Evening star., 1901-08-08
AFFAIRS ON ISTHMUS
Panama Railway President Appre-
hensive.
WANTS ANOTHER SHIP SENT THERE
Officials Here Regard the Machias
as Sufficient.
L III e TROU BILE IN 1S6 5

The State Department received a COM
munication today from Mr.. ]. Edward Sim
mons of New York, president Of the Pana-
ma Railway Company, expressing appre-
hension over the condition Of affairs on the
isthmus, and the possible interruption of
traffic along the line of the road. The sug-
gestion was made by Mr.. Simmons that an
American warship be sent to the Atlantic
side of the isthmus, and also to Panama on
the Pacific side. The ordering Of the
Machias to Colon is regarded by officials
here as sufficient to meet the requirements
of the situation so far as disclosed up to
this time, and no move has been made thus
far to send a warshp to the Pacific side of
the isthmus. Under these circumstances no
requests were made of the Navy Depart
ment during the early part of the day for
further action in the dispatch Of vessels.
The Navy Department is expecting hourly
to hear from the commander of the
Machias that he has sailed from Boston for
Hampton Roads. His orders thus far are
simply direction to sail, without any de-
tailed instructions as to the course or
action he shall pursue at the isthmus II
any necessity arises for more explicit
directions, these will be communicated on
the arrival of the Machias at Hampton
Roads,
+.
the first request received by the govern
ment for the protection of American inter-
ests on the isthmus. 1t is understood that
the Panama Railway Company is an Amer
lean organization, being separate from the
Panama Canal Company, although their
interests are somewhat alike. AS some of
it's officers and stockholders are American
citizens, this would operate to give 1t an
American status warranting the exercise of
governmental protection over it's property
when imperiled.
Naval officials state that there is only a
small contingent of marines on the Machias
and no commissioned officer of marines, as
1t is not usual to equip a gunboat with
commissioned officer and large force of
marines. In case a landing party is re-
quired this is made up in part Of blue
commissioned officer of the navy in COM
mand of the united party. Occasionally
commissioned officer of marines is assigned
to gunboat when she is likely to be called
upon for emergency service, but thus far
no such officer of marines has been as
signed to the Machias
Admiral JOuetts Action in 1855.
The position of the United States as to
maintaining free. tariff 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 occurred early In the year.
and the insurgents captured Panama and
burned Aspinwall When traffic became
effectually blocked the United States de-
termined 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 from New York, consisting Of $50 sea-
men and marines, commanded by Com
mander B. H. McCalla, and including three
gattlings and three 3-inch rifled guns. Ad-
miral Jouett arrived at the isthmus April
10, and at once landed marines and issued
nV6n m frn hn iCfh
Two armored cars, fitted with hoWitZers,
gatlipg 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 revolution
lists held up train a few days ago, ac-
cording to Consul Gudgers. Commander
McCalla's expedition established headquar-
terS at Panama. Here the revolutionary
leader, Aizpuru, was in full control and
was erecting barricades, expecting a battle
with the Colombian army. Commander
McCana acted energetically, and. gathering
his full force, occupied Panama on April
"a, arrested AiZpuru and the other leaders,
and held them prisoners until an agreement
was signed that fighting should not take
place within the city. Three days later
the Colombian army arrived, and at con-
ference between the governor general, Aiz-
puru and Admiral Jouett the insurgents
capitulated.
American Forces Withdrawn.
All of the United States forces were then
withdrawn and were back in New York
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 that OBJ
ject had been accomplished. President
Cleveland's message to Congress, and the
correspondence of Secretary Bayard, also
made clear that the sole purpose of the
United States in employing force was to
fulfill its guaranty under the treaty of
1916, to keep the transit open across the
isthmus
The Present Trouble.
The present trouble on the isthmus is far
less formidable than that of 1885, but the
procedure is made clear in case the insur-
gents obstruct traffic. There is no present
purpose of sending ship down from the
Pacific side, as all the large ships are
Pacific side.
In case the State Department determines
later to ask for a ship the Pacific side
Of the isthmus, naval officials are rather
In doubt as to what ship can be utilized. It
was stated by those in chief authority. that
the Iowa and Wisconsin were probably
most serviceable, but these battle ships are
undergoing repairs, and they would not or
dinarily be called upon for such minor
service. The Alert, Mohican and Ranger
are also on the Pacific side, but no one of
them is considered suitable for such SER
vice.