The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-18
Blue Jackets Sent Ashore from the
Cruiser Cincinnati and Placed
Aboard Passenger Trains.
MEASURE OF PROTECTION
MADE NECESSARY BY APPEARANCE
OF REBELS WEAR THE LINE.
Colombian Government Troops Also
Were Delaying Trains, q Viola
tion of the Treaty.

COLON, Colombia, Sept. H.-American
marines are now travelling as guards on
the passenger trains to and from Panama
The United States cruiser Cincinnati landed
fifty marines to-day and also sent ashore
a small rapid fire gun. which was placed
on a railroad truck, protected by iron
plates.
The reports which reached here to-day of
a skirmish between insurgent and govern
ment troops near Mindi Station are now
learned to have been fnagnified. No skir-
mish actually occurred, but government
soldiers fired a few shots upon sighting in
surgent spies moving between Mndi and
Monkey HILL Monkey Hill is about one
mile from Colon.
The British steamer La Plata has just ar
rived here from savanilla. She brings 1000
government troops. Further reinforce
ments are expected to reach the isrhmus
shortly
PANAMA, Colombia, Sept. n.-Com-
mander Potter. of the United States cruiser
Ranger, will tomorrow morning place
guards on the trains running across the
isthmus. This step will be taken in addi-
ton to the marines landed to-day at Colon
from the cruiser Cincinnati 1t is not
thought probable that the revolutionists
will attempt to interrupt transit on the
railroad. General Salazar, commander of
the government forces on the isthmus. and
acting United States Consul Ehrmann were
in conference this morning. The general
was informed that the measure of placing
guards on the trains could not be consid-
cred as an act of hostility to Colombia, but
that it was taken only under the necessity
of insuring uninterrupted traffic over the
railroad.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17-Senor Concha,
the Colombian minister here, has cabled to
Governor Salazar, of Panama, for a COM
prehensive report of the situation which
has arisen on the isthmus as result of the
delay TO traffic caused by Colombian troops
on Monday. The officials of the Colombian
legation did not approve of the means en-
ployed by the government troops to hold
up the trains, but they do point out that an
inspection of incoming and outgoing trains
is necessary a measure of protection.
A disturbing factor in the situation on the
isthmus, Ii is stated, Is that the greater
part Of the officials and employees of the
Panama Railroad are either Liberals out
right, Liberal sympathizers, and in an
emergency like the present one, an ex-
cellent oportunty is afforded these rail-
road men, who are unfriendly to the gov
ernment. to strike a blow for the Liberal
cause. Indeed. the officials here recall an
occasion some months ago when the trains
managed to run very slowly into Colon i'm
tionists who were marching on foot along
cne side and captured the town with little
difficulty.
The report that Commander Mclean is
about to advance a proposal that neither
the government nor the revolutionary forces
use the railroad during the present crisis
on the isthmus is not taken seriously in
Washington. for one of the important pro-
visions of the treaty between the United
States and Colombia now awaiting sigma
ture is that Colombia at all times shall
have the right to use the railroad for the
transportation OF her officials or her
troops While this treaty has not been
signed. both parties have signified their
approval of IL as whole. and IL is gem
orally believed here that the provision in
relation to transporting troops across the
Isthmus will be respected by the United
States in present emergency. The govern
ment reinforcements all are going TO Colon
by way of Baranquilla and Carthagena
and IL transportation did not await them
on the Atlantic side. the government would
receive a serious setback in its effort to
suppress the movements against Panama
The Navy Department has received a
telegram from Rear Admiral Casey, an
nouncing the departure of the battleship
Wisconsin from San Francisco for Pana-
M II will probably take the big ship all