The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-01
Resent Attempt to Negotiate
Costa Rican Peace.
Without Declaration of War
First Battle Is Fought
LEAGUE OF NATIONS ALARMED
May Ask United States for
Naval Blockade.
Panama Troops Now in Possess
sion of Disputed Territory.
tBy the Associated Press.)


Panama, March 1-One person is
dead and four others are suffering
from wounds received when the presi-
dental guard fired upon a mob which
broke into the executive mansion here
yesterday. One of the Injured was
Domingo Turner. who was the CHIEF
organizer of the demonstration here
when General Pershing visited the
canal zone last year.
American troops arrived at the
nome of President Porras Just in time
to save the presidents life Senor
Porras was comforting with William
Jennings Price, United States minis
ter to Panama, and Col. Jay j. Nor
row, acting governor of the canal
zone, when a crowd which had gath
cred in front of the palace became
threatening
Asks for U. S. Troops.
A request was at once sent to the
commandant of the United States
troops in the Canal zone asking hin,
10 send soldiers to the palace Before
they had arrived, however. a portion
of the crowd had broken in one of the
| doors and had been fired upon.
| A demonstration called for vest err
DAY afternoon was declared off Quiet
| had been completely restored last
nlghn saloons both in Panama and
colon had been closed while United
states troops guarded the presidential
palace during the night, in spite of the
presidents request for their with
drawal.
| Tried to Kill. President.
i The attack upon the palace was
tinstigated by men who had become
maddened over a published interview
/ in which President Porras was quoted
as having declared himself favorable
| to a diplomatic settlement with Costa
Rica after Panama had recovered
territory Costa Rican forces seized last
lKeek- -5fa W
= ~5Itess.asserted sthe mob which broke
intoxthe palace intended to sissassinate
Senor Porrass =. x y /. ~. f.s =
First Battle Is Fought.
Balboa Heights. Canal Zone, March
| Without a formal declaration of
| war. Panama and Costa Rica have
fought battle resulting in four killed
and eleven wounded
Panama forces today were in posses
sion of the disputed province of Chiri-
qui which had been occupied by Costa
Ricans. The Costa Rican force was
captured. Panama officials declared
they will continue to hold the province
until the United States offers media
ton. The opposing forces clashed
| twice. The first was a brief engage
ment and without casualties, twenty
eight Costa Ricans were captured.
IN the afternoon. Costa Rican rein
forcements arrived in a. gasoline
| tindhSi ana were met Dy sharp fire.
Four were killed and nine wounded.
Two Panama police were wounded
also. .-t
| The Costa Ricans lost machine
gun, twenty-five rifles. a flag and pro-
visions.
League May Take Action.
Paris, March 1.-Action by the
League of Nations to halt the Panama
Costa Rican war may take the form of
a request of the United States to i'm
pose a naval blockade on those coun-
tries, members of the league secretariat
said Informally today.
1t was stated that, as both nations
are members Of the league, 1t would
/ be permissible to apply the economic
blockade against them to force cessa-
tion of hostilities.
The fact that both Costa Rica and
Panama come under the Monroe doc
trine. it was stated, would cause the
league TO consult the United States
/ before acting and would probably
cause it to request that country to
enforce the blockade.