The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-20
MOODY HAS TAKEN CHARGE Will Direct Movements Of
 Navy. HIS POLICY Is OUTLINED
 - The COlombians Must Take
 the Initiative. Further correspondence Between Secretary Hay and Minister Bsauprs Regarding Canal Tzsaty is Made Public.

Washfuzton. Dec. 1e.--s'Iset Colombia take the initiative" Ia the keynote of ape cifc instructions which Secretary Moody has cabled to American commanders in isthnlinn waters.
 The Secretary has taken active hold in the shaping cf the policy of the navy. On the fathmus from now on the instFuc- tons. whether to naval or marine of iicers. will, as far as possible be prepared at his personal direction.
 It was announced today that while the situation on the isthmus was in no way alarming to the Washington Govern ment, It was sufficiently delicate to com pei careful diplomatic handling. For thls reason, secrecy has been en5oined on of ficials in the department regarding the operations of ships and marines. The only official information on the subject will be given out at the direction of the Secretary.
 Elliott May Go.
 z At a conference this afternoon between Secretary Moody and Brigadier-G General Elliott. commander of the marine corpss the latter reported that on twenty-four hours notice he could get unday way to Colon with the new Caribbean Sea bat alion. which Is under orders to assemble at Philadelphia. This battalion will prob ably sais between December 2s and Jan- uary 1. General Elliott has been inform ed that unless the isthmian situation en- ters a decidedly more peaceful phase in the meantime, he will command this batallion and on his arrival will organize the three batalIions of marines on the isthmuB into%a brigade, of which he will assume command.
 There were several conferences at the Navy Department today regarding the afttr0ftrV. fk( on the isthmuB. Lest the administration be put in the light of anticipating the Benate's ratification of the canal treaty by assuming obligations provided for in that convention. It has about been aet- tied that General Elliott ahafl not mass his force along the Panama border um- less the safety of Inc republic absolutely demands it-
 1fore EGective scheme.
 It is believed a moro effective scheme win be to distribute the three bataitlons among the towns and villages of Panama other than the cities of Panama and Co., lon, leaving to the navy the protection of these terminals.
 A potent factor in the shaping of the naval policy on the isthmus will be the health of the marines. Some of the towns in which marines probably will be stationed are Empire, Gorgona and Porto Bello. Captain Harry Leonard. asslsi1nt aide to the commandent of the niafils corps, who lost his arm in the marc f6 Pekin, and was advanced for cohapics1- ous bravery, has asked to be ordered to the isthmus. <
 In 0fflcial circles tonight 1t was said that Panama, while disciaiming any obli- Ratidn to Colombia for the payment of a portion of her debt, would voluntarily, as an actsof cosnity, assume such share of it as in her judgment might be deemed proper. It Is said that formal expression of that Government on the subject is de- layed only pending Che completion of the statement of General Reyes. the desire being to note just what gdenaatIds Colom- bia makes. XY8