Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-02
A Warship to Be at Once Dispatched
to Panama.
CAPT. CROMWELL'S CIPHER TELEGRAM
Its Contents Not Known, Eut It
Causes Action.
TWO SECRETARIES CONFER

The revolution in Colombia has evidently
assumed a more serious aspect. Secretary
Herbert today received a cipher telegram
from Capt. Cromwell, commanding the
cruiser Atlanta, as result Of which steps
were at once taken for the immediate dis
patch of warship to Panama for the pro-
lection of American interests on the west
coast of the isthmus The exact nature Of
the information received was carefully sup
pressed, but there were palpable evidences
that it was considered important An in
Quiry was at once instituted to determine
how to get ship to Panama as speedily
as possible. The two most available ships
are the old-tin.e cruisers Ranger and
Alert, and the choice between them hinged
on the question as to which could first
reach Panama The Ranger is at Buena
Ventura, Colombia, about 800 miles south
of Panama, and the Alert is at San Jose
de Guatemala, at least 500 miles to the
north Of that port
The Alert to Go.
But for the fact that the Ranger is need
ec where she is during the tendency of the
Colombian revolution there would be no
question as to her use on this special mis-
sion. Affairs are comparatively quiet In
Guatemala at present, and it is thought
that 1t would be perfectly. safe for the
Alert to leave that station, temporarily at
least. 1t is estimated that the Ranger
could reach Panama in twenty-four hours,
and that the Alert would not require more
than forty-eight hours for the trip. The
gunboat Bennington, the only other vessel
Immediately available for service in Gen.
trail America, is at Acapulco, Mexico, sew
eral hundred miles farther north.
A HOtbed of Revolution.
Panama is a hotbed of revolution, and its
turbulent inhabitants are not content with
resisting the government of Nicaragua,
but must also take part in any uprising or
emeute in the adjoining state of Colombia.
A conflict anywhere near the boundary
line would be sufficient to excite the resi-
dents of Panama to deeds of violence.
Although not so admitted, 1t is understood
that Capt. Cromwell. who is powerless on
the other side of the isthmus, has notified
the Navy Department that the large Amer
lean interests at Panama are in jeopardy
and can only be secured by the immediats
presence of .man-of.war. So far as
known, the eastern section of the Panama
railway canal is quiet, the threatened
danger being confined to the western ex-
tremity.
Conference With Secretary Gresham.
Secretary Herbert had conference with
Secretary Gresham on the subject this
afternoon. Neither would give any infor-
nation about the situation. nor would say
what action, if any, had been taken. 1t is
certain, however. that it has been decided
to send vessel to Panama, but which one
is not disclosed
The Montgomery.
About a week ago, before the trouble in
Colombia was regarded as serious, the
Montgomery was ordered to leave Mobile
at the conclusion of the Mardi Gras fes-
tivities and cruise down the gulf coast of
Central America, stopping first at Trujillo,
Honduras. If occasion seems to require 1t
she can be communicated with by cable
upon her arrival there, in the course Of
five days, and hurried on down the coast
to assist the Atlanta in protecting the east
coast of Colombia.
Nothing Heard From Minister MciKn.
ney.
Nothing has been heard at the State De-
partment for some time from United
States Minister Mckinney, who is supposed
to be at the capital. Bogota, far back in
the interior of Colombia. 1t is surmised
that the telegraph wires communicating
with the coast cable have been cut or
taken possession of by one of the contend
ing parties, and there is reason to believe
that Notwithstanding the reassuring re-
ports sent out by the Colombian officials
the revolutionists have been making great
headway, and, it may be, have captured
the capital