination of the San
Bias coast made ny the United States
cruiser Atlanta and the converted cruz
ser Maylower, it has been clearly es-
tablished that the Colombian cruisers
General PinZOn and Cartagena appear
ed in the Gulf of Darien about 80 hours
after they were reported as having left
Cartagena No reliable evidence, how
ever, could be obtained to show that
any of the troops carried by the cruz
sers had been landed either on the
Gulf coast or northwest thereof.
The Atlanta and the MayflOwer made
a thorough inspection of the entire
vicinity. IT was learned that at one
coast point the Cartagena embarked a
..fn 70
buIlccks, some corn, and 80 pieces OF
zinc roofing, but no information could
be obtained as to the direction taken
by the cruiser thereafter. 1t has been
reported that Colombian troops were
landed at certain point on the Pana-
ma coast, but the Atlanta was present
at this point at the time when, accord
ing to the reports, the troops should
have been landed. and saw nothing.
The naval officers found the attitude
of the Indians to be Indifferent and
repellant. The traditions of the Indians
for centuries have been against per-
hitting aliens to land in their terri
tory and these traditions are still main
tanned. They often decline to answer
the questions of the interpreters anc
on occasions their information was
found to be misleading.
The information obtained by the AT.
lanta and Mayflower points to two
probabilites-either that the Colon,
bian troops have been returned t.
Cartagena or that they have beer
landed at come point on the coast be.
tween Cartagena and the Gulf of Da.
rien ard may be proceeding thence
toward Cauca.
The Atlanta sailed again towards tht
Gulf of Darien. this afternoon, and VIII
continue careful patrol of the coast
1t would be impossible for the Carta;
gena and the GeneraAs Pinzon to entel
the Atrato river, because the north o
the river has n G-foot bar. No small
boats are abtainable whereabouts ant
no considerable number of troops coult
be transported up the river. The onl!
boats to be had are few canoes.
The remainder of the marines OF
board the auxiliary cruiser Dixie viii
be landed, Tuesday, Wednesday ant
Thursday next. satisfactory arrange
ments having been completed to Obtain
good water for the camp at Culebra OF
the line of the Panama Railroad.
The United States auxiliary cruise
I Prairie. which sailed from Guantana
mo, yesterday. arrived here. today. TIL
: supply ship Culgoa has gone to NEE
B the fleet at Culebra.