Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-17
GUARDING THE LINE
Commander Mclean Reports
From the Isthmus.
THE TRAINS STOPPED
OFFICER ORDERED
THEM TO PROCEED.
Soldiers Had to Jump From the Track
to Save Their Lives-A Com
pick Situation.
THE TRAINS STOPPED

/
plex Situation.
The latest developments in the isthmian
| situation are somewhat puzzling to the Off
| Gals of the State Department and efforts
| are now being made to clear it up. A tele-
| graphic report received at the Navy Depart
| ment yesterday afternoon from Commander
| Mclean, commanding the cruiser Cincin-
| natl. shows that it is the Colombian govern
| ment and not the revolutionists that the
| United States will have to reckon with in
! Its purpose to permit no interference with
| traffic across the isthmus. 1t appears from
Commander McLean's report that trains Of
| the Panama railroad are stopped at intervals
| by government troops for purposes of in
| spection. but so far the revolutionary forces
have made no attempt to interfere with
| traffic.
Commander McLean's Dispatch.
! Commander McLeans dispatch which is
| dated at Colon, yesterday, Is as follows:
Yesterday q went toy Panama. Train
stopped twice by distractions. Plate iron,
! etc, placed on track. After train passed
| saw government soldiers replace obstruc-
tons. Accompanied by consul and Com
| mander Potter (of Ranger) called on gov
H..
Colon this morning stopped by Instructions
Soldiers were compelled to remove them.
soldiers then stood on track. By my direc-
| tlens train moved on and soldiers jumped
away. VIII guard trains. No revolution
| lists in sight, but rumored coming toward
| railroad"
Commander McLeans dispatch, as given
| above, is not in full, some portions contain
ing expressions Of opinion on the COM
manders part having been eliminated 1t
| is understood that at the meeting of Com
manders Mclean and Potter and the United
| states consul with Governor SalaZat at
Panama, the latter explained the action of
| the Colombian government in the matter
| as being solely directed against the revo-
| lutonists who, it feared, would at
tempt to make use of the railroad.
Conference Of officials.
| Acting Secretary of State Adee and Sec
rotary Moody were in consulta ton for some
time today in regard to the isthmian situa-
| ton, and it is understood that representa-
| tions will be made to the government at
| Bogota with a view to securing an official
| explanation of the incident, and obtaining
! some expression from Colombia which may
| simplify the rather complex situation which
| comes of the conjunction of the govern
| ment, liberal and United States forces.
By the treaty of Granada, Colombia and
| the United States mutually guarantee free
| and uninterrupted traffic across the 18TH
mus, and in the event that one or the other
! transit, 1t would be the right of the other
| to step in and insure it.
| A Report Called For.
| Senior Concna, the Colombian minister
| here has cabled to Gov. Salazar of Pan
| anna for a comprehensive report Of the sit
| uation which has arisen on the isthmus as
| a result of the delay to traffic caused by
| Colombian troops Monday. The officials Of
| the Colombian legation do not approve OF
the means employed by the government
troops to hold up the trains, but they DO
| point out that an inspection of incoming
and outgoing trains is necessary as
measure of protection. A disturbing fac-
| tor In the situation on the isthmus. 1t 8
stated, is that the greater part of the Off
Gals and employees of the Panama railroad
are either liberals outright or liberal SYM
pathizers, and in an emergency like the
| present one, an excellent opportunity g
| afforded these railroad men who are UNI
| friendly to the government to strike a blow
| for the liberal cause. Indeed, the officials
here recall occasion some months ago
| when the trains managed to run very slow
| ly into Colon in order to hide from view
party of revoutionists. who were marching
| on foot along one side, and who captured
| the town with little difficulty.
Senior Concha's action in cabling to Gov
| ernor Salazar was taken upon his own in
| itiative. as he has not, it is stated, received
| any communication from the State Depart
ment on the subject.
! The report that Commander Mclean Is
| about to advance proposal that neither
| the government nor the revolutionary forces
use the railroad during the present crisis
| on the isthmus, is not taken seriously at
| this end of the line, because Of the fact
| that there Is a clear and explicit under
| standing In the treaty Of 1916 that both
| Colombian officials and Colombian troops
| are to have the use Of the railway when an
emergency arises. In addition to this, 1t
| Is pointed out that the government rein
| forcements are all going to Colon by way
| of Baranquilla and Carthagena. and If tran
| sportat ton did not await them at Colon the
! government would encounter most seri-
| Gus setback In it's effort to suppress the
movement against Panama.
! The Navy Department received q telegram
from Rear Admiral Casey, announcing the
| departure this morning Of the battle ship
! Wisconsin from San Francisco for Panama
| 1t will probably take the big ship all of
| two weeks to reach her destination, as the
| run Is about 5000 miles. She may have to
| stop, too, at Pinchilinque bay, Mexico to fill
| her bunkers.
To Initiate Capt. Perry.
| Commander McLean's action in placing
| guards on the trains creates situation
| similar to that which existed some months
] ago, when Capt. Perry, with the Iowa, ana
| Commander McCrea, were at Panama and
Colon, respectively, and each train was oc-
cupied by force of American buejackets