The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-04-10
SENT TO THE ISTHMUS.
An American Naval Force Dis
patched to Panama.
The First Armed Expedition Sen
Abroad Since l848.

The secretary of the navy received the fol
lowing dispatch from Commander Kane, d
the United States ship of war Galena, std
toned at Panama: 81 hold two of the mos
prominent insurgents who assisted in firin.
Aspinwal. l do not think it is safe to de
liver them to the Colombian authorities, VIII
would permit their escape"
Senior Bccerra, representing the Unite%
+ States of Colombia at Washington, sent III
following dispatch to General Comma at Pan
anna.
United States forces are going TO co-ope
rate in securing free transit and protection o
American life and property Ii they fin
that the Colombian forces are able of them
selves to attain that object, they will with
draw. have perfect confidence in the goo
faith and upright intentions of the America
government. Public opinion here is deepl
iIritated at the excuses committed at Colon
/ We need energy, repression, and exemplar
Justice, 50 that we may not be held foe tn
Aforesaid excuses. Report frequently
He also sent the following to the authorize
at Buenaventura:
at is important that more forces be sent d
4 Panama to restore order and to prevent tn
nation from being held responsibility
| Secretary Whitney telegraphed as follow
to Rear Admiral James E. Jouett, who saile .
/ from New Orleans with the United State
steamer Tennessee:
: "ln addition to the force under your com
mand in the steamships Tennessee, Swatara.
! Alliance and Galena, all of which should ID
/ at Aspinwall upon your arrival, you will b}
reinforced by about 200 marines from
dispatched from New York by
the steamship City of ParsI
/ with tents and camp equpage. To pro
vide for contingencies, further supple
will be sent at once. The duty you are called
upon to perform calls for the exercise of grea
discretion. The object of the expedition /
the performance by the United States OF
their engagement to preserve the neutrality
of and keep open the transit from Colon f.
Panama and further to protect the lives anC
property Of American citizens.
The circumstances as understood FROM
which the necessity for the expedition has |
arisen are in general that n steamship belong
inS to Americans has been seized at Colon by}
an armed force, and goods in transit takei
from her, her officers and the American con |
sui imprisoned, AMI the transit across thd|
ISthmuS Interrupted. With the consequence
involved in these past acts you are not conf
cerned
Your sole duty is confined to seeing that
free and an uninterrupted transit across
the lSthmus IS restored and maintained, anC
that the lives and property of American citi |
zeuS are protected.
If on your arrival at the Isthmus order|
shall have been restored, and the Colom-
bian authorities are adequate to the pro.
lection of life and property and the main.
tenance of free transit, you will interfere ind
no respect with the constituted authorities,
but report and await orders You have nd
part to perform in the political or social dis !
orders of Colombia, and it will be your duty|
IN hat irrit fr.ia, Il lt,ac u
shall arise from your presence at the Isth-I
mus The incidental exercise of humanity
toward American citizens in exigent distress
must be lett to your sound discretion
The force of United States marines which,
/ started from the Brooklyn navy yard andI
took passage on the Pacific mail Steamship
City of Para, comprised $50 officers and men.
Among the women who stood at the navyI
yard watching the departing of troops were|
the wives of officers and the wives of enlisted
men; the tear drops gistened in the eyes of
ali, and they turned away with heavy hearts
The tug which carried the men from theI
navy yard steamed down to the City of Para,
the marines We're transferred, and the frstI
expedition which has left the United States|
for service in n foreign land since lS4S was|
Off The marines went away III a serious
and determined frame of mind, resolved to|
uphold the splendid record of the corps.
\ Fortress Monroe dispatch says that the|
steamer Dispatch, with between 800 and 400I
sailors and marines on board from the NOr-I
folk navy yard passed there to intercept the|
steamer from New York for Panama OFT the|
capes of Virginia, to which vessel the menl
We're to be transferred
The secretary of the navy, in view of the|
later dispatches regarding the troubles att
Panama, especially one from Commander
Kane, of the Gaena, decided to send further
force to the isthmus. The dispatches Indicate
a continued condition of disorder The fol-
lowing is Commander kanes despatch, dated
Aspinwa!l
Vessels now on way to Aspinwall to-
gether with force on the Para, will be suffi-
Gent to open and guard transit If supported
by two ships at Panama Without such sup
port, an extra force of 0 men will be re-
quirei. Everything quiet in Aspinwall and
all American property as well protected as
my force will permit. | have 1l2 officers
and men on shore. My command is safe
and well. Only one foreigner killed sol
far as known. Their are about 100 Co
lombian government troops here holding a.
large number of prisoners and are rendering
no assistance in preserving order: railroad
refugees, and have sent many out on line of
road. Transit remains closed. One relief
train reached Panama last night at great
risk, having been stopped by insurgents and
one person torcibly removed. Wires to Pan
ana continually being cut'
y further force Of 30 men was th1reupon
sent to Panama on a Pacific mail steamer
from New York to cooperate with the pro
viouS force forwarded.