The Indianapolis journal., 1902-09-12
Battleship Wisconsin Ordered to Pam
anna and the Cruiser Cincinnati
Sent to Colon.
TREATIES WILL BE ENFORCED
NO BOMBARDMENT OF PANAMA CITY
WILL BE PERMITTED.
Interference with Traffic ArOss the
Isthmus Not to BE Tolerated.
Battalion of Marines.

WASHINGTON, Sept. II. - Secretary
Moody to-day telegraphed to the COM
manders of the battleship Wisconsin. now
at Bremerton, and the cruiser Cincinnati,
at Cape Haitien, directing them to pro-
ceed as soon as possible to the isthmus Of
Panama, the Wisconsin reinforcing the
Ranger at Panama and the Cincinnati TAX
ing station at Colon. 1t will take the Wis
consin fully twenty days to make the long
trip Of over 1850 miles down the Pacific
coast to Panama. The Navy Department
had intended to send the Boston, which Is
now getting ready for service at San Fran
cisco, to relieve or reinforce the Ranger,
but the alarming situation which has so
quickly arisen on the isthmus prompted
the officials to take more extensive meas
ures to increase the naval representation
Of the United States in that section. The
Cincinnati will only take a few days to
make the trip across from Cape Haitien,
so that by the beginning Of next week she
should have reached the other terminus of
the Panama Railroad. The destruction of
Admiral Killick's flagship swept away the
entire naval force of Haiti, and naval Off
GERS believe the Cincinnati can relnQuish
her post there with safety.
1t is realized that Notwithstanding the
absence of a Haitien navy on either side of
the revolutionary struggle. there is danger
that some of the ports where American
property interests are large may suffer be-
cause of the practice which has grown
up in the course of the rebellion Of burning
towns before evacuating them. Therefore,
it has been decided to send the gunboat
Montgomery to replace the Cincinnati at
Port-au- Prince. The Montgomery has Just
finished participation in the maneuvers and
is being overhaued at the New York navy
yard. Allowing couple Of days in which
to coal and fit out. she could probably reach
Port-au-Prince by next Thursday.
The commanders of the Cincinnati and
Wisconsin will be instructed to enforce our
treaty stipulations with Colombia strictly
by preventing any interference with traffic
across the isthmus and also to prevent
bombardment of Panama from the sea on
the ground that this i'm itself would con-
stitute a menace to traffic. Neither the
Wisconsin nor the Cincinnati carries very
large marine contingents. but any lack i'm
this respect II is said, can be made up by
equippink jackies for shore duty should IL
become necessary TO land a force on CO.
lombian soil to enforce the guarantees of
the treaty or to protect American interests
The sudden turn of events near Panama
came as a surprise to officials of the State
and Navy departments. Affairs in that
quarter had quieted to such a degree that
only the little gunDOat Ranger Kept watch.
The Marietta was keeping a close eve on
the trend of affairs in Venezuela and the
Cincinnati was performing similar duty In
Haiti. The emergency arose so suddenly
therefore. that Haiti must be left un-
watched by an American war vessel during
the interval between the departure of the
Cincinnati for Colon and the arrival OF the
Montgomery in Haitien waters IL Is
thought the center of trouble is likely 10
be at or near Panama City and IL IN for
that reason. and because of the small size
and complement of the Ranger that the
big Wisconsin has been dispatched to the
scene.
Later in the day the officials of the Navv
Department decided to take no chance of
an insufficient landing force in case of AN
emergency on the isthmus, and orders were
sent forward to the United States steam
ship Panther, which is now en- route TO
League island. TO take aboard a battalion
of marines upon her arrival and proceed
to Colon. Orders were issued for the or
ganization of the marines. who will number
$50 men and will be commanded by Lieut.
Col b. r. Russell. with Major Barnett n
second In command. Captains Porter.
Butler and Mark will command three OF
the four companies. and Captain Lemly viii
act as quartermaster. It win be the duty