Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-17
STRONG NAVAL FORCE
Three Warships Will Soon Be on
Their Way South.
RANGERS DELAY NOT UNDERSTOOD
No Rupture Between Colombia
and Venezuela.
OFFICIALS ARE GRATIFIED

The Navy Department today concentrat.
ed it's energies in the direction Of mobiliz
ing a naval force in the immediate neigh.
borhood of the Isthmus of Panama, de.
signed to protect American interests on the
scene of the rebellious disturbances in tina,
locality.
Within the next twenty-four hours three
American warships, including one first
class battle ship, will be on their way
southwark. and within ten days, in all
probability, the battle ship Iowa will be
anchored off Panama to render whatever
military assistance Americans located there
may demand.
Naval Movements Contemplated.
The Machias. the gunboat which has
been held at Hampton Roads for the past
few days, on account of the unfavorable
weather. is expected to leave that port
some time this afternoon. Advices receiv-
ed by the Navy Department today indicat-
ed that the weather conditions had modi-
fed. A statement to that effect was for
warded to the department by the weather
bureau. stating that conditions along the
coast were such as to allow the Machias
to sail. The commandant at the Norfolk
yard was Immediately notified, and mas
much as the boat has been in complete
readiness for her voyage for several days
her departure is expected to occur before
tonight.
No notifica ton Of the sailing of the
Ranger from San Diego, Cal, had been re-
ceived at the department up to late hour
this afternoon but it is expected that she
will also depart before evening. Officials
of the department are somewhat at loss to
understand just why this vessel has not
sailed, as she was expected to do SO last
evening. She has made all preparations
for her voyage, and there is nothing, so far
as the'department is aware of, to hold her
in port.
The Machias will arrive off Colon on the
Atlantic coast about the same time the
Iowa will cast anchor at Panama Thus
the United States will be represented at
both of the principal ports in the disturbed
district within very short time.
The arrival Of the Iowa was reported
from San Francisco this morning, the ves-
sci thus completing her 900-mile trip from
Puget sound.
She was in readiness for long cruise
when she left Puget sound, but it is expect
ed that she will replenish her coal supply
Whlle at San Francisco. This will require
only few hours time, however, SO that
she Is expected to leave for the south not
later than tomorrow.
The Ranger will probably get start
over the Iowa on the trip southwark, but
the great difference in the speed capacities
OF the two vessels will soon place the bat
tie ship ahead of the cruiser, and she will
arrive there considerably in advance Of
the Ranger.
Aside from these naval movements there
were no developments in the Colombia
Venezuelan situation. The State Depart
ment was entirely lacking in advices from
the disaffected district.
Treaty With New Granada
Incidental to the talk abroad concerning
the United States attitude in the present
difficulty and the possibility Of an intention
on the part Of this government to form
"confederacy Of nations" 1t Is pointed out
in well-informed circles that the treaty
of 1916 entered into between the United
States and New Granada, now Colombia,
contains provisions which entirely justify
this country in being so active in the d.
rection OF dispatching such a strong naval
force to the scene.
This treaty granted the right to Ameri-
cans to construct a railway across the 18TH
States was bound to maintain neutrality
within the limits of the territory indi-
Gated.
The presence of American naval repre-
sentatves in both Atlantic and Pacific wa
ters off the isthmus is therefore held to be
entirely justifable.
Satisfaction at the Department..
Great satisfaction is expressed over the
that diplomatic relations be-
tween the governments of Venezuela and
Colombia have not been ruptured. The fact
that the Colombian minister had left his
post at Caracas and that instructions sent
later to Charge d'Affaires Russell to as
sumo direction of Colombian diplomatic af-
fairs at the Venezuelan capital If found to
BIS necessary was taken to mean quite gen.
orally that the Colombian representative
had left under circumst ances which pre-
saged a conflict between the two coun-
tries. The announcement that the minister
will in all probability return to his post Is
gratifying, therefore. indicating, as it does,
that no open rupture has occurred between
the governments Of Colombia and Ven
ezuela, as was reported.
SAN DIEGO, Cal, August 1.-THE,
Ranger, ordered TO Panama finished TAX
ing on supplies this afternoon and started