New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-18
C0L0MBIANS AT DARIEN.
BIG FORCE NEAR PANAMA.
american Warships asked to Leare
GuIf-PIon of attack.

Colon, Dec. Ii.-Defnfte information that Co
lombian troops had landed and established a
camp near the Panaman border received
here to-day when the Atlanta. Commander Will
lam H Turner, returned from the Gulf of Da-
rien. She discovered December 15 detach-
ment of Colombian troops numbering appar-
emily about 800 men, but. according to their
statements. 1900 or 1900 men, under command
of General Daniel Ortiz at Titumati. on the
western side of the gulf just north of the
mouth of the Atrato River and due east from
Yavzo.
An officer from the Atlanta was sent ashore.
General Ortiz protested against the presence of
American warships in Colombian waters. and
requested the Atlanta to leave the gulf Com
mander Turner did not answer the protest and
sailed to report to Admiral Coghlan.
The Colombians made efforts to avoid giving
any reasons for their presence in the gulf, or
stating whether they were building a road
toward the Republic of Panama. but it can be
said reliably that they awaiting further or
ders In the mean time there is strong proba-
bility that they ave building road toward Pam
anna The distance separating Tttunati and
Yaviza is sixty miles.
The Colombians declared they had two thou
sand men. part of whom were landed by the
cruisers Cartagena and General Pinzon between
the mouth of the Atrato and Tiburon we'll sup
also have several pieces of artillery mounted
advantageously at coastal points Their de-
meanor though polite, clearly showed hostility
and deep chagrin at having been discovered
Many indications pointed to their intention of
bringing further men ana supplies to the gulf.
COLOMBIAN SCHOONER BOARDED
Early in the morning of December Is the
Atlanta sighted small schooner in the middle
of the Gulf of Darien and followed her to the
western shore. where the schooner attempted to
hide behind small island. Lieutenant Harlan
P. Perrill. of the Atlanta, was ordered to board
her, and a whaleboat was lowered and pulled
toward the schooner. The boats crew consisted
of twelve men. unsrmed. When the whalebeat
approached the schoone- tweuty-four soldiers
were seen seated on the side, with rifles lying
across their knees and pointing toward the
whalebos-. General Rafael Novo, who Is a
Venezuelan by birth and second in command
OF the Colombian forces. stood the deck and
insolently called out in broken English;
What way is this to make war;
Lieutenant Perriu explained that IT not
war, but friendly visit. General Novo. how
ever refused to furnish any information beyond
saying that General Ortiz commander in chief
of the Colombian forces OF the Atlantic and
Pacific had a large camp a mile away on the
mainland and requesting the lieutenant to con-
fer with him.
An interpreter who boarded the schooner
discovered that she had seventy or eighty
armed men packed closely in her hold.
The Atlanta sgnaled to Lieutenant Perrill to
return to his ship. and later the lieutenant
went on shore to visit General Ortiz. This time
he took with him dozen rifles concealed in
the bow OF the boat. in case of emergency.
Great excitement prevailed among the Colon
arh re-
peated cries of Viva Colombia and about
one hundred and fifty Colombian soldiers hastily
gathered on the beach. For some moments the
situation appeared dangerous and had the ap-
pearance of an ambuscade General Ortiz ap-
peared on the beach when Lieutenant Perrin
went ashore. and the excitement subsided
DEMAND TO HAUL DOWN FLAG REFUSED
General Ortiz demanded that Lieutenant Per-
rill 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 Perrill replied that he did not have
a Colombian flag and refused to lower the Stars
and Stripes General Ortiz did not insist upon
his demand but made a verbal protest against
the Americans presence. the Colombian troops
continually cheering his remarks He subse-
ouentIy committed his protest TO writing The
general seemed uncertain at the beginning
whether or not war had been declared he left
the port of Cartagena on December :. Some OF
the others declared they had been in the gulf
for a month, engaged IN defensive and prepara-
tory operations. The protest reads partly as fol-
lows:
| To the Captain of the Atlanta:
Daniel Ortiz cOmmandant generaI or a DIVISION
| ~ The Colombian army and first adjutant 10
| General Reyes, protests most energetically, In
| the name OF the Colombian government ana all
Coombians, against the presence OF Aiei - = =
| rarshJns In our waters. You are citizens OF a
| nowerfuI country immensely rich and possess
| ina vast numbers of inhabitants. on the con-
| tysrv We are bankrupt and our Immense terri
Continued on second page.