Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-03
PUSHING ON TO PANAMA.
WHITNEY'S MARINES BEING PUT
IN FIGHTING TRIM.

WASHINGTON, April 2.-ln answer to
the.telegram sent last night by Secretary
Whitney to the President Of the Pacific
Mail steamship Company at New York,
relative to the number of men the COM
pany's vessels can take to Aspinwail
without delay, the following reply was
received this morning:
We can carry 300 meu in the City Of Para
tomorrow at noon, and GOO in the Acapulco
next Monday.
Secretary Whitney replied:
We viii ship 900men by your steamer to-
morrow noon with tents and camp equipage.
! Ihe tennessee with Admiral Jouett lett New
Orleans to-day with an extra complement of
marines for Asplnwall and with extra pro-
visions. This NYill place four ships and be-
tween 400 aud 500 available men at Aspin-
wall for land service. AS To Mondays
steamer, VIII communicate hereafter.
The men wilfbe taken from the Brook
lyn navy yard.
COMMANDER .KANE's REPLY.
In reply tothe telegram sent to Com
mander Kane, of the Galena, the follow
ing was alsoreceived to-day:
Transit is closed. The steamship propcrty
IS safe and in my possession, also the railroad
property at the nOr1h end of the island. 1t IS
advisable to senC another vessel.
When it was learned at the Navy De-
partment this morning that the Secretary
had determined to protect American in
terests on the lsthmus by force there was
considerable excitement among navy Olll-
GERS on duty here. Anumber of them inn
mediately volunteered their services to
20 to Asptnwalk The selection of officers,
however, has been left to the Board OF De-
tail, which convened at II: 80 O'Clock. 1t
isunderstood that Mai. Charles Haywood,
of the marine corps, who is in charge
of the marine barracks at Brooklyn,
will have immediate command Of the
marines. A naval officer OF rank, how
ever, will probably be detailed to COM
mand theeXpedition.
The government officials are of the
opinion that transit win not continue
closedfor any length OF time. IL will de-
pend upon the,information derived in the
meantime whether any additional force
will be sent TO Aspinwall Monday.
THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION.
The Pacific Mail Steamship Company
has reduced the rate for taking men TO $40
per man, including subsistence upon the
passage, and also including tents aud
camp equipage. This covers about tho
actual cost to the company for taking
them. The four'ships of war which win
be at Aspinwall by the time the
Pacific mail steamer arrives have
Gathng guns for use on
land, and a force of sailors trained in
! their management. IL on arrival at AS
pinwall il appears that the trouble is oyer
the marines will probably be transferred
to the men-Ot-war, increasing their com
pement in each case, or return to New
York, as circumstances may seem to make
iudicious.
Commander b. II. McCalla and Lieut..
T. b. M. Mason, on duty here, left for New
York this AFTERNOON to aid in transferring
the marines to the city Of Para. After
the departure of the 200 men tomorrow
about an equal number of marines Will
remain in the various yards.
OUR SAILORS POORLY ARMED.
A prominent navy officer, in speaking Of
the Panama difficulty, and the sending of
a force from the United States, said TO-
day: 1T is a subject Of regret among ma.
val officers that thesaiors who will prOba-
bly, form part of the forces to be sent to the
isthmus will not beas well armed as the
marines, or even as well as the forces with
which they will have to contend. Their
arms consist Of short magazine guns
which will not compare in range with
Springfield rifles. Neither are they sup
piled with baEOnets."
AsPINwALIs POPULATION.
Lieut.. Rogers, Of the navy, who has
recently returned from Aspinwali, says
that the town contained between 5000
and 10000 people. 1t is constructed on
an island and contains two principal
thoroughfares, along one OF which tho
Panama Railroad runs. One street con-
tains business houses and hotels built Of
stone, and the other some busi-
ness houses and residences, the
upper stories Of which are built
OF wood. The natives, Indians, occupy
thatched buildings grouped in another
portion Of the Island. There are two or
three hundred Americans in the place
who are employed at the docks and in
stOrehOuses. The docks, the Lieutenant
says, are valuable pieces Of property, as
is also an extensive English stOrehouse
built of stone. This house, together with
the docks, with the exception Of that
used by the Pacific Mail Company, were
destroyed. Until the construction Of the
railroad Aspinwall was nothing more
than an Indian village.
START or THE "DEsPATCu."
WASHINGTON, April 2.-The United
States steamer Despatch sailed from the
Washington navy yard 40 O'Clock this
evening, upon orders received from the
Navy Department at noon to-day. She
will proceed to Norfolk, where some me-
cessary repairs will be made, after which
she will join the flagship Tennessee in the
West Indies, subject to orders 70 sail for
Aspinwail.
About ij marines and all the officers OF
the Marine Guard stationed at the navy
yard, except Lieut.. Porter. who viii be
retained % command the remaining Ma
rine Guard, are under orders % be IN
readiness 70 leave for the scene Of the
Central American difficulties.
Dispatches from Philadelphia, Brook
Ign, Boston and Portsmouth, n. H., report
great activity inthenayy yards preparing
marines for active service. Detachments
started to-day from Philadelphia, B05 on
and Portsmouth navy yards md from the
naval station nc Newport, r. j., 10 REM
devious at Brooklyn, whence dratt of
men will bo sent 70 AspinWal ia Satur-
days Pacific Mail steamer.
THE CITY FIRED BY PRESTON.
PANAMA, April 2.--Particulars Of The
battle at AspinWall, aud the burn
ing Of that city, arc still
meagre. The attack upon tho
rebel chief, Preston, bY The Colombian
troops was led by Coz. UllOa. Gen. Pres
toms forces were utterly routed after q
severe engagement. As soon as Gen
Preston became convinced that 10 would
be impossible for him 90 maintain hig
position he set fire % the city
in various places and then made his es-
cape. Only few Of his followers sue
ceeded in getting away with him. The
city Is almost a cUmplctoruin. OH thrce
houses are left standing. Much distress
prevails among the people VINO have been
rendered homeless.
INervfbtng la miot hero ne Panama.