The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-18
! VAR To THE HILT,
SAID Gen. ORTIZ
Americans in Colombian
Camp
OPERATIONS
The Colombian Officers Say That if
Reyes Mission to Washington
Fails Colombia viii Fight
for Panama to the Bit
ter End.
(By the Associated Press.l

Colon, Dec. 17.-The United States
cruiser Atlanta, Commander William Fl.
Turner, returned here last night from
the Gulf of Darien. She discovered De-
cember 5, detachment of Colombian
troops, numbering usually about 500
men, but, according to their statements
totalling 1900 to 1900 men, at Titumati,
OH the western side of the gulf, just
ncrth of the mouth of the Atrato river.
The commander OF the Atlanta sent ashore
an officer, who conversed with the CO.
lomblan commander.
The latter protested energetieaHy
against the presence OF American war
ships in Colombian waters, insomuch as
war between Colombia and the United
States had not been declared and politely
requested the Atlanta to leave the gulf,
because it belonged to Colombia Com
nander Turner ignored the request and
the Atlanta returned to Colon to report
TO Rear Admiral Coghlan
TIE Co!ombians are clearly busy with
protective and strengthening measures
Although they treated the Americans
courteously they decidedly resented the
presence of the Atlante's landing party.
The Colombian force was composed OF The
men landed recently ar the Atrato river
py the Colombian cruisers CaItagena and
General Pfnzon.
Early in the morning Of December Is
the Atlanta sighted small schooner in
the center of the Gulf of Darien and toll
lowed her to the western shore, where
the schooner attempted to hide blind IN
islet. Lieutenant HARLAN P. Perrill,- of
the Atlanta, was ordered to board her
and thereupon a whaleboat was lowered
and pulled towards the schooner.
Through the courtesy Of the naval
officers the correspondent OF the Associs-
ted Press accompanied the party in the
whaleboat 1t was found that the schoon-
e. had or board hundred armed Colon
bian soldiers, commanded by General
Rafael .Noyo, WHO said General Daniel
Ortiz, commarder-in-chief Of the Coiora-
bian forces OF the Atlantic and the Pa
cifc, had large camp a mile away, OIL
the inalnand4
General Nuvo requested Lieutenant
Perrill TO Sand and confer with General
Ortiz After temporarily returning 10
the Atlanta, Lieutenant Perrll went
back to the schooner. which in the mean
time, had taken up position off beach
within small bay,
Great excitement prevailed among tke
Colombians on the whaleboats approach.
There were repeated cries of Viva
Colombia" and there was a sudden con-
centration of about $50 Colombian SOLD
iers on the beach. For some moments
the situation appeared dangerous and had
the appearance of ambuscade.
General Ortiz appeared on the beach
when Lieutenant Perrill went ashore,
the whaleboat IN the meanwhile lying close
to the beach. General Ortiz insisted that
Lieutenant Perrill should fly the Colon
ban 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 q Colombian flag and refused
to lower the stars and stripes. General
Ortiz did not insist upon MS so doing,
but he protested in writing against the
presence OF the Americans in Colombian
waters Lieutent Perrill accepted the pro-
test and conveyed it to Commander Tur
ner, who handed it to Rear Admiral
Coghlan on his arrival here.
During the conference with the Colon
bians, ashore, Lieutenant Perrill was
surrounded by General Ortizs staff, while
inland, few PAGES, there was a semi
circle of armed sentinels. The beao1 ls
tinels. General Ortiz did not permit
Lieutenant Perrill to leave the point OF
the beach where he landed. While Per-
rill was awaiting the Colombian protest,
First Lieutenant Edward B. Manwaring
commanding the marine guard Of the AT
lanta, rowed up in cutter for the pur
pose OF communicating with Lieutenant
Perrill and to gain certain military in
formation. Lieutenant Manwarmg went
ashore and tho cutter joined the whalo-
boat off the beach
The Colombian camp appeared to be
permanent. was wsll provsioned and
probably destined to be used as base
OF operations.
General Ortiz and oothers freely cx-
pressed the determination Of Colombia
to fight to the bitter end in case General
Reyes visit 20 Washington Is not sue
cessful and Panama is not returned TO
Colombia.
Mr.. James THEM has succeeded MT.
Henry Watts as collector of the Standard
Cox apd ETlootr no C.,r,rouu who resigned.