The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-18
TO PROTECT OUR INTERESTS.
Three Wnrships Expected to Soon
Arrive at thc Isthuus.

Y
| Within about ten days the United States
will have a formidable fleet of vessels in
the vicinity of Panama for the purpose Of
| protecting American interests in the 18TH
mus and ensuring free transit in accord
| ing with the treaty agreement with New
! Granada. By the end of the time stated
| at least three warships flying the Ameri-
can flag will be pointing their big guns
| across the narrow neck of land which
! connects North and South America. These
| ships will be the big battlcship Iowa, with
| her heavy armament and 15-inch guns;
the unprotected gunboat Ranger, which
| has been used as a survey boat, and the
gunboat Machias. which is herself a
well equipped little fighting craft.
Orders were issued yesterday by the
Navy Department directing the Iowa,
which came into port at San Francisco
yesterday morning, to proceed at once
to Panama. 1t will probably be day or
two or perhaps longer before she is pre-
pared to sail. but her commander has
been told to leave as soon as possible,
and probably by Monday night she will be
on her way to the isthmus.
With her on the western side of the
isthmus will be the Ranger. which is sup
posed to have sailed yesterday for Pana-
ma from San Diego. 1t is probable that
she will not reach her destination much,
if any, before the Iowa arrives at Pana-
ma. although the distance is about 500
miles less from San Diego to Panama
than from San Francisco to Panama.
The Ranger is, however, a s!owgoing
ship, while the Iowa is able to make good
speed for so large a battleshp. The
Philadelphia. which is now at Mare
IGla
and then hold herself in readiness to join
the Iowa and the Ranger at Panama If
occasion requires her presence
1t is also said upon good authority that
one or two other ships on the Atlantic
side have been told to hold themselves
IN readiness to sail for Colon on short
notice. This statement would not be
made officially at the Navy Department.
however. However, it is not improbable
hat the kearsarge or some other formid-
able warship may soon be ordered TO
Colon within a short time to join the
MachiaS on the east side.
Notwithstanding the fact that all of
these SHIPS are being sent to the isthmus,
the statement is persistently made at the
State Department that no news has been
received from either Venezuela or CO.
iombia regarding the warfare which is
said to be going on in those two coun-
tries, and that the United States Consuls
at Colon and Panama have not reported
any further disturbances. To enquiries
as to why, then. these vessels have been
ordered 10 the isthmus at the request of
the State Department, the reply is made
that ii is done precautionary measure
to protect American interests.
The opinion prevails that the depart
nient has information which it is unwill-
ing to make public at this time. France
LaS already sent big warShip to the
isthmus, but the explanation is made that
she, too. has large interests there and
that it is but natural that, in view of the
threatened disturbances. she should take
steps to protect those interests in case
there is any serious trouble. 1t is also
known that Germany has ord one of
the ships OF her navy to proceed to the
scene of the expected troubles, and IL is
probable that her vessel will arrive there
before any of our own reach either Colon
or Panama.
By reason of the fact that France and
Germany are to have warships at the
isthmus, the situation there has as
sumed an int ernational aspect, and it
would not be surprising to officials here
ii some complications should arise They
caution in the action which they are tax
ing. When the fact was recalled to a
State Department official vest erday that
European warships would be at the 18TH
mus, he replied that il was so much the
better to have them there. as it would
be an added assurance of the preservation
of peace.
NORFOLK, Aug. H.-The gunboat Ma
chias, although she sailed from Old Point
Comfort about noon for Colon. had not
passed Cape Henry tonight at o'clock
Her whereabouts is mystifying marine
men 1t is conjectured that she anchored
possibly because of some arrangement of
her machinery.