The Indianapolis journal., 1903-12-01
War Feeling Is Rampant, but No steps
Have Yet Been Taken to Invade
the Isthmian Republic.
BEAUPRE WAS ONCE IN PERIL
HOTHEADS PROPOSED KILLING THE
AMERICAN MINISTER,
But Wiser Counsel Prevailed and a
RiHe-Armed Guard of 80 Was Fur
nished for His Legation.

x,
a member of the Colon House of Repre-
senta tives from Panama, who made
speech in the House Oct. 2, warning Colom-
bia to sign the Hay-Herran canal treaty
immediately or she would lose the isthmus
the day Congress closed and who was in
strumental in bringing about the appoint
ment of General Obaldia as Governor of
Panama, has arrived here from Bogota.
whence he started Nov. Ii. Senior De Roux
is Panamanian. and owing TO his we'll
known political connections, he was sub
jected to annoyances and affronts at
Bogota and on the Magdalena river, where.
at one place on the passage down, a num-
ber of Colombians threatened TO board the
steamer and modest him. Trouble was
averted by the captain cutting the vessers
moorings and dropping down stream. At
Bogota efforts were made to persuade
Senior De Roux to join the Reyes commits
sion to the isthmus, but De Roux absolute
ly declined.
When De Roux left Bogota, the United
States legation was guarded continually by
| fifty soldiers armed with rifles. Minister
Beaupre mentioned that possibly he would
come down the river, but apparently he has
not decided to do SO.
governmental consulting committee has
| been formed at Bogota. 1t is composed of
| Liberals Conservatives and Nationalists.
| According to good authority, at one meet
| ing of the committee the statement was
heatedly made that Mr.. Beaupre must be
killed, whether the United States destroyed
Cartagena or not in retaliation. Wiser
counsel, however, prevailed.
Bogota and the entire country is waiting
| to hear from General Reyes, whose grant
| of full presidential powers has been con-
frued While there is still much talk in
Colombia of raising a big army, no real
| steps in that direction have yet been taken.
| Public contributions are being made and
DEGREES are occasionally issued, referring
| to warlike preparations but no real action
has been taken.
| Colombia possesses a great number Of
| good rifles, some artillery and an ample
| supply of ammunition. Quantities of am
munition have recently been moved in OK
carts from Honda, sixty-five miles from
| Bogota. on the Magdalena river, 10
| Bogota.
| Colombia has not lost the idea of max
ing an attempt to regain the isthmus She
| still entertains hopes that General Reyes
| will succeed in effecting a satisfactory ar
| rangement at Washington. Failing this, the
Colombians, IL is believed, will undoubtedly
| advance on the isthmus, sending troops, IN
| small parties of two to three hundred, along
| both coasts, sufficiently inland to keep their
| movements secret, and on arriving on the
| borders of Panama they will, 1t ls expected,
begin guerrilla warfare. pillaging and
| burning. They may also, 1T is alleged. at
| tempt to transport troops by sea In small
| schooners and other such craft between
| unimportant and little known ports, hop
| ing to avoid the American gunboats, and
| thus helping In the general movement to-
ward Panama, or probably landing troops
! in the Chiriqui district. The Colombians
think they can carry out such movement
without the knowledge of the Americans
| and believe that their soldiers, Injured to the
hardships of campaigning and living In the
| country without a commssariat, can reach
| the borders of Panama overland.
| Colombia can move troops without money
because she can send them into the field
| without a hospital corps, without COM
missary department. without means OF
| transportation and without pay
Notwithstanding the Colombian govern
| ment's assurances, all the political parties
| have not fully and unselhshly rallied to the
! support of the government In this crisis
| The internal political dissensions are slowly
lutionary element particularly is showing
signs of increasing discomfort throughout
| the entire country, and recurrence oi
the recent revolt at any time . WITHIN tine the
| are familiar with Colombian affairs. Or
the contrary IL is fully expected.
An American trayeling salesman. who
| spent last month in Cartagena, has arrived
here He reports that Cartagena is quiet
| with the exception OF an occasional out
| break of popular excitement against the
United States. Nothing serious has oc-
Cured there. The American consul at that
place has not been molested. There are
only two or three Americans in Cartagena
and they are all longtime residents, wei
known and liked. There Is no fear of them
being interfered with. The traveller con
firms the previous dispatches regarding tht
| attempt on the American consul at Carta
gena to board the Trent and the inter
ference Of the police. The Colombian gun
boats, General >Finzon, Presidente Mario
quin and Cartagena, are at Cartagena.