The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-08
ORDERED TO COLON
GUNBOAT MACHIAS WILL PROTECT
AMERICAN INTERESTS ON
THE ISTHMUS
START TO BE MADE AT ONCE
Up to the United States to Keep
the Railway From Panama
to Colon Open for
Traffic

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7.-An order was
issued by the acting secretary of the
navy today for the gunboat Mach.as, now
at the Boston navy yard, to proceed
without delay to Hampton Roads and
there to prepare for departure to Colon,
near the eastern terminus of the Pana-
ma railroad At the navy department
it is explained that this movement has
been ordered with a view of having
the Machias take observations in the
vicinity of the isthmus In announcing
the action Of the department it was Of
ficially stated that ut is deemed need
full that a United States war vessel be
in that vicinity at this time"
The order to the Machias followed a
conference held at the navy department
between Acting Secretary of State Adee
and Acting Secretary Of the Navy Hack
ett Mr.. Adee had the dispatch received
from Consul Gudger last night stating
that the revolutionists had held up a
train for an hour at Matachin, on the
line of the railroad across the isthmus,
and only about fifteen miles from Pana-
ma City.
MAY BE SOMETHING DOING.
While this was not regarded as threat
ening interruption of traffic or giving
any ground for Intervention by the Unit
ed States, yet it was deemed advisable
by the officials that one of our ships
should be in the neighborhood in order
that suitable observations could be made
and steps taken to meet any serious
emergency that might arise. For the
present, officials do not believe that there
will be any need of landing marines
The commander Of the Machias Lieuten-
amt Commander Mason Sergeant, is re-
garded as an officer of tact and ability,
and, besides this, he has had recent ex-
perience in West Indian waters, having
been in command of the Scorpion when
she made her recent trip to La Guayra
to keep watch on American interests in
Venezuela.
The Machias is a gunboat of LIZ tons
displacement with twin screws and good
steam capacity. She has eight four-incn
guns in her main battery, six rapid firers
and one automatic gun. Her run to the
isthmus depends somewhat on the length
of her stay at Hampton Roads, but it is
believed she will be ordered to proceed
with little or no delay, in which case the
trip will take about ten days or two
weeks.
THE TROUBLE IN 1885.
The position Of the United States as
to maintaining free traffic across the
Isthmus of Panama was fully defined in
1885, when extensive naval operations
! were carried on there. An outbreak
somewhat similar to the present one oc-
| Cured early in the year, when the insur-
| gents captured Panama and burned AS
/ pinwall. When traffic became effectual-
| ly blocked the United States determined
! to act, and the North Atlantic squadron
! under Rear Admiral Jouett, was sent to
| the isthmus. At the same time the navy
! department sent an eXpeditionary force
hTarrr ictiro # 1kaY,
and marines, commanded by Commander
! B. H. McCalla, and including three Cat
ling and three three-inch rif1ed guns
Admiral Jouett arrived at the isthmus
April 10 and at once landed marines and
! issued orders to open transit across the
/ isthmus. Two armored cars, fitted with
howitzers, Gatling and Hotchkiss guns
were sent over the line, clearing the way
and making the entire transit. Garrisons
of marines were placed at ASpinwall and
| Matachin, the latter place being where
| the revolutionists have now held up a
| train, according to Consul Gudger's dis
patch of yesterday. Commander Mccall
| las expedition established headquarters
| at Panama, where the revolutionary lead
er, Aizpuru, was in full control and was
| erecting barrcades, expecting a battle
with the Colombian army. Commander
| McCalia acted energetically, and gather
| ing MS Iull Iorce, occupied Handma OF
April "A, arrested Aizpuru and the other
leaders and held them prisoners until ar
agreement was signed that fighting
should not take place within the city.
Three days later the Colombian army
arrived, and at conference between the
government generals, Aizpuru and Ad
miral Jouett, the insurgents capitulated
All of the United States forces were
then withdrawn and were back in New
| York on May 16 The secretary of the
navy In reporting the incident pointed
out that the action of the navy was
carefully confined to enforcing treaty
stipulations for free transit across the
isthmus, and that our interference ceased
the moment this object had been accom-
plished. President CleVeland's message