The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-10
UNCLE SAM WILL FIGHT
COLOMBIA IN ORDER TO
PROTECT THE ISTRMUS
Invasion of Panama Will Be Re-
sisted Both on Land and Sea
if Necessary.
RUMOR FROM LAGUAYRA
Colombian Troops Said to Have
Been Landed Near Mouth of
the Astrato River.
READY TO MARCH INLAND
United States Alive to the Situa-
ton, and the Army and Navy
May Cooperate.
RUMOR FROM LAGUAYRA
READY TO MARCH INLAND
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-"Colombia will
not invade the isthmus of Panama" said
q government official tonight. ''If the bel
licose republic thinks the United States is
asleep she is mistaken. Precautions have
already been taken to stop any expedition
landing on the isthmus, and If an army at
tempts TO cross the mountains United States
marines and quick-firing guns will be found
on guard i'm the passes. And further. If the
necessity arises United States regular troops
will be landed on the isthmus in a hurry.
Marines are now in camp at Empire. and
warships are patro.ling the coast watching
the movements OF Colombians.
This statement was made in view of a
dispatch from Laguayra. Venezuela. dated
to-day, which stated: THE French steamer
Versailles. which arrived here from Sava-
nilla, reports that Colombian steamers have
landed LOO men from Cartagena, near the
mouth of the Atrato river Con the gulf OF
Darien). 10 open way over the Darien
mountains into Panama. Other troops from
the Department of Cauca, Colombia, are
said to be converging on Panama. and from
all parts of Colombia troops are reported
to be marching or waiting on the result OF
General Reyes MISSION 10 NuSDinSlOu
GENERAL REYES WARNED.
General Reyes. the special Colombian en-
voy, and DIR. Herran charge d'affaires. both
said they had no news confirmatory
of the Laguayra dispatch. and Gen.
eral Reyes said If such action had
been taken IL was against his orders.
The general has been fully Informed by
the President himself as to the intentions
respecting the isthmus. He was told by
the President that, as was set out in the
Presidents message TO Congress, the United
States had determined 20 maintain the in
dependence of the new Republic OF Panama
against all ccmers. While this guarantee
is contained In a treaty now pending before
the United States Senate and yet un-
ratified, the administration has for some
time past been acting upon the theory that
the understanding is in, full force. There
fore all necessary preparations have been
made to exert whatever physical force may
be necessary to protect the isthmian transit.
And instead OF confining military and naval
operations to the narrow strip OF the right
OF way across the isthmus II has been de-
cided that sound military policy requires
the extension of the protected zone to in
clude the entire territory OF the Republic OF
Panama. Consequently no Colombian troops
will be allowed to cross the frontier 10
ed in due time.
News has been received at Washington OF
the reported movement of Colombian troops
toward the isthmus, but the reports COM
ing i'm roundabout manner throws doubt
on their reliability. The point on the Gulf
of Darien where the Colombian troops are
reported to have landed Is believed TO be
Just about on the dividing line between the
territory of Panama and Colombia. and IL
is probable the troops will not cross the
border without Instructions from Bogota,
which in turn will depend on the reports
made to the Colombian government by
General Reyes and by the two commission
ers Jiminez and Blanco. who left Washing
ton two days ago on their return 10 Carta-
gena A current report Is TO the effect that
Colombian naval vessels are participating
is said at the Navy Department that they
are so insignificant In power and size that
the smallest OF the warships on the east
side of the isthmus could speedily termi-
nate their activity.
NAVY DEPARTMENTS POLICY.
The policy of the Navy Department with
respect to the entry of Colombian troops
into Panama was said to-day to be to pre-
vent a conflict before it commences. To
this end having in mind previous expert
ences on the isthmus, the naval command
ers in those waters have been given in
structions to keep the Colombian troops
at q greater distance from the isthmus at
noints where a fight with the Panamaian
troops is likely TO occur. In all naval opera
tions. IL may be stated on authority. the
department is still guided by the treaty OF
1876 under which the United States guaran-
tees to keep transit across the isthmus
OPEN A broader Interpretation OF the duties
and responsibilities of the government in
this respect has now been given TO this
treaty by which the protection OF the United
States will not alone be confined TO the ca
nal strip. but to any part OF the territory
of Panama where an opportunity Is af-
forded Colombian TT pops to encounter those
of Panama and thereby temporarily at least
endanger free and unobstructed trafhc
across the isthmus- In this indirect way
the United States is carrying out its privi-
Iee.s TO protect the independence OF the
new Republic of Panama pending the rati-
fication of the Hay-Bunau-Variila treaty.
now before the Senate.
when seen to-day Lieutenant General
Young, chief of stan, authorized the state
ment TO be made that the War Department.
on short notice should their presence be de-
manded. Although the statement hereto
fore has been denied, IL Is learned that the
REPORTS that Colombian troops were assem-
Hing at different points with the avowed
purpose of making hostile demonstration
against Panama. and mas perIec,eo All mill
General Young said that should ne be
called upon TO assist the navy IL would not
he necessary 10 send 10 the isthmus more
than a regiment or two. Although none or
the members OF the joint army and navy
board which met to-day, would ADMIT tnat
the isthmian situation was under discussion.
1T Is known that such was the case ana tnat
both the army and the navy are now In a
state of preparedness for any conflict with
Colombia which might arise.
1t is probable that the training s1ip
Prairie. with battalion OF marines viii be
sent to Colon. The Prairie Is now at Guam
tanamo.