The San Francisco call., 1903-12-18
ARMY OF COLOMBIANS IS ENCAMPED
NEAR THE PASSES LEADING TO PANAMA
Continued From Page 1, Column A

Lieutenant Perr1H explained tnat II
was not war, but a friendly visit Cen
eral Novo. however, refused to give
him any information. An interpreter
who boarded the schooner learned that
she had seventy or eighty armed men,
packed sardine-Iike in her hold.
The Atlanta then signaled to Lieu
tenant Perrill to return to his ship ana
later the lieutenant returned to the
shore TO visit General Ortiz, the COM
mander in chief of the Colombians.
This time he took with him a dozen
rifles. concealed in the bow of the
whaIeboat, for an emergency. The
whaleboat was rowed steadily toward
the schooner. the excitement increasing
as she approached, but when Lieuten-
ant Perrill went on shore General Ortiz
appeared on the beach and the excite
nlent subsfded.
General Ortiz insisted that Lieuten-
ant Perrill should fly the Colombian
flag Sat the bow. Of the whaleboat, or
lower the American flag at her stern,
because she was in Colombian waters.
Lieutenant PerriH replied that he did
not have a Colombian flag and refused
to lower the Stars and Stripes. Gem
eral Ortiz did not insist upon his 50
doing, but he protested in writing
against the presence of the Americans
in Colombian waters. Lieutenant Per-
rilI accepted the protest and conveyed
it to Commander Turner. who handed
it to Rear Admiral Coghlan on his ar
rival here.
General Ortiz seemed uncertain at the
beginning whether war had been de-
oTo Ice
Der and some of the others declared
they had been in the gulf for month
past conducting defensive and prepara-
tory operations. The generals protest
reads partly as follows
ITO the captain of the Atlanta: Dan
iel Ortiz, commandant general Of a di
vision of the Colombian army and first
adjntant to General Reyes, protests
most energetically in the name of the
Colombian Government and all ColOm-
bians against the presence of Amer
ican warships in our waters. You are
citizens of a powerful country, inn
mensely rich and possessing vast num-
bers of inhabitants. On the contrary,
we are bankrupt and our immense ter
ritories are depopulated. Colombia, has
been bled by fatuous civil wars, but
to-day in the Panama matter and re-
garding yourselves, we believe we have
right and justice on our side. Do not
doubt it. The god of nations will be
on our side. Against him squadrons
and cannon shall not prevail. Every
Colombian, man or woman, is capable
of rising to the heights of heroism.
I'D. ORTIZ" -
General Ortiz sent another >communi-
cation to Commander Turner asking
what orders the commander had from
Washington regarding the movements
of Colombian warships in Colombian
waters to which Commander Turner
answered saying they would be treated
as would the vessels of any other pow
er with which the United States was
at peace.
After saying that he was satisfied
with Commander Turner's answer the
general said; "A
Il beg that you will leave this port
because the waters surrounding it are
in. the department OF Cauca. permit
myself to inform you that the rebel de-
partnaent Of Panama borders on Cauca
at Tiburon. SO long as war is not de-
clared it seems to me only just and
natural that American warships should
not enter the waters south of Tiburon."
Commander Turner disregarded this.
Having accomplished the purpose of
his visit to the gulf, namely, to find the
Colombians, the Atlanta started for
Colon on the night of December Is.
The Colombians carefully and sys-
tematically made efforts to avoid Civ.
ing any information as to what pur-
poses had brought them to the gulf or
whether they were building roads to-
ward the republic of Panama. But it
can be said that they are awaiting
superior orders. In the meantime there
are strong probabilities that they are
building a road toward Panama. The
distance separating Titumati and Va
VIA is sixty miles.
The Colombians declared they had
1000 men between the mouth of the
Atrato and Tiburon well supplied with
food, clothing and ammunition. They
have also several pieces of artillery
mounted advantageously at coast
points. Their demeanor, though polite,
clearly showed hostility and deep cha
grin at having been discovered. Many
indications pointed to their intention
of bringing more men and supplies to
the gulf