The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-12-16
THE NEWS IN WASHINGTON.

the Colombian charge d'afaires, today
authorizes the statement that if troops
from Cartagena have landed near the
mouth Of the Atrato river, as reported
by the French steamer which has ar
rived at La Guayra, it is directly in
opposition to the adyices Of both him
self and Gen. Reyes. Gen. Reyes stated
that the La Guayra dispatch was the
| first information he had received OF the
reported movement of Colombian
troops. He declared, however, that
if it is true, as stated, that such
movement has been taken without
orders from him. Upon coming
to Washington as the special
representative of the Colombian
| government, Gen. Reyes temporarily
relinouished the command of the CO.
lombian army, the duties falling upon
Gen. Castro, second in command.
Cen. Reyes confirmed the statement
recently made by Admiral Coghlan in
a report to the navy department that
prior to his deprture for Washington
he had given instructions to the CO.
lombian troops to make no hostile
demonstration until he was heard from,
and said that those troops were now
awaiting orders, which. however, were
not to come from him direct but from
! the government at Bogota.
The general had been fully Informed
by the president himself as to the IN
tentions of the government OF the
United States respecting the lsthmus.
He was told by the president, as was
set out in the presidents message to
congress, that the United States had
| determined to maintain the independ-
ence of the new republic of 7 mama
against all comers. While this guaral-
tee is contained in treaty now pend
ING before the United States senate
and as vet unratifed, the adninistra-
tion mas for some time past been acting
mon the theory that the understand
inc is in full force. Therefore all
necessary preparations have been made
to exert whatever physical force may
be necessary to protect the 1sSnmian
transit No Colombian troops Will be
allowed to cross the frontier INTO
Panama; or, if they cross they VII!
be elected in due time.
The policy of the navy department.
with respect to the en5ry of Colombian
troops into Panama was said today to
be to prevent conflict before it COM,
menced. To this end, the naval COM.
manders in those waters have been
given instructions to keep the Colcm-
bian troops at greater distance from
the isthmus, at points where a fight,
with the Panamanian troops is not like,
ly to occur. In all naval operations,
it may be stated on authority, that the
department is still guided by the treaty
Of 1916, under which the United States
guarantees to keep transit across tie
Isthmus open. A BROADER lnterpreta-
tion of the duties and responsibilities
of the government in this respect has
been given to the treaty, by which the
protection of the United States will
not alone be confined to the canal strip
but to any part of the territory of
Panama.
When seen today Lieut.. Gen. Young,
chief of staff. authorized the statement
to be made that the war department
was ready to dispatch troops to the
| isthmus on short notice. should their
presence be demanded. Although the
statement heretfore has been denied,
it is learned that the department has
taken notice of the repeated reports
that Colombian troops we're assembling
at different points with the avowed
purpose of making hostile demonstra-
tion aginst Panama, and has perfect
ed ali. military plans to repel such an
| invasion. Gen. Young said that
should lie be called upon to assist the
navy it would not be necessary to send
to the isthmus more TIM regiment or
two. Although none of the members
Of the joint army and navy board,
which met today, would admit that
the isthmian situation was under dis
cussion it is known that such was the
case and that both the army and the
navy are now in a state of prepared
ness for any conflict with Colombia
which might raise.