Evening star., 1901-08-07
MACHIAS TO BE SENT
Gunboat Going to the Isthmus Of
Panama.
NO PURPOSE TO INTERFERE
But Warship viii Be an Observer
of Events.
THE WORDS OF THE TREATY

An order was issued by the acting secre-
tary of the navy this afternoon for the
gunboat Machias, 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
Panama railroad.
At the Navy Department it is explained
that this movement has been ordered with
a view of having the Machias take obser-
vations in the vicinity of the isthmus. In
announcing the action Of the department
it was officially stated that lit is deemed
needful that a United States war vessel be
in that vicinity at this time
Result of a Conference.
The order to the Machias followed a con-
ference held at the Navy Department be-
tween Acting Secretary of State Adee and
Mr.. Hackett Mr.. Adee had the dispatch
received from Consul Gudger last night,
stating that the revolutioniSts had held up
train for an hour on the line Of the rail-
road across the isthmus, and only about
fifteen miles from Panama City. While
this was not regarded as threatening an in
terruption of traffic, or giving any ground
for intervention by the United States, yet
1t was deemed advisable by the officials that
one of our ships should be in the neigh
borhood in order that suitable observations
serious emergency that might arise. The
authorities do not feel called upon to set
tie in advance whether United States ma
rines will or will not be landed, as that will
depend entirely upon future developments.
Twice in the past our marines have been
landed in that locality, but that was due to
special circumstances connected with an In
cident In 1885, and was not so much an
exercise of any rights we may have to
maintain free transit across the isthmus.
However, for the present there is no belief
among officials that there will be any need
of landing marines, and the Machias goes
chiefly as a watchful observer of coming
events. Her commander, Lieut.. Commander
Mason Sargent, Is regarded officer OF
tact and ability, and besides this he has had
recent experience in West Indian waters,
being 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 LIT tons
displacement, with twin screws and good
steam capacity. She has eight four-inch
guns in her main battery, six rapid-fres
and one automatic gun. Her arrival at the
isthmus depends somewhat on the length of
her stay at Hampton Roads. 1t is believed
she will be ready to proceed with little or
no delay, and the trip will take about ten
days or two weeks. Her stop at Hampton
Roads will also permit Commander Sargent
to be advised of any late developments at
the isthmus.
maintenance of Traffic.
A careful reading of the treaty between
the United States and Colombia satisfies
those in authority that there is no present
occasion for the exercise of any rights
which the United States may have under
the treaty to maintain the free transit
across the Isthmus of Panama. The treaty
recites that "the government of New Gran
ada (Colombia) guarantees to the govern
ment of the United States that the right of
way of transit across the Isthmus Of Pan
anna shall be open and free to the govern
ment and citizens of the United States
etc. 1t further provides that 'the United
States guarantees positively and effica-
cousy to New Granada the perfect neu-
trality of the isthmus, with view that the
free transit from the one to the other sea
may not be interrupted or embarrassed in
any future time while this treaty exists"
ColOmbfa's Obligation.
While a casual reading Of this treaty has
given rise to the view that the United
States was obligated to maintain free tran
sit across the isthmus, yet the view now
accepted, and the one which the gov
ernment will doubtless proceed, Is that CO.
lombia is in the first place the guarantor
of free transit across the isthmus, and that
the United States is simply in the position
Of an indorser Of that obligation by CO.
lombia.
Under these circumstances 1t Is for Co
lombia to maintain the free transit, and
carrying on her sovereign right of pro-
tecting this territory could the United
States intervene to secure free transit. Any
other course would amount to a recogni-
tion Of the belligerency of the element now
ranged against the Colombian government.
Aside from the technical details of the
treaty, the view prevails among those best
qualified to judge it's provisions that the
Intervention Of the United States is de-
signed more to protect the Colombian gov
ernment from any stoppage Of isthmian
traffic by an invasion by a foreign power.
In the present trouble the isthmus no
foreign power is involved. and the brief
interruption Of the traffic has been caused
by revolutionists. For this reason the pro-
visions of the treaty are not likely to be
invoked for the present.
RevOlutiOnists Stop a Railway Train.
Consul Gudger at Panama has cabled
the State Department as follows:
Liberals detained for one hour passen-
ger train at Matachin this yesterday
morning; captured some government o1i-
cials: no looting; no damages