Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-09
WAR PLOT
THICKENS
Colombia Said to Have
Troops on Panama
Soil.
OTHERS AWAIT WORD
United States Marines
Landed to Guard
Pass.

La Guayra, Venezuela, Dec. 9.-The
French steamer Versailles. which ar
rived here from Savanila. reports
that Colombian steamers have landed
LOO men from Cartagena near the
mouth of the Atrato river ON the Gulf
of Darien to open the way over the
Darien mountains into Panama From
all parts of Colombia troops are re-
ported to be marching on Panama or
awaiting the result Of Gen. Reyes
mission to Washington.
Policy Declared.
Washington. Dec. 9.-The policy of
the navy department with respect to
the entry of Colombian troops into
Panama was said today to be to pre-
vent conflict before il commenced.
To this end naval commanders in
isthmian waters have been given in
structiCns to keep the Colombian
troops at a greater distance from the
isthmus al points where a fight with
Panamaian troops il likely to occur.
Marines Landed.
Colon Dec "A company of ma
rines from the United States auxiliary
cruiser Dixie under command of Cap
tain Writ McCreary was landed here
and took a train for Empire, town
on the railroad near Panama, where a
camp was established in the canal COM
pany's buildings. Another company Of
marines to the number of fifty from
the Dixie left on the afternoon train
for Empire. The camp at Empire is
now thoroughly equipped. and all pre-
cautions from sanitary standpoint to
ensure the health of the marines have
been taken.
Probably Precautionary Measure.
The camp will be supplied with wat
er from the Dixie. pending the analysis
of the drinking water available there.
If this water should he found to be
good the remainder of the $50 marines
on board the Dixie will be transferred
to the camp in patches of fifty. The
stated official purpose of this move
ment is to give the marines practice
i'll the building of camps and to pro-
vide relief from their long confine-
ment on the vessel The actual purpose
of the United States government in
landing the marines is. however, be-
Heved to be connected with the pre-
cautiOnary measures now being carried
out on both sides of the isthmus
Panama Garrison Under Suspicion.
Perhaps it is also for the moral ef-
feet which the landing of the marines
may have on the native garrison at
Panama. the loyalty of which. though
hitherto absolutely answering. has
been questioned in some quarters. es-
pecially since the discovery of an al
legged plot against the life of General
Huertas, cOmmander-in-chief of the
forces of the republic of Panama. and
the alleged effort on the part of a few
army officers 10 persuade the garrison
to revolt.
Fact Considered Significant.
1t is considered significant that the
point selected for the encampment OF
the DiXie'S marines. while il is the
highest and best so far as sanitary
conditions are concerned on the line
of the Panama railroad. is also on the
trail most frequently used in. the past
for the movement of troops overland
from the Cauca district into the Chi
riqui district If n body of Colombian
troops should succeed in obtaining a
foothOld in the rich Chiriqui district it
is generally conceded that after pred
atOry raids on the countryside they
could retreat TO the mountain fast
Eess. from which it would be most diff
fcut to dislodge them.
Report Not Yet Confirmed.
The report of the movement of 5000
soldiers from Cartagena for the pur-
pose Of invading the iSthmus cannot
be confirmed. Rumors of such move
ments may he looked for frequently.
particularly as the people of the 18TH
mus are more or less excited by the
precautionary measures adopted by the
United States.
Coming Home for Repairs
Colon. Dec. 9.-The battleship Maine
left Colon today for the United States
to undergo repairs.