Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-21
A GORDON OF SHIPS
War Vessels Steaming to the
Isthmus of Panama.
PATROL OF THE COAST
ADMINISTRATION AVERSE TO
THE USE OF TROOPS.
Will Safeguard American Interests
With Detachments Of Marines
and Bluejackets.
PATROL OF THE COAST

Quietly but surely, the Navy Department
ts establishing a strong Gordon around the
newly created republic of Panama. Both
coasts are patrolled by warships and the
interior and boundaries are guarded by
marines and bluejackets. and strong re-
Inducements are to be sent to the isthmus
There is already a formidable array of
United States warships on both sides OF
the isthmus. On the Pacific coast are the
monitor wyoming, the cruisers Marblehead
and Boston and the gunboat Concord of the
Pacific squadron commanded by Rear Ad-
miral Glass together with the collier Nero.
This fleet will shortly be augmented by the
flagship New York, which is about to sail
from Bremerton; the gunboat Bennington
which has already sailed from that port
the gunboat Petrol, now on her way south
from San Francisco, and the torpedo-boat
destroyers Preble and Paul Jones, now az
San Francisco. awaiting their complement
of officers While In isthmian waters the
torpedo boats will act as lookouts ana dis-
patch boats. Owing to their great speed,
they can render efficient service III ulat
capacity.
In Isthmian Waters.
In addition to the above-named vessels Of
the Pacific squadron, there 10 also available
for service in isthmian waters a large con-
tingent of the Asiatic fleet conveniently To-
Gated at Honolulu. This squadron in Ha-
waiian waters Is commanded by Rear Ad-
miral Evans and consists of the battle SHIPS
Kentucky, Wisconsin and Oregon. and the
cruisers Albany, Cincinnati. Nanshan, Ne"
Orleans, Pompey and Raleigh
Rear Admiral Coghlan Is IN commanu
OF the warships on the Caribbean or AT
lantic side of the isthmus In his fleet
are the MayfCwer, the cruiser Atlanta, the
gunboats Brancroft and Nashville and the
Prairie. Now on their way to Colon are
the cruiser Olympia, Admiral Coghlans
regular flagship, and the gunboat Castlne'
the former from Hampton Roads ana the
latter from Key West. At Culebra, not
far away in the Caribbean Sea, is Rear Ad-
miral Bakers mighty squadron, consisting
of the battle ships kearsarge, Alabama,
Illinois and Massachusetts, and the cruisers
SCORPION Cu'goa and Leonidas. The gun
boat Newport la at San Domingo City, the
battle ship Texas, near Key West, and the
Vixen at Guantanamo, with other avail
able warshps at New York, Norfolk, New
Orleans and Key West.
Other warships which are on their way
to the naval rendezvous in the Caribbean,
and which will be there in a week or so,
are the cruisers Newark, Detroit, Glouces-
ter and Montgomery of the South Atlantic
squadron, commanded by Rear Admiral
Lamberton. These vessels left Bahia, Bra
zil on the 18th instant for Trinidad, w. L.
Averse to Using Troops.
IT is said that the administration is
ayerse to the use of regular troops against
Colombia, at least until the republic OF Pan
anna Is regularly established. with con-
stitution and duly elected federal officers.
The present policy of safeguarding Ameri-
can interests on the isthmus. including the
railroad and canal properties, and main
tanning the temporary government of Pan
ana 1t is confidently believed, can be sue
cessfully executed by the large naval and
marine forces engaged in that duty. Al
though the landing of marines and blue
jackets IN Panaman territory seems TO
be accepted as a matter of course, 1t Is
thought that the use of troops for patrol
duty might possibly lead foreign govern
ments to believe that the United States had
sinister designs, to the extent or perma-
nent occupation. AT any rate such is the
explanation made by an army officer of the
action of the government In making such a
formidable naval demonstrati ton on the 18th
mus and making no use at all of the army.
1t Is realized. however, that troops will be
necessary in case of actual hostilities with
the Colombians, and every preparation has
been made to promptly send sufficient
force at the first call. The plans of the
War Department have been completely
mapped out and can be put into execution
without delay.
Conference of Officials.
When. Rear Admiral Taylor, chief of the
bureau of navigation, reached the Navy
Department this morning he retired to his
secret office in the sub-basement of the
Navy Department and called conference
of his lieutenants. Capts Pillsbury and
Swift Commander Winslow and Lieut.. Bel
knap OF the bureau of navigation. Several
oablegrams which arrived from Rear Admi-
rails Glass and Coghlan over Sunday were
taken up for consideration, and instructions
In reply were prepared and submitted TO
Secretary Moody for approval. Nothing
official regarding the conference was an
cad narsff hat rad bo 18th
mian situation. The secret Office of the
chief OF the bureau of navigation was ex-
tensiyely used during the war with Spain,
and. indeed. the conference this morning
recalled that period TO the Navy Depart
ment officials.
In the course of long cablegram re-
oeiyed today Rear Admiral Coghlan. COM
manding the force OF Colon. requested that
crackers instead of bread be dispatched to
the isthmus. the latter food molds
quickly in the tropical climate.
War Department Ready. F0
The officers on duty in the War Depart
ment are keeping close watch on the course
OF events In Colombia and on the isthmus
and are ready to respond quickly to any
call for troops. II was pointed out today
that while the landing of marines on for.
eign soil occasions but little comment and
10 only evidence OF disturbed condition Of
affairs the embarkation of troops would
put dfnerent aspect on the situation In
foreign eyes. For that reason the navy
will be permitted TO continue to control az
fairs IN isthman waters, for the present a,
least, or until matters reach such an acute
stage as TO necessitate the cooperation OF
the army.
Under the impression that war Ia certa!r
10 occur between the United States and Co.
lombia. the quartermaster general of the
army has been bcsieged by railroad ant
shipping men desrous of Transporting
troops This impression among sh.ppins
men exists 10 a considerable extent abroad
ana number of offers have come TO this
department from foreign ship owners ten
dosing their vessels as transports,