The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-05
BOCAS DEL TORO FALLS
BEFORE INVADERS WHO
MOVE ACROSS FRONTIER
$50 Prisoners Taken-U,
s. Sends Warships and
May Intervene.

Hashington, March 6.IThe
Panama. Costa Rica situation
was the first subject taken up
today by Charles Evans Hughes
after he had taken oath rs see
rotary Of state. He spent aa
hour cleseted with Under.Seo.
rotary Davis and Henry p.
Fletcher, who is to be the new
under.secretary, and then went
to the White house to see Presi.
dent Harding.
Panama, March a-(United
Press. )-American destroyers
have been sent to Almirante
and The Gulf Of Dulce to pro.
tect American interests as tho
result Of the invasion Of Pana-
man territory BY Costa Rican
forces, Il was learned today.
This action was accepted IN
official circles here as fore.
shadowing American intervca.
ton.
Mr.. Hughes spent more than
m hour with the president and
during the conference John W.
Weeks, the new secretary Of
war was called In.
In his talk with Mr.. Davis
before his visit to the White
house, Mr.. Hughes was under.
stood to have expressed ftlse
approval Of the action of the re-
tiring secretary Of state in or.
dering warshlps sent to both
ends Of the canal zone to gum.
anteo protection to American
interests, which 1t was believed.
might bo endangered BY ~
conflict between Panama ~
'~ Costa Rica.
Island OF Yap.
The island of Yap situation, alsl
was understood to have been dis
cussed by Mr.. Hughes and Mr.. Da
Wis, and the new secretary was re
ported to have expressed approva
Of the action of the state depart
ment in the controversy regarding
cable communications at that Is
land.
San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua
March 5.-(Associated Press.)-
Bocas del Toro, capital Of the Pan
aman province of the same nama
and situated at the southern end o.
island, of the east GOES
Of Panama, has been taken by Cost
Rican forces. Many casualties wer'
inflicted on the Panaman troops
and the Costa Ricans took $50 prts
oners, it is sail in reports reaching
here.
General Jeorge volio is marching
from San Joe with 1000 men to thu
vicinity of Coto, on the Pacific emf
of the frontier between Costa Rics
and Panama
Cross Frontier.
Panama, March 5. - (Associates
Press. Costa Rican forces hav'
crossed the Panama frontier ant
appear to have overrun the north
western section Of the province o
Bocas del Toro. After crossing tn
river, which forms tn
between Costa Rica an,
Panama, the Costa Ricans captures
he town of Guabito, and advances
reaching Almirante, q
miles from the frontier. yesterda!
Unorganized Panama.
iorces in Almirante evacuated tn,
town and retreated without opposi
lion.
A bridge across the Sixola river
owned by the United Fruit com
pany, has been blown up, it is re
ported.
Panama Protest.
(By Belisario Porras, President O
the Republic of Panama.
Panama, March 5-(United Press
After Panamanian forces recap
tured the city of Coto, Costa Rican.
have attacked our forces thre,
times, failing each time.
In the first attack we captured [
big gasoline launch, flag and arms
The second time we captured ,
small steamer, arms, flag and ,
great quantity Of ammunition ant
many prisoners. The third time ",
captured another gasoline launch
10 prisoners and great Quantitic'
Of supplies.
Costa Ricans have invaded tn
province of Boca del Toro, passin,
the international bridge and ad
toward .Almirante. We di'
not make resistance here, in orde
to avoid damage to properties an,
Of the United Fruit com
pany, but Il Costa Ricans do no
this offensive we will b
to attack them to defen'
our territory.
Costa Rica has not made q dec
laration Of war. Panama has pro
tested before the council Of th
League OF Nations.
Panama assembly Is enacting
law to authorize the government Il
get an interior loan for the nation
nj defense.