The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-11
War Department Making
Ready for Trouble
in Panama.
MARINES OFF FOR COLON
Army Officers Studying Maps
of ISthmuS and Making
Plans for Campaign.

Southern and Chesapeake and Ohio
Railway officials have been requested by
the War Department to furnish bids for
the transportation Of FIVE regiments TO
Newport News and other Southern
ports. This move on the part OF the
War Department is in furtherance of
the plan evolved by the general staff 70
meet any emergency which may arise
on the Isthmus Of Panama
Although army and navy officers do
not credit the reports OF the movement
by Colombia against the isthmus, prepa-
rations for an isthmian campaign ere
being made. officers of the general staff
were In conference with Secretary Root
much of the day yesterday.
Maps of the country where the Co.
lombians are said TO have landed have
been studied carefully by the officers.
and plans have been evolved for repuIs-
ing any attack which may be made on
the new republic from either side OF
the isthmus.
Troops Selected for Service.
The troops said to be designated for
service on the isthmus are: Sixteenth
Infantry. Col. 3. d. Price. Fort Nc
Pherson, Ca, and Fort Slocum. n. Y:
Ninth Infantry. Colonel Regan, Fort Nj
agara and Madison Barracks, y. Y;
Twenty-eighth battery OF mountain ar
tillery. Capt. o. I. Straub Fort Leay-
enworth. Kan.
An order issued yesterday by Gen.
Corbin for the transfer Of the Fifteenth
Cavalry to Fort Myer by December 19
is supposed to indicate that the Second
Cavalry. which is now at that post and
is under orders 10 go 70 the Philippines.
may also he sent to the isthmus in case
Of emergency.
Until the Panama Canal treaty Is
ratified by the United States. il Is be-
lieved this Government will be slow to
send a large body OF soldiers into the
isthmus. as such a movement would
give the impression that this country
had established protectorate over Pan
ANA, and expected to occupy the terri
tory permanently. The landing OF ma
rines is a different proposition. and in
dicates eesire to afford temporary pro-
lection to Panama. After the ratification
Of the treaty the occupation of the canal
strip by a large body Of American troops
viii be another matter
Marines En- Route to Colon.
Tomorrow the training ship Prairie
win arrive at Colon from Guatanamo
with $50 marines. Another marine bat
TALON viii be organized without delay
at Norfolk, Philadelphia. or New York
that more marines may be had in case
they should be needed TO keep peace on
the isthmus.
General Reyes, the Colombian peace
commission. and DR.. Herrsn. the Colom-
bian charge d'affaires. have had advices
from Bogota which contained no state
ment concerning the alleged landing OF
/ Colombian troops at the Gulf OF Da-
rien. and are still unwilling to believe
the Colombian government had taken
| such action.
Gen. Rafael Reyes. the envoy on g
/ special mission from Colombia, Is pre-
/ pairing a statement of the position OF
/ Colombia in connection with the deveI
/ opments arising out OF the declaration
| Of the independence OF Panama T'hi.
paper will be laid before the Secretary
! Of State at an early day. The Colon.
/ bians have engaged high legal counse
TO assist them in preparing the brie
/ and to advance their claims.
Belgium and Denmark have both nov
| recognized Panama Notice to that ef
feet has been transmitted to NJ. Bunau
! Varilla-