Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-12-18
TROUBLE WITH COLOMBIA.

The United States cruiser Atlanta
Commander VIM. II. Turner, returned
to Colon Wednesday night from the Gull
of Darien. She discovered December
Is detachment Of Colombian troops,
numbering usually about 500 men, but,
according to their statements, totally
!, 500 or 1000 men, at Titumato, on
the western side of the gulf, just north
of the mouth of the Atrato river. The
commander of the Atlanta sent ashore
an officer, who conversed with the 20
lombians' commander. The latter pro.
tested e6ergetically against the presence
of American warships in Colombian
waters, insomuch as war between Colon
bia and the United States had not been
declared, and politely requested the At
lanta to leave the gulf, because it belonged
to Colombia. Commander Turner ig-
nored the request and the Atlanta re-
turned to Colon to report to Rear
Admiral Coghlan.
The Colombians are clearly busy with
protective and strengthening measures,
and their force was composed partly OF
the men landed recently at the Atrato
river by the Colombian cruisers Carta-
gena and General Pinzon.
Early in the morning of December 10
the Atlanta sighted small schooner In
the center of the Cult Of Darien and
followed her to the western shore, where
the schooner attempted to hide behind
an iset. Lieut.. Harlan P. Perrill, OF
the Atlanta, was ordered to board her,
and thereupon whale5oat was lowered
with a crew of twelve men, who pulled
toward the schooner. 1t was found that
the schooner had on board hundred
armed Colombian soldiers, commanded
by General Rafael Novo, who said Gen.
Daniel Ortiz, commander-in-chlef OF the
Colombian forces of the Atlantic and
the Pacific, had large camp mile
away. on the mainland.
As the wha,eboat approached the
scboone. 21 soldiers we're seen seated on
the side nearest to the direction from
which the Americans came, with niles
living handily across their knees and
pointing toward the whaleboat. General
Novo. who is Venezuelan by birth,
and second in command Of the Colon
bian forces, stood on the deck of the
schooner and called out in broken
English "What way is this TO make
war;"
Lieutenant Perrill explained that i
was not war, but friendly visit.
General Noyo, however, refused to
furnish him with any information, but
asked Lieut.. Perrill to land and confer
with General Ortiz. After temporarily
returning to the Atlanta, Lieutenant
Perrill went back to the schooner,
which in the meantime had taken
up position off beach within small
bay. Great excitement prevailed among
the Colombiaus on the whaleboats ap-
BRO ich. There were repeated cries OF
"Viva Colombia p' and there was a sud
den concentration ofabout 100 Colombian
soldiers on the beach. For rsome moments
the situation appeared dangerous and had
the appearance of ambuscade. General
Ortiz appeared on the beach when Lieu
tenant Perrill went ashore, the whaleboat
in the meanwhile lying close to the beach.
General Ortiz insisted that Lieutenant
PERIL should fly the Colombian flag at
the bow of tle whaleboat or lJwer 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.
After the flag incident General Ortiz
made an eloquent verbal protest against
the Americans presence, the Colombian
troops continually cheering his remarks.
He subsequently committed bis protest
10 writing The general seemed uncer-
tain at the beginning whether or not war
had been declared. He left the port OF
Cartegena December 2. and some OF the
Others declared they had been in the gull
for month past, conducting defensive
and preparatory operations.