The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-05
PANAMA'S FLAG FLIESt
At Colon That of Colombia Flaunts
Defiantly---United States Marines
Landed to Prrtect Our Interests
Cause Of the Revolution Colombia's
Rejection of Canal Treaty.
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, Nov. 4.-Vice United
States Consul Ehrman, at Panama, cables
the State Department under today's date
that the Colombian government warship
Bogota is shelling the city. One China
man has been killed.
Mr. Ehrman has been instructed to pro-
test against the bombardment.
If the consuls protest is not sufficient
ten the commander of the u. S. S. Boston,
which is by this time on her way 10 Pana-
ma from San Juan Del Sur, 600 miles dis
tant, will promptly seize the Colombian
gunboat if necessary to stop the bonn
bardment.
This bombardment is inSviolation of all
the rules of war beginning as it did with
out the required notice. Moreover the
United States government takes the
ground that it certainly interferes with
the freedom of transit across the isthmus
which this government is treaty bound to
maintain.
The greatest activity was exhibited in
the State and Navy Departments this
morning and there were frequent consul
tations between the officials, the naval
officers particularly being intent on work
ing out the details for the plan of the
protection of the isthmian traffic outlined
by the State Department.
1t is quite evident that the Navy is
making preparations for a larger demon
stration in isthmian waters than it has
made for many years, and the fact is not
disguised that all of the information that
has come from the secret agents of the
government point to the ultimate success
of the revolution.
"You will protect American interests
at al points and Go everything possible
to avoid bloodshed, is the substance of
the instructions cabled by the Navy De-
partment at the instance Of the State De-
partment to the naval commanders now
a the isthmus or on heir way. The last
part of the instructions is particularly
significant, fc~ it forecasts a more act
i've interpositio1 by the United States
government i'll the troubles on the isthmus
than has Ierhaps ever before been dis
played With the Atlanta, Dixie, and
Nashville there will be naval force on
the Gulf side of the isthmus sufficient to
meet any probably emergency. The pres.
ence of the 400 Colombian government
troops at oClon makes the situation there
at present more difficult than on the
Panama side.
1t will probably oblige the United
States to take temporary possession of
the railway, as traffic cannot be main
tanned with one end of the line in pos
session of the government forces and the
other in the hands of the revolutionists.
The effect of such seizure of the road
would be to prevent the movement of any
body of troops carrying arms from one
side of the isthmus to the other.
Some cabled inquiries have come to
the State Department from men who
stand very high in the business world of
Panama, asking if the United States gov
ernment would extend recognition to the
new State if the present movement was
successful. The inquiries did not come IN
such form as to Justify an official answer.
and it is said that it is not the policy of
this government to commit itself IN such
cases. The invariable rule as to recogni-
tions in such cases of revolution is to re-
cognize defacto and if the United States
consular officers at Panama and oClon
report that there is an actual working
government in possession of the isthmus
they will be allowed to do business with
it.
During the day telegram was received
at the State Department from the New
York management of the Panama Rail
way Company, stating that the property
of that company was in danger and ask
ing for protection In addition mes
sage came from the cable company IN
effect that there was no telegraphlc COM
munication for points in Colombia outside
of Panama and Colon by way of the 18th
n,ls.
There are at the stations named on the
Atlantic coast approximately the follow
ing numbers of marines: Norfolk 20e,
League Island 300, New York 800. Wash
ington 300. Boston 200. Portsmouth. n. H..
100; Annapolis $50. In a case of emer-
gency 500 or more Of these could be spared
for service on the isthmus. At Port
Royal and Charleston only small detach-
ments are stationed. just sufficient to meet
the needs OF those two stations.
The Colombian warship Bogota is a
vessel OF 1,400 tons displacement, carries
fairly heavy sheathing of armor and a
battery of one 14-pounder six 6-pounders,
and two machine rapid fire guns.
The Carthagena at Colon is in every