New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-17
cIARDS PANAMA RAILWAY
COMMANDER MLEAN CONlPELS hh-
,fovAL OF DISTRACTIONS PLACED
on THE LINE BY COLON
RAN SOLDIERS.
BAN SOLDIERS

washington. Sept. 16.-Secretary Moody to-day
-a-six ID the following cable dispatch from Com
..arse~ Mclean IF the Cincinnati. who arrived
a. Colon Yesterday
Yesterday 4 went to- Panama Train stopped
+z-ioe bx obstrUctions-plate iron. etr-p ace1 on
+rarz After train pass q 80" SoVernnieht sol
diers replace distractions AccompahIeu nS
oore,,I and Commander Potter (of Ranger called
IN Governor. Friendly conversation return
,re 70 Colon this morning. stopped pE opStruc-
80 soldiers were compelled to remove them
eoi5iars then stood on track By my directions
ain moved on and soldiers jumped away
7Vilf guard trains. No reVouuonlsts N SlEht'
hut ~Trnored coming toward rallroad-
The above dispatch was not dated. except
a. coming from Colon. but IS accepted as refer
ring 10 events Of Monday. officials here are not
;nclire5 20 Jump hastily to the conclusion that
+be obstruction of traffic by government SOL
die-s was inspired by the Colombian Govern
yne7+ itself hut are more ready 10 believe that
the act was for the purpose Of ascertaihlng II
arv revo ationists occupied the train Com
rnander McLeans dispatch. as given above, IS
not in full. some portions containing express
sions Of opinion on the commanders part nav
ing been eliminated It Is understood that al
the meetiug Of Commanders Mclean ana Fot-
Ter and the United States Consul with Governor
sela7ar ar Panama the latter disavowed respon-
sihilicy for the acts Of the government troops.
Mr. Adee, the Acting Secretary of State. and
Secretary Moody we're ia conference for some
tine to-day in regard the isthmian sltua-
ton. although the conference took place before
the receipt of Commander McLean's dispatch.
However. the dispatch was referred 70 the state
Department Immediately on its receipt, ana II IS
understood that some representations will be
made to the government at Bogota with a view
10 preventing z repetition Of the incident, and
obtaining some expression from Colombia which
may simplify the rather complex situation
which CONS of the conjunction Of the govern
rnent. Liberal and United States forces.
Rv treaty. Colombia and the United States
,nut7,a1Iv guarantee free and uninterrupted
traffic across the isthnlus, and in the event that
one or the other showed a disposition 10 inter
fere with free transit it would be the right Of
the other to step in and insure it
Commander NcLean's action in placing guards
Oh The trains creates a situation similar 10 that
which existed some months ago, when Captain
Perry with the Iowa, and Commander AICCrea
were al Panama and Colon, respectively. and
each train was occupied by force of American
sailors or marines. Captain Perry at that time
was forced to take possession Of the Panama
Railroad and il Is probable that further inter-
ference VIII result in similar action on the part
Of Commander Mclean. SIX trains are run
across the isthmUs every day, Two passenger ana
four freight and each one may have TO be
guarded Orders were issued to-day detachlng
Commander Mclean from command OF the ON
cinnati on the arrival Of his successor, Com
n7anGer Mason. who sailed from Newly ork to-
dav for Colon but 1t was said al the Navy De-
I7arrnent that If the situation requires it Com
Yr7anGer Mclean viii be kept in command be-
vord the time set for his detachment