The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-04
INDEPENDENCE
is DECLA
State of Panama Secedes From
Colombian Republic.
Cabinet Conference Hastily AS
sembled at Washington.
HURRY ORDERS ISSUED
War Vessels From Both Coasts
Will Rush Southwark.
Trouble Has Grown Out of the
Canal Situation.
BOMRARDS THE CITY.
Government Gunboat Bogota
Begins Smelling.
Eleven Cinnamon Are Killed
American Consul Protests.

American Consul Protests.
Washington, Nov 4.-SensationaI adj
vices were received last night from the
Isthmus of Panama to the effect that
revolution was in progress and had been
acclaimed. President Roosevelt at 8
o'clock sent for Secretary Hay Acting
Secretary of the Navy Darling, Assist
ant Secretary of State LOOMS and Ad-
miral Taylor to come to the White
House, where after conference lasting
nearly two hours. orders were dispatch
ed to the Dixie and the Atlanta on the
Atlantic side, and the Boston, on the
Pacific coast to proceed with all posi-
BILE speed to isthmian waters to aid the
Nashville in protecting American inter-
ests and maintaining free transit
across the isthmus in connectidA with
the treaty of 1894. Orders were also sent
to Rear Admiral Glass, commanding the
Pacific squadron, consisting of the Con-
cord, Marblehead, and Wyoming, at
Acapulco, to coal Immediately and hold
It's crews ready to proceed on a mo-
ments notice When the Baltimore
reaches San Domingo orders will be ca
bIed her to go to the isthmus If the
situation demands her presence.
The rejection of the Panama canal
treaty is generally supposed to be the
moving cause for the revolution but no
official information on this was obtain
able. To the Associated Press after the
conference, the statement was authoriz-
ed that the sole purpose of the dispatch
| of the vessels was the protection of
American interest and maintenance of
| open transit on the ist1fmus. The most
explicit instructions were cabied to the
American consuls at Panama and Colon
and to the commander of the Dixie, who
is in charge of the vessels on the At
lantic side, to direct their movements
with this end in view
The further statement was authorized
that the state department regards the
situation as serious, but that the arrival
OF the Nashville and the immediate dis
patch of other vessels insures the pro-
lection of American interests
DR.. Thomas Herran. the Colombian
charge, received his first information
of the revolution at Panama from the
Associated Press. He was much inter-
ested but not surprised. as he has been
aware for some time of the desperate
feeling of the people of the Isthmus
and has gone so far as to warn his
government that such occurrence was
likely to take place. DR.. Herran ex-
poets to get information from his gov
eminent very soon as in his Judgment
the revolution will not interrupt cable
communication with Bogota. According
to his estimate there are less than 900
government troops in the state of
Panama at present. But according to
his latest information there are three
Colombian government warshipS on the
Pacific side of the Isthmus and three or
four on the Atlantic side. The govern
ment has $4,000 troops under arms in
the interior and on the western coast.
and these can be moved by transports
to Panama or vicinity but could not be
sent overland.
mr.
speedy recognition by the United States
of a government formed at Panama, but
realizes that this government will keen
the transit open on the railway and
may find it necessary in so doing to
support any government in the city of
Panama that is in control which would
be greatly. to the advantage of the rev.
olutionists.
The state of Panama has a popula-
| ton of about 100000 people and it is
declared is really the poorest portion of
the republic of Colombia. There has
been some sympathy with Panama and
trend toward independence of the
states west of the mountains on the
Pacific side and bordering on the Car
ibbean sea on the Atlantic side. These
states are also interested in construc-
ton of the canal while the people of
Panama think the canal is a life and
death issue. DIR. Herran attributes the
uprising to the intense desire on the
part of the people of the Isthmus for
the construction of the canal and on
/ this account feels that the movement
| is more serious than the attempted
revolution heretofore.
If the consuPs protest is not sufficient,
the commander of the United States
ship Boston, which is by this time on
her way to Panama from San Juan Del
Sur, 500 miles distant, will promptly
seize the Colombian gunboat if neces-
sary to stop the bombardment.
This bombardment is in violation of
all the rules of war, beginning as it
did without the required notice. More
over the United States government
takes the ground that it certainly inter
feres with the freedom of transit across
the Isthmus which this government is
treaty bound to maintain.
The greatest activity was exhibited
in the state and navy departments this
morning and there were frequent con-
SITUATIONS between the officials, the ma
val officers particularly being intent in
working out the details of the plan of
protection of the Isthmian traffic out
lined by the state department.
1t is quite evident that the navy is
making preparations for a larger dem
onstration in Isthmian waters than It
| has made for many years, and the fact
4 is not disguised that all Of the informa-
ton that has come from the secret ar
engagements of the government point to
the ultimate success of the revolution.
But meanwhile extremely delicate Ques-