The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1903-12-31
TO
Close LEGATION
Colombian Representatives at Wash.
ington Making Arrangements
to Go Home.
Fleets of United states Warships nj
Panama to he Reenforced-SeVera
Vessels Now on Way South-NO Sig
niGcnnce In Movement of Marines
on the Isthmus.

Washington, Dec. 29.-Although Sec
rotary Hay has not yet replied to the
note of Gen. Reyes, preparations are 60
ing on for the closing Of the Colombian
legation here and the departure of Co.
lombia's representatives for home. 1t is
clear that they do not entertain very
much hope of satisfactory response by
this government Already most of the
legation files have been packed and ar
rangements completed for placing them
In storage here. Gen. Reyes for several
days has denied himself to callers. 1t is
believed that while the reply Of Mr..
Hay has not been made, sufficient in
formation has been obtained by the Co.
lombian representatives in the inter-
views they have had with the secretary
to enable them to forecast its conclu-
sions. The preparations going on for
closing up the affairs of the legation
would seem to indicate that Gen. Reyes
and DR.. Herran are awaiting only as a
matter of form and diplomatic courtesy
the official communication of Mr.. Hay
setting forth the reasons why this gov
eminent cannot accept their view Of the
Panama situation, before severing diplo-
matte relations with the United States.
Isthmian Fleets Reinforced.
The fleets of warships on both
sides of the Tsthmus of Panama
will shortly be REINFORCED by sew
eral vessels now on their way to
that quarter. The gunboat Topeka, OF
the Atlantic training squadron, left Key
West Sunday for Colon, by way OF
Kingston, as convoy of the torpedo boat
destroyers Truxton and Stewart, which
have been assigned to patrol duty on
the Caribbean coast Of the isthmus. The
gunboat Castine arrived at Colon Sun
day from Philadelphia none the worse
for her recent grounding on bar in the
Delaware river. The big collier Caesar
has left Culebra for Colon with coal for
the fleet The converted cruiser Dixie
left League island Monday for Colon
with the Panama marine brigade, num-
boring about 600 men, in command of
Brig. Gen. Elliott.
Naval movements in the direction of
the isthmus have been almost equally
active on the Pacific coast. The gun
boat Petrol, bound for Panama, arrived
at Acapulco, Mexico, on the 26th inst,
and undoubtedly has left there by this
time The flagship New York, the gun
boat Bennington, the torpedo boat de-
stroyer Preble and Paul Jones and the
collier Saturn have been fitted ont at
San Francisco for service In the vicinity
of Panama and 1t IS expected that all
Of them will start south In day or two
No Significance In Move.
1t was stated at the navy department
Monday that the arrival of the marines
from the Prairie from Yaviza to Bas
Obispo, a point on the Panama railroad
as told in press dispatches from Colon, is
but a movement directed by Admiral
Glass in the execution of a general pol
icy, and was not directed from Washing
ton. 1t is stated further that the move
is without significance as suggesting any
change of policy here Two dispatches
received from the isthmus advise the
navy department that there's no news"
to report 1t Is understood that party
of 20 marines has been retained at
Yaviza for purposes Of observation.
Sails for Panama.
San Francisco, Dec. 29.-The United
States cruiser New York sailed yester-
day for Panama. 1t Is understood that
she is to become the flagship of Adj
miral Glass. The gunboat Bennington
came down from the Mare Island navy
yard to await the arrival of the torpedo
destroyers Preble and Paul Jones'
which she will convoy to Panama,
They probably will sail to-day.