New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-15
H COLOMBIAN BLUFF. "
Reported March on Panama Ridi-
cuIed an WASHINGTON.

Washington, Nov. 1.-THE State Department
has no knowledge Of the marching of any army
| from Colombia on the isthmus. and the Off
| cials say that if any such movement were in
progress they would certainly be Informed by
agents Of the United States in the South, the
cables being still open. These officials scout
| the idea that any such march is in progress
| as the President of Colombia is reported to
have described to the President of Ecuador.
| It is assumed here that the army said to
| be marching on Panama was nothing more
| than the few men, perhaps 500 ell told, who
| we're about to embark at Buenaventura n few
| DAYS ago when they were turned back rom
| the isthmus by notice OF the determination OF
the United States naval commanders to allow
no landings in that quarter. These troops can
not reach the isthmu5 by water, and the off,
| Gals here are positive that they cannot do so
| by land. The character of the country is such
| that there is no subsistence for an army
| the route over the wild mountain trails and
| the passages through the norasses that lie be-
| tween Colombia proper and the isthmus Even
| II there were subsistence. the trails are so
| rough that It would require many weeks, or
months. for even small army to make the
| journey.
! I'm the way of the approach OF army on
| Panama The officials do not care to make
/ their plans known, but enough has been
| CLEANED from the instructions given to United
States naval commanders to make IL evident
| that never again will the isthmus become the
seat OF warfare, long the United States
government can prevent II. The difference be-
tween the present situation on the isthmus
aud that which existed last year, when Com
| mauder Mclean prevented armed troops from
crossing the isthmus by rail. is this: The au-
| thorites have now determined to extend the
l lines Of protection to the railroad. They viii
| not allow hostile forces, no matter whether
| they are Colombian or Panama troops. to come
| into collision anywhere near the railroad. and
| TO prevent such collisions it will be necessary
| 10 extend the neutral zone clear to the north
and south boundaries of the Republic Of Pan
/ nfo1S hnrn nlE a
| statement publicly; they simply say: Wait
till the emergency arises" But it is known
| that such were the plans Of the naval COM
| manders. and there is no indication of a
! change in these plans, not the slightest ap-
! prehenson is felt here of the encroachment Of
| any Colombian army upon Panama.
Mr.. Bunau-Varilla was at the State Depart
| mept to-day TO what information the off,
| Gals had regarding the situation on the 18TH
mus. He said he had no anxiety over the dis
patches from Guayaquil saying that a COom-
bian expedition would endeavor TO reach the
| isthmus.
| 1T were easier said the minister. Ito march
! from Cape Town to London than from Bogota to
Panama, for the Strait Of Gibraltar and the
English Channel are at least swimmable. and
| the marshes between the republic and
Colombia are impenetrable.'
The minister counts ON the American naval
| force 10 deal effectively with any expedition by
sea that Colombia may attempt. DR.. Thomas
Herran, the Colombian charge d'affaires. con-
I tinues to be without advices from Bogota- The
| last dispatch he received was on November ,.
| when brief message came announcing the adj
| journment Of Congress. Despite this fact DR..
| Herran is keeping Bogota closely informed OF
every action OF the Washington government
| bearing on the isthmisn situation.
Rear Admiral Glass informed the Navy De-
| partment to-day, under date Of Panama, No
| vember L., that the British ships Quito and
Manavi sailed from Buenaventura on their
| regular voyage unmolested. and that their cap
tains on arrival at Panama reported there were
| few Colombian troops at Buenaventura, and
that the Bogota. the Colombian Narship. was
without coal. He added that everything was
quiet on the isthrnus and there were no rurnors
OF dissatisfaction,