Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-11-18
Declare NO ARMY
is ON THE Way.
Washington Officials Discredit Re-
ports of Colombian Invasion
of Panama.
Navy WILL ALLOW NO TROOPS
TO Land ON The ISTHMUS

Overland March Out of the Question
limited States Will Guard Country
and Avert Hostilities on the Neu-
trail Territory-GermanyO Opens Re-
lations with New Government.
Washington, Nov. 16.-The state de-
partment has no knowledge of the
marching of any army from Colombia
upon the isthmus. and the officials state
that were any such movement in prog
ress it would certainly be Informed by
is agents in the south, the cables be-
ing still open. The officials scout the
idea that any such march is in prog
ress. as the president of Colombia is
reported to have described to the presi-
dent of Ecuador. 1t is assumed here
that the army" said to be marching
on Panama was nothing more than the
few men, perhaps 500 all told, who
were about to embark at Buena Ven
tura few days ago when they were
turned back from the isthmus by no.
tice of the determination Of the United
States naval commanders to allow no
cannot reach the isthmus by water and
the officials 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 on the route
of the wild mountain trails and the
passages through the morasses that lie
between Colombia proper and the 18TH
LIT.
the trails are so rough that it would
require many weeks or even months for
even small army to make the journey.
To Protect Railroad.
But there are more than physical OBJ
stacles in the way of the approach of
an army upon Panama. The officials
do not care to express publicly their
plans, but enough has been cleaned
from the instructions given to our
naval commanders to make it evident
that never again will the isthmus be-
come the seat of warfare so long az
the United States governmnt can pre-
vent it. The difference between the
present situation on the isthmus and
that which existed last year, when
Commander Mclean prevented armed
troops from crossing by rail, is just
this: The authorities have now deter
mined to extend the lines of protection
to the railroad. They will 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 to extend the neu-
trail zone clear to the north and south
boundaries of the republic of Panama
Officials here will not make such a
statement publicly; they simply say:
"Wait till the emergency arises" But
1t is known that such were the plans OF
he naval commanders and, as there is
no indication of change in these plans.
not the slightest apprehension is felt
here of the encroachment of any Colon
bian army upon Panama.
American Ships at Isthmus.
1t is said at the navy department
that the only news received over night
from the Isthmus of Panama was a
brief dispatch from Rear Admiral
Glass, announcing the arrival at Pan
ANA Friday of the monitor Wyoming.
That vessel left Acapulco in company
with the cruiser Marblehead and the
gunbOat Concord, but was not able to
keep pace with them, and so they part
ed company. The other two vessels
arrived at Panama several days ago
There are now seven vessels guarding
the interests Of the United States Oh
the Isthmus of Panama or these four
are on the Pacific side, the cruisers
Boston and Marblehead, gunboat Con-
cord and monitor Wyoming. So far
as known no other naval vessels ex-
cept possibly GOLFERS or supply ships
will be sent to the west shore of the
isthmus for the present.
On the Atlantic, or east side of tho
isthmus, are the cruiser Atlanta, the
gunboat Nashville, and the training
ship Dixie. This feet will be reen-
forced in a day or two by the battle
ship Maine and the presidents yacht
Mayflower.
Rear Admiral Coghlan, commanding
the Caribbean squadron; Rear Ad-
miral Walker, president of the 18th
milan canal commission, and Consul
General Gudgeon, who it is expected
will be given diplomatic powers at
Colon. are passengers on the May
flower. T hat vessel is expected to
reach her destination Sunday or Mon
day, and the Maine should arrive there
about the same time. It is expected
that the cruiser Baltimore, now IN
Dominican waters, and the training
ship Prairie, conveying marines to.
Guantanamo, also will be added to the
feet on the east coast Of the isthmus.
Germany Opens Relations.
Berlin, Nov. 16.-Germany's consular
representatives at Panama have opened
business relations with the new govern
ment, which action Germany subse-
quently sanctioned.
The German consular officers on tho
isthmus have reported to the foreign
ONCE that the cabinet of Panama IL
composed Of men worthy of respect.
T.