The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-12
Traffic by Way of the Panama
Railroad to BE Protected.
TREATY OBLIGATIONS BINDING
Columbian Rebels Are Coming Dams
gerousIy Near the City of Panama.
but They Will Not Be Permitted
to Interfere With Commerce
Special Disnatch to The TImes.l

WASHINGTON, d. c.. September IL
The Navy Department is in receipt of the
following cahlegram, dated Panama, yes
to-day. from Commander Potter, OF the
United States cruiser Ranger:
Two thousand men surrendered to revc-
lutonists at Aqua ptilce. Colombia. Rero-
lutionists reported advancing near Pal
ANA Colombia
In consequence OF this news Secretary
Moody to-day telegraphed to the COM
uanding officers of the battleship Wiscon-
sin. now at Brererton, Washington. and
the cruiser Cincinnati, at Cape Hayden.
directing them to proceed as soon as pos
sible to the 1sthmus of Panama. the Wis
cousin reinforcing the cruiser Ranger ut
Panama on the west coast, and the Gin
cinnati taking station at Colon, on the
east coast.
TRIP WILL TAKE. TWENTY DAYS.
1t will take the Wisconsin fully twenty
days to make the long trip of over 1850
miles down the Pacific coast to Panama.
TEa Navy Department had intended to
send the cruiser Boston. which is now GET
ting ready for service at SAN Francisco,
70 relieve or reinforce the Ranger, but
the alarming situation which has so quick
ly arisen on the isthmus prompted ths
officials to take more extensive meas
ures to Increase the naval representa- ton
Of the United States in that section. The
Cincinnati will consume only Il few days
III her trip across from Cape Haytieu, so
that by the beginning of next week she
should have reached the eastern terminal
of the Panama Railroad
The commanders of the Cincinnati and
Wisconsin will be instructed to strictly
enforce our treaty stipulations with Co
louIhia by preventing any interference
witt traffic across the isthmus. and also
to prevent 4 hombarfment of Panama
from the sea. for this in itself would con-
r,ts 20 t1 trE,fJ if. Np;t tssy
Wisconsin nor the Cincinnati carries very
large marine contingeuts. but any lack
in that respect. it is said, can be made
up by equpping iackies for shore duty,
in case it becomes necessary to land a
force on Colombian soil TO enforce the
guarantees of the treaty or to protect
American interests.
THE OFFICIALS SURPRISED.
The sudden turn of events near Panama
came as u surprise to the offlcials of the
State and Navy Departments Affairs In
that quarter had quieted to such a degree
that only the little gunboat Ranger kept
watch. The Marietta WAS keeping q close
eye or the trend of affairs in Venezuela.
and the Cincinnati was performing similar
duty IN Hayti The emergency rose so
suddenly, therefore. that Hayti must be
left unmatched by an American war ves-
sci during the interval between the de-
rarture of the Cincinnati for Colon and
the arrival of the Montgomery in Hayden
waters.
1t is thought that the center OF trou-
tle is most apt to be at or near Panama
City. and it was for that reason and be-
| cs-Ese of the small size and complement OF
the Ranger that the big Wisconsin has
been dispatched to the scene. However,
1t will take her so long to reach Panama
that the trouble may all be over before
she reaches there. and what there is OF
it must be met by Captain Mclean Of the
Cincinnati. and Commander Potter. OF tho
Ranger.