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Show HOSTILITIES OPEIIEOf IBS Panama and Costa Rica Forces Clash, With No Formal Declaration Declara-tion of War, Reported WASHINGTON, Fab. 2 Immediate return ef eeversl theueand riflee Mixed in 191 by the American authorities in the Panama canal sane ie ached by the government ef Panama, which deeire t uee them In repelling the reported inraclon ef Panama by Casta Rioan. . PANA&IA, Feb. 26 (By Awo-ciated Awo-ciated Press). Hostilities have begun between Panaman and Costa Rican forces ' in the vicinity of Goto on the Pacific nd of the frontier between the two countries. It la aald In unofficial advice received here. Official confirmation con-firmation of these report, however. I lacking. Formal declaration of war bad not been made up until last night. Mora than 1000 men enrolled for military service here yesterday and reports from other parts of the republic re-public told of citizens volunteering for the army. Two hundred men left this city yesterday afternoon for ths Costa Rican frontier, and It Is believed be-lieved the Panaman forces near Coto or en rout to that place number about 600. BASE FIXED. The base of Psnaman operations will be In the small town of Pro-srreso. Pro-srreso. near Golfo de Dulfe. which is connected bv a narrow gauge railway with a- email port constructed by the Panama Sugar company. It waa generally believed the United States government held several thou-ssnd thou-ssnd rifles for the Psnama government, govern-ment, and it was supposed the volunteers would he armed with them. It was learned, however, that some rifles taken over from the Panaman government following the signing of the Hay-Vsrilla treaty were returned, and more than IfiOO of the guns were sold at public auction here In 1914. CLAIMS CONFLICT. An Interesting phase of the situation situa-tion results from Costa Rica occupying occupy-ing territory under the arbitration decision of Chief Justice While of the United States snore me court, which was handed down In 1914, while the United States herself has. by virtue of treaties, guaranteed the territorial Integrity of this country. The Panaman government claims, however, that Justice White's decision de-cision contained a clause to the effect that if hia award should not he accepted ac-cepted by both parties, the territorial status would revert to the conditions laid down by the decision rendered by President Douhet of France. It Is under the Ioulet decision that Panama claims the land which Costa Rica haa seized. It la known the Sinclair oil Interests have been conducting drilling operations opera-tions In Costa Rica near the disputed territory, and reports are In circulation circula-tion In Panama that the Costa Rican government has already granted a British corporation a concession for oil i exploitation In. the same general location. |