The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1921-02-26
COSTA RIGA
and PANAMA
FORCES FIGHT
Hostilities Have Begun Say
Unofficial Advices, Though
Confirmation is Lacking
Men Are Enlisting. :.
WAR NOT DECLARED
(By Associated Pressn

4ANAMA, Ecu. 1O.-I1OSJlllticS nave
begun between Panaman and Costa
Rican forces in the vicinity of Coto
on the Pacific end of the frontier be-
tween the two countries, it is said in
unofficial advices received here. OFF,
cial confirmation of these reports,
however, is lacking. Formal declara-
tion of war had not been made up un-
til last night.
More than 1000 men enrolled for
military service here yesterday and
reports from other parts of the repub-
lie told of citizens volunteering for the
army. Two hundred men left yester-
day afternoon for the Costa Rica from
tier and 1t is believed the Panaman
forces near Coto or enroute to that
place number 500. These consist of
national police and volunteers for Pan
anna City and Chiriqui province.
Small Town Base.
The base of Panaman operations
will be in the small town of Progreso
near Golfo de Dulce, which is con-
nected by narrow-gaug railway with
a small port constructed by the Pana-
ma Sugar company. The town of Pro-
greso is also the property of the same
corporation.
Progress is the focus of trials
which lead to David, the capital of
the province of Chiriqui, which is
about 80 miles distant from Coto.
No Instructions.
The Panama canal zone administra-
ton and the United States legation
here had not received instructions
from Washington last night. A con-
ference was to be held this afternoon
between President Porras, William
Jennings Price, United States minister
and Col Jay j. Morrow acting canal
governor, but it was postponed until
Monday.
Aside from the enthusiasm incident
to the volunteering of men for military
service, chief interest in this city cen
tered today around the question of
arms. 1t was generally believed the
United States government held sew
eral thousand rifles for the Panama
governmsnt and n was supposed the
volunteers would be armed with them
Rifles Taken Over.
1t was learned at the United States
legation. however, that some rifles
taken over from the Panaman govern
ment following the signing of the Hay
Varilla treaty were returned, and
more than 1900 of the guns were sold
at public auction here in 1914. A
large number were shipped to the Pan
aman consul in New York for dis
posal in 1916.
While the president had been pro-
ceeding under his constitutional pow
ers in mobilizing the Panama forces,
the authority to declare war rests
with the national assembly, which has
not as yet acted. A general exodus of
Costa Ricans from Panama is taking
place, while the Panamans who are
in Costa Rica are trying to reach Pan
ANA.
interesting Phase
An interesting phase of the situa-
ton results from Costa Rica occupy
ing territory under the arbitration de-
cision of Chief Justice White, of the
United States supreme court, which
was handed down in 1914, while the
United States herself has. by virtue
Of treaties, guaranteed the territorial
integrity of the country.
The Panaman government claims,
however, that Justice Whites decision
if his award should not be accepted
by both parties, the territorial status
would revert to the conditions laid
down by the decision rendered by
President Loubet of France. 1t is un-
der the Loubet decision that Panama
claims the land which Costa Rica has
seized
Panama Disturbed
While il was stated in official cir.
cles here last night that Panama wa $
much disturbed over them arms situa.
tion, the government had determined
to settle with Costa Rica without in
tervention by the United States, and
would purchase sufficient arms from
private munitions concerns, if they
were not available elsewhere.
1t Is known the Sinclair Oil inter.
ests have been conducting drilling op
erations in the same general locality
where concessions have been granted
q British corporation by the Costa
Rica government