Evening star., 1901-08-15
WILL GO TO PANAMA
Warship to Be Sent to West Coast of
the Isthmus.
THOUGHT THAT IT WILL Be- RANGER
Secretary Hay Will Confer With
the President.
NO CHANGE IN SITUATION

1t is probable that Secretary Hay will go
to Canton before returning to his summer
home in Newbury N. H., which he expects
to do shortly. At this expected visit Mr..
Hay will discuss with the President the
Colombia-V Venezuelan situation and the
present aspect of Chinese affairs.
The isthmian situation today remained
practically unchanged. and despite rumors
of a somewhat sensational character that
have been afloat on account of Mr.. Hays
presence at the State Department, 1t is
maintained that advices to the department
| are not of character to cause an appre-
hension concerning the status of affairs on
the isthmus.
Warship to Go to Panama.
1t has now been definitely determined that
the United States will be represented by
warship on the Pacific side of the Isthmus
of Panama, well as on the Atlantic side.
Thus far the Ranger has been held in read
mess at San Diego and the Iowa Is coming
down to San Francisco to be in readiness
to go south from that point. But while the
formal orders have not been issued, one or
the other of these ships is to proceed south
to look after American interests. The prob
ability is that it will be the Ranger, as she
is further down the coast, and the trouble
does not appear to warrant the presence or
a battleship.
Ihe state department Is without any du-
ditional word from Colombia or Venezuela
concerning the disorders. There is some
surprise in official quarters that the dis
turbance has attracted such Widespread at
tention, as 1t is pointed out by those who
have carefully followed affairs in that
locality that more or less trouble of the
same kind has been going on for the last
twenty years. At the same time, the Off
cialS intend that American interests shall
be fully guarded, although they are COM
ing to look at the affair as rather lacking
in gravity.
At the Venezuelan Legation.
At the Venezuelan legation today Senor
Pulido, charge d'affaires, voiced about the
same views in regard to affairs in South
America, saying that revolutions of even
greater extent have been occurring south
of the isthmus for many years past from
time to time. He expressed firm belief
that there was no actual war between his
country and Colombia, for in that event, he
said, he would be Immediately cabled. He
eyinced some surprise at the fact that the
arrival at Bogota of the Colombian diplo-
matte representatives, who are reported to
have left the Venezuelan capital last Sat-
urday, has not been reported. He said that
1t was barely twelve-hour journey under
normal conditions and that even If their
progress has been hindered by the dis
turbed state of affairs they would surely.
barring accidents, have arrived at the CO.
lombian capital by this time.
AS to the casualty reports from the bat
ties said to have been fought in Tachira, on
the Venezuelan borders, he did not believe
them exaggerated to any great extent, for
he pointed out that a single battle between
revoutionists In South America often left
more dead on the field than did our whole
SpaniSh-American war.
Rough Weather Keeps the MachiaA I'm
Port.
1t was learned this afternoon that the de-
parture of the gunboat Machias from
Hampton Roads, where she has been pre-
pairing for her cruise TO the isthmus, Is a
matter Of uncertainty. The Navy Depart
ment received advices today that the
weather conditions along the Atlantic coast
are such as to warrant the vessels reten-
ton in harbor for the present at least.
There are said to be storms prevailing
along the coast of such severity to for
bid the boats sailing. AS soon as the un-
favorable weather conditions subside she
will leave for the isthmus. This may not
be for several days, however.