The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-08
Marines Not to Be Landed Unless the
RevOIutiOnists Seriously In
tcrfere with Traffic.
OBSERVATIONS TO BE MADE
AND STEPS TAKEN TO MEET ANY
EMERGENCY THAT MAY RISE.
Nathan Sargent, nm OHlcer of Tact and
Ability, in Command of the Ma
chias-Washington News.

WASHINGTON, Aug An order was
issued by the acting secretary OF the navy
to-day for the gunboat Machias, now at
the Boston navy yard, TO proceed without
delay TO Hampton Roads and there prepare
for departure for Colon, near the eastern
terminus Of the Panama Railroad. At the
Navy Department 1T is explained that TINS
movement has been ordered with view
to have the Machias take observations In
the vicinity of the isthmus. In announc-
ing the act Of the Navy Department it was
officially stated that lit is deemed needful
that United States war vessel be in that
vicinity at this time"
The order to the Machias followed
conference held at the Navy Department
between acting Secretary of State Adee
and acting Secretary of the Navy Hackett.
Mr. Adee had the dispatch read from Con-
sui General 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 Panama City. While
this was not regarded as threatening an
interruption of traffic or giving any ground
for Intervention by the United States, yet
it was deemed advisable by the officials
that one OF our ships should be in the
neighborhood in order that suitable OBJ
servations could be made and steps taken
to meet any serious emergency that might
arise. For the present officials do not be-
lieve there viii be any need of landing
marines. The commander Of the Machias,
Lieutenant Commander. Nathan Sargent.
is regarded as an officer of tact and ability,
and besides this he has had recent ex-
nariaONp N ba-
been in command of the Scorpion when
she made her recent trip to Laguayra to
keep watch on American interests In Ven
ezuela.
The position Of the United States as to
maintaining free traffic across the Isthmus
of Panama was fully defined in 1855, 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 ASpinwan. When traffic became ef-
fectually blocked the United States deter
mined TO act, and the North Atlantic squad
ron, 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 no seanen
and marines, commanded by Commander
+. II. McCalla, and including three Gatling
and three-inch rified 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
help up train, according to Consul Gud-
gers dispatch Of yesterday.
Commander McCalla expedition estab>
lished headquarters at Panama. Here the
revolutionary leader. Aizpuru, was in full
control, and was erecting barricades, ex-
Commander McCalla acted energetically.
and, gathering his full force, occupied Pam
anna 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
rived, and at a conference between the gov
erament generals. Aizpuru and Admiral
JOuett, the insurgents capitulated. All of
the United States forces were then with
drawn and were back in New York on May
16. The secretary OF the navy, III reportine,
the incident pointed out that the action OF
the navy was carefully confined To enforc-
across the isthmus, and that our interfer-
ence ceased the moment this object had been
accomplished. President Cleveland's mes
sage to Congress and the correspondence
of Secretary Bayard also made clear that
the sole purpose of the United States in
employing force was TO fulfil the guaranty
under the treaty OF 1916 to keen the transit
open across the isthmus. The present
trouble on the isthmus is far less for
midable than that of 1885, but the procedure
Is made clear in case the insurgents OBJ
struct traffic. There is no present purpose
of sending a ship down from the Pacific
side.
The Machias is a gunbat of LII tons
displacement with good screws and steam
capacity. She has eight four-inch guns
in her main battery. six rapid-firers and
one automatic gun. Her run TO the 18TH
mus depends somewhat on the length of
her stay at Hampton Roads, but il is be-
lieved she will be ready to proceed with
little or no delay, in which case the trip
will take about ten days or two weeks.