New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-10
AMERICANS ON THE ISrHMUS.
DFrgNpING THE UNITED STATES FLAG.
CAPTAIN m'cA1LIs OCCUPATION OF AND WITH

foreign residents who are, nevertheless not al All
sanguine as TO the stability of the Government ana
predict that as soon as the troops are wlthora"n
there will be another revolution. The reVoluuon-
lists feel as ifthey had been cheated out OF their
rights ard threaten that the "Rext time" they
viii begin operations by cutting the throats OF all
the Americans The keeping of the troops mere IOr
any length of time is an impOssibility. Already a
rapid and marked deterioration of the health OF the
forces is observable. Every day the sick
list grows larger and every day the
f.vers beoome of moro malignant
1ype. Chronic diarIhGa too is becoming alarm
inqlv prevalent Ali that experience or medical
skill could suggest in the way of sanitary regula-
tious has been enforced far as was possible under
the circumstances, but nothing ever has been or
ever will be capable of successfully combating the
fatal and noxious climate of this CHASTITY place.
The half-cIvilized and turbulent natives, whose
lives arc passed in mental and physical feVers
stand the climate no better than. indeed not as WE'LL
as the foreigners who are acclimated Everywhere
over cities and villages the clouds of buzzsrds
wheel and skim, sweeping toward the graveyards
where in the rainy season, the corpses are washed
from their shallow graves or pausiDg by the road
aide OF the Jungle where the unbured bodies OF the
dead are too frequently left "uncOfined and I'M
known" If it is true that no troops could long
withstand the climate here, 1t is equally true that
without some protection the lives and
property of Americans will always be I'M
safe and a great highway between our
eastern and western shores will forever be
liable to be blocked by savage NIB.
A ship of war on either side of the lsthmus all
the time is the only solution of the difficulty. Inc
necessity for the preseRt expedition on the 18th
mus havin ceased the sooner it is got back to the
United States the better. Gods own country
we call the States down here, and when at night
the soldiers sing There's land that Is falrer
than day" they see the green slopes of the Nave
sink highlands and feel the healthtul breezes
blow across the lower Bay.
OCCUPATION OF THE CITY OF PANAMA
In regard TO the military situation here, it is
fact which cannot be disputed that the occu-
patton of the city of Panama by Captain
McCaa on Friday rendered the peaceabIe
solution of the difficulties yesterday possible.
Alzpuru was barricading the streets of the city.
The Government troops from Cauca were hourly
expected. fierce aud bloody battle in the streets
of Parama was imminent Threats TO burn
The city and against the lives of
foreigners were heard on every side. Captain Nc
Celia assumed the responsibility and entered the
city. What a storm of indignation swept over the
country against Captain Kane, because he did not
preyent the burning of ColonI What storm
would have risen against McCalla II he had hesi-
tated TO act until from Camp Jouett he had seen
fire and sword sweep ever Panama. Three hours
delay would have placed Panama i'll such
n State that the Americans could only have entered
II by forcing their way through barrcaded streets
while death pourel on them from loop-holed wall
and oyerhanging balcony. As it was, If the ar
rangements had been less perfect and less skill
fully carried out Aizpuru would have resisted that
entry by force, and although we would
of course have carried the day. many lives on Doth
sides would have been lost.
But the IN Jyement was Sd sudden and so uuex-
pected that Aizpuru was completely cowed. When
the action of McCala was dlsapproved and he
was ordered to retire, he made the best terus he
could with Aizpuru binding him not to fight inside
the city and 10 regard as sacred the lives and
properly of foreigners. He warned him that If
the pledge was broken he was ready at
moments notice to re-enter the city. Then he with
drew to camp Jouett. But IL was impossible to
convince the people of the city that the Americans
had not been frightened out and they rent the air
with their shouts of Abajo Americana Biva Cen
eral AIzpuru, BivA Colombian and danced and
sang and drank all night in the Quartet. The
French Consul, really a consular clerk and Consul
pro teropore did his best to make 1t appear that
france caused the withdrawal OF the AMERICANS
The day before lie mad made lmpaSsioned appeals 70
the French Admiral TO land hls forces
i. and occupy the town. and when the Admiral
refused and the Consul learned that
negotiations were going on brtween Captain Nc
Gala and AiZpuru, lie rang In as the friend OF
fbe re eli chIeftain. The result that the people
believed that the Americans had run away either
before the fierce threats Of the natives, OF before
the threats of France.
Fortunately Aizpuru and his advisers we're men
of sense. compIehendlng the true state OF AFFAIRS
and having "A wholesome regard for the American
Gatllngs and the energy Of the commanding officer
They did their best TO control the people and sue
sseed 0G lie not was convinced tha
the Americans would not permit him to fight
in the city. so YESTERDAY, when Admiral Jouett
called conference of the leaders of the Natlonal
forces and of the Insurgents Alzpuru agreed 10 lay
down HE arms, having indeed no other alternative
except marching out on TO tho savannah near the
CITY TO fight, aud that meant certain destruction.
MOI that he submitted readily and al once,
for it took days para takng ana "a brGO
about the result. But AlZpuru had been taught
lesson by tie occupation OF the city and consented
to capitulate.
AMERICANS CALCULATING THE CITY AT NIGHT.
The scene in the barracks at Camp Jouett the
night that the Americans evacuated the city
was a strange one. The order to retire had 6
demoIallzing effect officers and men. The
day before spirit had an mated all and every
man was moved TO be an American. Now all wal
caanged Some sat apart, Inundated and dis
gustcd. But there were gallant officers as brave al
ever IYed who had led their commands cut OF the
city amid the jsers aud taunts OF people VINO were
their avow I'd enemies sietlng around the mess Ia
BILE taking tho whole thug as matter OF course
and taking international law. An EngllshmaI
visited t1e BARRACKS JnaJ evening Sale: lou
Americans are always talking about honor of the
flag and condemDlng naval officers for not acting
eDrrgeucaly. but as soon as ono does act with de
cisiOO the Government at Washington goes bach
on Tim. | never saw a finer lot Of officer
and men in my life, but where is th'
spirit of Decaturi Crushed out by
weak and timofous foreign pOllcy." Still, in thu
barracks hat night there was moro than one office
VINO SAID, "Oh, Tor one hour Of Blaine"
HONOR TO WHOM HONOR is DUE.
Where all officers did their duty so well and 81
deheatey in occupying the city, it may be Invid
ious to specify any, but Captain Collum, of tn
marines, certainly deserves praise for the name
IN winch lac performed the duty assigned him. Ii
Ia fol, arad tno f,vx N